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Okay, I'll try to make this post as "non-TMI" as possible. I had my first-ever sinus infection a few weeks ago, and the PA at my doctor's office prescribed Omnicef for me for 10 days. It did a great job at knocking out the cooties and making me feel better, but it's also wreaked havoc on my intestinal system. About halfway into the 10 days I started getting diarrhea, sometimes as much as 8 times a day. Fun stuff, huh?
I figured the trots would improve when the Omnicef was done, but they kept going. About 5 days after finishing the Omnicef I asked the pharmacist how long I could expect the diarrhea side effects and she so obviously guessed when she said "oh I'm not sure, but I'd say about a week or so, I would think" Don't you love it when they make stuff up on the spot?
So now it's been 9 days since I've had my last Omnicef pill and I'm still having mild symptoms. Not "oh man, get me to the bathroom NOW" symptoms, but things just aren't 100% yet. I've bought some strong acidophilus and am taking it 3 times a day and am trying to eat more good-quality plain yogurt. TMI alert--there is just a lot of mucousy reddish brown stuff coming out and it's creeping me out. I read that Omnicef can cause reddish poos due to the way it interacts with iron in your diet, but would this still be the cause a week-plus after finishing the dose?
Does anyone know how long antibiotics essentially stay in your system, and how long I have to put up with this? It's getting better overall but it seems like this might be a medicine I want to avoid in the future. At what point do I call the doctor for a follow-up? thanks to everyone and I hope I didn't gross anyone out too badly.
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I work in healthcare and antibiotics keep working up to 10 days after you stop taking them. C Diff was a pretty serious "diagnosis" but also a possibility, just not a very common one--you find that with much stronger antibiotics--and the diarrhea is severe (watery) for several weeks before--if you're concerned about C Diff, you'll have to take a stool specimen to your doc to test, but again, most labs won't even test stool for C Diff if it's not watery (doesn't meet criteria). Keep up with the probiotics and your intestinal tract heals and maybe even try the BRAT diet for a few days (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) to let your belly heal.
February 14, 2011 - 3:19pmThis Comment
I was prescribed some antibiotics for my adult acne. I was a week into them and I got thrush (or so I thought) I got the treatment for it but 4 days later it still hadn't eased. I then read the side effects for the tablets and it listed one as extreme itchiness of the genitals and/or rectal area. (I had both) I called my doc and she told me to stop taking them. It is now 6 days on and I am still in extreme pain/burning and itching. I went to a chemist today for some help and she gave me more thrush tablets! I logged on here to see how long it will take for the antibiotics to be out of my system as I am going slowly mad. I think I will call the doc again tomorrow.
September 6, 2010 - 1:33pmAnybody else had the same?? If so, what did you use and how long did it go on for?
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Anon - It would help to know exactly which antibiotics you were on, and the strength. Thanks.
September 6, 2010 - 5:02pmThis Comment
Hi I was on sulfamethoxazole-tmp ds 1x2 daily and clindamycin 1x3 daily for 14 days. Along with this I took florasor 1x2 daily. I did loose appetite and at time was nausus, threw up a meal or two and had loose stool the whole time. I was on these because I spiked a fever and had a red rash on my breast. This was a concern for infection being a cancer survivor that worked very hard the get inplants after mastectomys. I was 4 months out of inplant surgury and we needed to hit it hard. When I finished the dose like an idiot stopped the florastor. With in 5 days after antibiotics the pain in my gut and diarrhea came on strong. When I spike another 101 fever I called my plastic surgeon. There was no rash with the breast so we felt safe there. After 3 days we took stool samples which came back neg for c-diff and other bacteriers. I am now 9 days into this bad cramping and various waste disposal (mud like, very loose, mucus, and white like particals-sorry for description but it may be important). I have no problem laying in bed napping all day. I seem to be tired from the pain. (I am usually extremely active) I took the rest of my florastor, some asadophilus and now for the last 3 days been on very strong strain of probiatics. I am trying some kepher, some fiber, an some veggies, watermelon and a little protein. I am hungry and seam to get a few hours repreve from pain. It always seems to return. I can't leave the house with worry of needing to use the john or be in featle position. I am still no less than 12-15 trips to the john per day. I don't produce much most of the time. I dont want to take ibuprofen for I feel I've taken too much medicine already. I was thinking of starting nyastatin as well. Please, I'm looking for answers on stopping the pain, how much longer, what to eat. I am from time to time seeing something that resembles a stool between trips to the john. I have to get to work!
May 12, 2011 - 6:50amThis Comment
I saw the doctor today an he prescribed me some Chlophenamine for the itching. I threw the tablets away once i stopped taking them sorry. Am hoping these will do the trick. He did say it can take a couple of weeks for the antibiotics to be out of my system completely. Thanks
September 7, 2010 - 10:33amThis Comment
Glad you saw the doctor and I too hope you find relief soon.
September 7, 2010 - 5:59pmThis Comment
Go to Doctorliver.com and look up Antibiotic Related Diarrhea. It's the best info I've found so far.
April 28, 2010 - 4:43amThis Comment
I have just finished a course of Clindamycin which I was taking for an abscessed tooth. I took the last one on Monday evening and I still have very loose stools and cramping. I too was directed to this site with my question. In the info that came with my drugs it said that mild diarrhea is a side effect of most antibiotics...I have never had that problem before, and that C-Difficile is a possible complication of the drug, so I have been taking probiotics and Biobest yogurt, with honey to sweeten. Although I don't have to run to the bathroom, I am concerned that I still need to monitor everything I eat. One comment that my dentist made was that the antibiotic will keep the infection at bay for up to a month. I hope the other stuff doesn't go on that long. I will be mentioning the problem to my GP if it continues much longer. Good luck everyone.
April 28, 2010 - 4:35amThis Comment
Hi, same with me, I ended up on 4 different antibiotics over a 3 month period for the same issue. This was last year, and now I have several problems, 1 of which is the stomach ~ STILL. Eating active yogurt helps. But I constantly feel flu ish, body pains, muscle aches, and TMJ. I also suspect Vagel nerve issues. You have to be so careful! but antibiotics are needed too. I am hoping mine goes away, but my intuition is inching towards fybro due to the heavy constant dosages I was on. They CAN eventually affect your system in a more permanent way, contrary to popular poo pooing of this, its true. I would suggest the yogurt twice a day, and vitamins as well as gentle excersise and rest. Organic foods are best too, vs processed.
December 21, 2011 - 11:00pmThis Comment
Oh my God i got the same problem when i started taking antibiotics for my sinus infection 2 months before and even m still suffering with it as it is converted to the yeast infection(may be). Can anyone please tell me what can i do to get back normal
April 24, 2010 - 9:33amand how long it will take
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