severe diarrhea after taking strong antibiotics

[steamguy]

For the last 3.5 weeks I have had severe diarrhea along with intestinal cramping even during the night time. I have been monitoring my diet. I am currently on medications; Vytorin for high cholesterol and Prevacid for acid reflux disease. I have stopped taking these meds for a week to see if they were the issue. My diarrhea continued. My symptoms started after contracting a severe sinus infection. My doctor prescribed, after two seperate visits, an antibiotic for the sinus infection. Two weeks after taking the antibiotics I started experiencing diarrhea. What do you think is wrong?

[AnnD]

Gosh darn you must be very sore by now! You might want to do one or two things. Start eating lots of yogart or something like Activia. The antibiotic has taken away all the good things your gut needs for 'peace'. Also give you doctors office a call to tell them and they might also put you on a special medicine to help resolve the problem. In the meantime I would just stop those other two medications until your diarrhea is resolved because they also can cause diarrhea so first take care of the diarrhea then add just one medicine at a time to be sure you can take each one especially Vytorin...many people can't take this type of drug. Good luck and get something soothing like ***** Hazel for that sore bottom!...it's gotta be on fire by now. Sorry.

[Soibhan]

You might have yourself tested for C-diff (which stands for something a lot longer and harder to pronounce). You must have a stool culture so they can diagnose you. If you've taken antibiotics and are having these severe symptoms so long afterwards, I'd be suspicious. I've known SO MANY people who have had it. Once the diagnosis is made, you are given Flagyl (or something like it) and you'll quickly get back to normal. You can also take yeast tablets, and yogurt with active cultures. Don't let it go on too long without being tested--it's very weakening. Hope you're feeling better soon!
Soibhan

[MountainReader]

Some of the antibiotics I take for sinus infections give me the side effect of diarrhea. Look on your prescription precautions sheet. Some tell you the diarrhea is normal. Others say to contact a doctor if it is really bad or continues long. For me Augmentin 875 is one of the worst offenders for this. I can have the symptoms even after completing taking it. Unfortunately, I have allergies to some other antibiotics so I end up on Augmentin alot. Also, the Post Nasal Drip from the Sinus infection will give me diarrhea as well. It is particularly bad in the morning when this is the case.

I can't speak for the Vytorin, but I have been on Prevacid (30 mg twice a day) for a long time and haven't had any side effects with it.

[Lourage]

Plus even after you stop taking them they still can stay in your system for another week or so, so that could be why you still have bad cramps and diarrhea. Although it's possible you caught a parasite from the antibiotics. This happened to me a few years ago and it was the worst stomach cramps i ever felt. It was like my stomach was eating itself. I don't remember what the doctor put me on to get rid of it, but it did the trick.