question about antibiotics and when side effects occur

[luvmyboys]

Hi!
I have just finished a round of amoxicillin for a sinus infection. Usually side effects occur in the first few days and are supposed to taper off. At least that's what I've read. I didn't start any side effects until day 8. Then I started with terrible cramps and stomachaches and a little nausea. It feels like I'm going to have diarrhea, but haven't yet. Mostly just bad smelling gas. I also have no appetite and when I do eat it causes lots of intestinal pain or cramps. My colon goes crazy and makes all kinds of rumbling gurgly noises that are very loud. These are side effects listed on the sheet from the pharmacy, but they are listed as ones that occur the first few days and may go away during treatment. My question is, can the side effects occur after the treatment is done? How long do they last? I can't stand to lose any weight. I'm only 95 pounds as it is. I do have IBS so I am not a stranger to these symptoms, but I am having a hard time deciding if this is my IBS or the amoxicillin. Any help or opinions would be welcome. Thanks.

[auntjudyg]

At the same time they kill off the "bad" biotics, antibiotics also kill off some of the "good" biotics - which has a particular impact on the intestines.

Have you tried adding more yogurt to your diet (or taking a probiotic supplement). This helps some get back in balance.

[bassie]

Good idea about the yoghurt. (leave the sugar off cause plain is best.)
There is no rule for response/reaction time for antibiotics. It can be soon or later or not at all.
Don't forget it can get so bad that you should stop the tabs and contact your dr.

[novembre]

I've recently had some bad luck with antibiotics, and I had similar reactions to yours when I took Sulfa Trimeth. They started after a day of taking them, and then lasted until the day after I stopped taking them (I was on a 3-day course, so they were pretty potent). I had no appetite and bad abdominal pain that entire time, but I tried eating anyway even though it hurt.

I got bad diarrhea for two days after I stopped taking the pills, which I attributed to the killing of the "good bacteria." Then I was fine. Give your body a couple days to get back to normal, eat yogurt, and if it doesn't clear up see your doctor.

[luvmyboys]

Thanks for your replies.

My course of amoxicillin was for 10 days 500 mg 3 times a day. This is a standard dose and a mild anitbiotic from what I've read and heard. Usually my side effects start within the first 3 or 4 days, but didn't this time til the end. I also felt no relief from the infection until then such as the congestion and headache and ear pain of the sinus infection. Then the drainage from my head into my throat and stomach started about day 8 or so. That's when I started feeling yuckier. So, I figured it maybe was the sinus drainage causing an upset stomach. I have been off the medicine now for 4 days and still feel queasy and of course my colon is pretty wild especially after I eat. How much yogurt should I eat per day? I've been eating just one because I've had a hard time eating at all. Yogurt goes down pretty easy though. Also my throat and ear are twinging again but I have so much drainage that I can't imagine it still being infected.