ive been on a lot of different antibiotics the last 6-8 months all for different things, there may be more / less courses i’ve missed but i think this is how much i’ve taken : 2/3 courses of azithromicyn, 1 course of doxycycline, 2/3 courses of metronidazole, 1 course of flucloxacillin (as per the doctor i stopped taking this on about day 4 because it was causing me pain) 2 courses of fluconazole and now i’m on a course of clarithromycin! I know it’s a lot but the doctor never seems to say anything, the antibiotics are still doing their job and seem to be clearing up every infection but i’m scared i’ve taken too many and eventually i’m going to build up resistance and then if i get really ill and antibiotics don’t work i’ll die, please can anyone give me an answer as to how much is too much / how long it takes to build resistance? and does it happen if you take different antibiotics or just the same one? it’s really scaring me it’s all i can think about, thank you!!
Hi I can understand why your so worried but you said there working for you.have you talked to your GP about your concerns. As far as I know there's lots of antibiotics so don't be frightened have a talk with your doctor tell him or her how your feeling. You'll be okay try and keep calm xxxxx
i did mention to my doctor that i had been taking a lot of antibiotics recently but she just brushed it off and didn’t say anything, thank you carol xxx
That's not very good is there another doctor you could see at your surgery who will listen to your concerns that one sounds abit dismissive. Your worried and want your mind putting at rest xxxx
Mel Just sent you a PM about clarithromycin , warning from FDA about prescribing for people with heart problems etc. Quinolones such as the one you took cause problems too. You said you took some for four days then got pain. Mind my asking you what type of pain?
I assume your dr does blood samples to check for infection before prescribing antibiotics?
i’m sorry i cant read the link my anxiety is already through the roof i can’t deal with anything else that will make it worse, reading the link name was bad enough, i don’t have any heart problems
it was pain in my left lower back, it felt like really bad period pains but it stopped as soon as i stopped taking the antibiotics
no they don’t check my blood, this course of antibiotics is for a lump on my groin, the others were for bv / thrush and another infection like that
your comment has really scared me
Mel You have a right to know the effects of these antibiotics. I am sorry that you feel the way you do.You asked for help and advice.
mel that is why I sent you the link so you had the information about clarithromycin. perhaps you could discuss this with your GP as he or she may be unaware about the recent warning from the FDA. I have e mailed the link to my own Gp as he is very careful to check all meds before prescribing.
The reason I asked whether the dr had done any tests to check the infection was because of the number of antibiotics you had been prescribed, normally the dr would send a sample to the lab for culture and sensitivity then prescribe the anti biotic or antifungal that is sensitive to the organism causing the infection.
This approach is designed to exclude the possibility of antibiotic resistance. I see where you are coming from but I think you are worrying unnecessarily. Drs are usually keen to identify the causative bug before prescribing anything nowadays.
Try not to worry about the what ifs. Take care.
Hi Mel please don't be frightened you mustn't read anything again like that that lady thought she was helping obviously not.try and talk your worries with another doctor nurse or health worker I get very scared too I have bad anxiety so I understand why your frightened. You need to talk to someone who can give you medical advice xxxxx
I used to be a nurse - three nursing qualifications.
. I am sorry but is it better to make people aware or to keep quiet and see them take possible risks.
Sometimes people are taken by surprise when things are pointed out. A small minority even with anxiety issues may be taken aback momentarily but usually are happy at being treated with openness and honesty.
I am sure that the OP having thought this through in her own good time will realise and understand the reasons why the FDA had released a warning which is in the Public Domain and consequently there is a strong chance she may read about clarithyromycin in the media etc.
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Sorry Harriet I didn't know you had been a qualified nurse so you obviously know what your talking about and giving good advice Carol xxxx
Hi Carol No problem. I was just sharing the info in the Public Domain . I myself have had a course of clarithromycin in the past for pleurisy . I was also worried when I read the article. I had to think carefully before sharing it especially on a forum for anxiety.
However I think that some info has to be shared and not to do so may be disrespectful if you see what I mean.
Obviously there is nothing to be gained by alarming people.
I can only urge people to study the patient information sheet on every drug prescribed as quite honestly drs do not tell their patients and to ask for an alternative if unhappy.
If someone has had several courses of antibiotics the likelihood is they have not been checked for sensitivity to that organism. This is what we call the sledgehammer approach and what Public Health doctors are concerned about.
I hope the OP is feeling calmer now.
Take care
Thanks Harriet I agree with you and it's good that we have people like you on this forum xxxx
Hi Carol
Thank you for your kind words. Harriet xxxx
i know you were just trying to make me aware and thank you for that. I went to see the pharmacist today and she said that a 7 day course with only 3 days left won’t do me any harm. She also said that it’s good i’ve taken different antibiotics rather than the same ones over and over again because it’s harder to build up resistance that way. I would rather not be on them but i’m just going to finish this course and then and be done with it! thank you for your help x
thank you for your reassurance carol, i did see the pharmacist today and she said it’s fine just finish the course xxx
Glad you are feeling better .