Treatment Side Effects

I am a 5' 2", 180 lb. female.  After having a stomach bleed resulting in anemia.  I had two endoscopies, a colonoscopy, and upper GI.  Nothing showed up until my internist had me tested for h-pylori.  I tested positive.  I am currently taking Prevacid 30 mg Solutabs every a.m. and p.m.  Biaxin XL 500mgs 2 tablets 2 X a day and Metronidazole 500 mgs. 3 X a day.  I'm alergic (allergic) to the Penicillin family, so this was the treatment chosen for me.  I've got past day 7 out of 10 having to stop 2 times due to side effects, first time my stomach was on fire, so were my hands and I had headaches.  Second time I had to stop my left side of my face was numb and my eye was swollen and I had a rash on my stomach.  I have 3 days left.  This has been torture.  If I have to skip days again now, does it compromise the treatment?

Can you make any suggestions to help me get through this?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Skipping days will compromise the treatment.  Unfortunately, with any antibiotic, stomach side effects can occur.  One option would be taking the medication with food to see if that helps with the effect.

If you are allergic to the penicillin family - one option would be to replace the Biaxin with a combination of tetracycline and bismuth, and continuing the Pevacid and metronidazole.  That also would be an acceptable regimen.

You may want to discuss this option with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b

[Elle Emme]

I am struggling with side effects too.  I am on nexium 3 x day, Biaxin 500 mg 3 x day and Metronidazole 500mg 4 x day.  It is so hard to get all the doses in and the side effects are horrible!!  I feel nauseous all the time from the metal taste in my mouth, my chest is chronically hurting iwth pain and pressure and my esophagas feels like it has a chemical burn.  I am having constant diarhea (diarrhea) and I can't control my yeast infection even with two different drugs.  I will be done in 2 and half days I can't wait to take that last pill.

[selams]

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