Stye, is this overkill?

[miasr1]

A few days ago I woke up with pain on my lower eyelid, on the outer corner. It lasted all day, and then when I went to sleep, I woke up with no pain. That day I was fine. So I went to sleep and yesterday woke up with the inner corner in pain and swollen. It hurt all day and today I woke up with it even more swollen and red and painful. Went to the doctor today and he said I have a stye that isn't visible, and I got prescribed oral antibiotics of Cefzil twice a day, as well as Gentak eye ointment three times a day. I feel as if the oral medicine may be overkill? I have for one never heard of Cefzil being used for eye infections, let alone a stye. I thought all I needed would be the ointment. And Cefzil concerns me with all the bad reviews I have read on it...
Thoughts?  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[achillea]

Thank you for your kind responses, Dr. Hagan.  So many of them, for so many worried patients...

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Achellea, thank you for your informed and comforting answer(s) both to these questions and your many other helpful posts.

John C. Hagan III MD, FACS, FAAO

[achillea]

Speaking as a patient who has dealt with lots of infections over a pretty long life (at this point), and who has allergic problems as well, I am saying that my experience with the cephalosporin antibiotics is that this group has given me no problems compared to other groups.

Antibiotics are classified or grouped by the types of bugs they attack as well as by the way they do it.  The effects and side effects that you experience with one group are not the same as with another, but in general, if you had no problems with amoxicillin, you should have no problems with a cephalosporin.

Unless you have a considerable background in biology or biochemistry, I strongly--and I mean really strongly--recommend avoiding internet searches of the type you have been doing.  You have to understand the research to be able to evaluate the conclusions.

You were worried enough about your eyes to see a doc.  Why not assume that he or she has been to medical school, has learned a thing or two, and is interested in seeing you recover well and happily?  

[miasr1]

Thanks for your reply. I was just alarmed because my previous antibiotic of amoxicillin had very few warnings or side effects that were common on the bottle. And so when I got this one, having Dizziness and nausea, as well as a few other things such as rash or trouble breathing, plastered on the side in bold letters kind of startled me. But I should be fine if I handled amoxicillin with no problem at all? Is that what you mean by friendly?

[achillea]

In my considerable experience with antibiotics, Cefzil, one of the cephalosporin antibiotics, is among the most user-friendly antibiotics you will ever run into.  I find this particular group to be quite benign.

If you're going to be frightened of antibiotics that are likely to cause dizziness (as opposed to those for which dizziness is an occasional *reported* side effect), there are others to fret more about.  A lot more.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[miasr1]

I really am just worried about the side effects that most seemed to have with this particular antibiotic. I have to go to school and drive many places, and having dizzy spells and nausea concern me. I took amoxicillin this past year with no side effects. No nausea or anything. Does that mean that this antibiotic will possibly be the same way? I take my first dose tonight and I don't want to wake up and take it, only to have to miss school again because I cant get to school due to the dizziness and nausea.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Oral antibiotics such as Cefzil are often used for infections around the eye where there is evidence of soft tissue infection out of the infected eyelid gland. There is no reason to second guess the physician that actually examined you.  And as far as "bad reviews" look up how many people bleed to death every year from asprin, or die in car accidents, or who die in their sleep.

Nothing in life and medicine and medication is without possible side effects.  On the whole your risks are likely much higher not taking the medicine rather than taking as directed.

JCH MD