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"glutened" By Antibiotics?/same Reaction? Please Help!

oceangirl

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oceangirl Collaborator
oceangirl
Posted

Hi, Everyone,

Just me harping on antibiotics again. Does ANYONE have experience with antibiotics giving them the same symptoms as a glutening? I've now had zithromax and amoxicillin and am having similar GI symptoms as well as low back pain and joint cracking- all this ALWAYS worse for me at night. My acupuncturist thinks it's the antibiotics. I know they screw up your system and I am taking probiotics, always do, just wondering if anyone has any experience with this. I make all my own food from scratch and I'm pretty sure I'm not having gluten. I did have some Hall's strawberry cough drops, but I did read they are now gluten-free. Help!!!!! I feel like I'm going back to square one!

lisa

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queenofhearts Explorer
queenofhearts
Posted

Antibiotics almost always give me D, though I haven't taken any since gluten-free. I think it's a common reaction. Don't know about the other symptoms, but I wouldn't be surprised that they could echo glutening.

Leah

Jennas-auntie Apprentice
Jennas-auntie
Posted

I think your acupuncturist is probably right. Antibiotics frequently not only kill off whatever harmful bug you have in your system but also the helpful bacteria you have in your GI system. Even with the probiotics it is quite possible you will have a shift in what is growing in your colon, and might have the diarrhea because of what has already died off. Different antibiotics have different fillers (sometimes have stuff like modified food starch) and I don't have a list but maybe someone here does or you could call the company maybe. Hopefully it will clear up really soon for you.

Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted

I would also suspect those Hall cough drops. The new formulations may very well be gluten free, but did you get a new pack? It could have been sitting on the shelf for a while at the store. I know there are several people who have gotten ill off of Halls cough drops.

oceangirl Collaborator
oceangirl
Posted
  • Author
I would also suspect those Hall cough drops. The new formulations may very well be gluten free, but did you get a new pack? It could have been sitting on the shelf for a while at the store. I know there are several people who have gotten ill off of Halls cough drops.

Thank you all! Yes, I did check the date and it's Dec. 2007 for the Hall's but I'm not going to have any just to be sure for now. I do know the antibiotics are killing off things both good and bad so I guess I should blame them for now. Today and tomorrow and then I'm done. Of course, my ear infection doesn't feel like it's done with me yet so...sigh. I am ramping up my visits to my acupuncturist- she healed me of pneumonia several years ago and I do believe it's the way to go. Thank you all for replying.

lisa

jesscarmel Enthusiast
jesscarmel
Posted
Thank you all! Yes, I did check the date and it's Dec. 2007 for the Hall's but I'm not going to have any just to be sure for now. I do know the antibiotics are killing off things both good and bad so I guess I should blame them for now. Today and tomorrow and then I'm done. Of course, my ear infection doesn't feel like it's done with me yet so...sigh. I am ramping up my visits to my acupuncturist- she healed me of pneumonia several years ago and I do believe it's the way to go. Thank you all for replying.

lisa

Hi Lisa

Right now i'm on antibiotics too for a bad cough infection. uch i hate antibiotics. im taking doxycyline. ive defintily reacted to antibiots before with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting , d and stomach aches so its probably that. how many days do you have left? hopefully not too many! im only on day 3

Jess

oceangirl Collaborator
oceangirl
Posted
  • Author
Hi Lisa

Right now i'm on antibiotics too for a bad cough infection. uch i hate antibiotics. im taking doxycyline. ive defintily reacted to antibiots before with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting , d and stomach aches so its probably that. how many days do you have left? hopefully not too many! im only on day 3

Jess

Jess

I have two days left. Of course, my ear is still hurting a bit and feels "full". I started with a bronchial infection, like you- my daughter had it as well and just recovering! I hope you feel well soon!

lisa

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ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
Jess

I have two days left. Of course, my ear is still hurting a bit and feels "full". I started with a bronchial infection, like you- my daughter had it as well and just recovering! I hope you feel well soon!

lisa

Have you called the pharmacey where you got the pills? The druggist can tell you for sure if the pills are gluten free and should be happy to do so.

oceangirl Collaborator
oceangirl
Posted
  • Author
Have you called the pharmacey where you got the pills? The druggist can tell you for sure if the pills are gluten free and should be happy to do so.

Ravenwoodglass,

Yes, it was all checked out. I guess my question is: can it still FEEL like a glutening? Thank you for the advice, though.

lisa

aprilh Apprentice
aprilh
Posted
Thank you all! Yes, I did check the date and it's Dec. 2007 for the Hall's but I'm not going to have any just to be sure for now. I do know the antibiotics are killing off things both good and bad so I guess I should blame them for now. Today and tomorrow and then I'm done. Of course, my ear infection doesn't feel like it's done with me yet so...sigh. I am ramping up my visits to my acupuncturist- she healed me of pneumonia several years ago and I do believe it's the way to go. Thank you all for replying.

lisa

If its an ear infection, try soaking some garlic cloves in some olive oil. After about 20 minutes, drop some drops of the olive oil in your ears. Do this 3 x per day. Works Great!! and Fast!! I use it on my kids too.

April

elonwy Enthusiast
elonwy
Posted

I had the same experience recently. I was sluggish, exhausted, imsomniac, sick to my stomach, had D and generally felt like poo. I checked on the meds before I took them ( how well my pharmacy knows my requests now) but it felt like I'd been uber glutened. Horrible. This is the first time I've taken antibiotics since being gluten-free, and they used to make me sick before but this was mind blowing how terrible they made me feel. I think it was Clindomyacin or something like that.

Elonwy

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

antibiotics cause GI distress for a lot of people. "D" is a *common* side effect of them. zithromax is gluten-free, but it can still cause GI distress whether your celiac or not. it's mostly an issue of figuring out how best to settle your stomach (I adjust what I'm eating a bit), taking probiotics, and just getting through it. I hope you're feeling better soon!

oceangirl Collaborator
oceangirl
Posted
  • Author
antibiotics cause GI distress for a lot of people. "D" is a *common* side effect of them. zithromax is gluten-free, but it can still cause GI distress whether your celiac or not. it's mostly an issue of figuring out how best to settle your stomach (I adjust what I'm eating a bit), taking probiotics, and just getting through it. I hope you're feeling better soon!

Thank you all!

April, thank you- that's an old remedy on both my French and Greek side and I'm definitely doing that next- I don't want any more antibiotics! Yes, Elonwy an Tiffany, I've always had problems with them- this just seems off the charts! If we could just get more than two days in a row of sun in Maine maybe I could bake it out of me! Thank you all for your help and kind thoughts and right back at ya!

lisa

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

Most antibiotics upset my stomach, cause D, cramping, naseau for me, and for a majority of people. Always take probiotics during and after antibiotic round. Don't take the antibiotics on an empty stomach and trying drinking gingerale, sprite. These things help me get through the round.

oceangirl Collaborator
oceangirl
Posted
  • Author
Most antibiotics upset my stomach, cause D, cramping, naseau for me, and for a majority of people. Always take probiotics during and after antibiotic round. Don't take the antibiotics on an empty stomach and trying drinking gingerale, sprite. These things help me get through the round.

Jenvan

Good advice, thank you.

lisa

teebs in WV Apprentice
teebs in WV
Posted

I need to share my experience. I was prescribed an antibiotic for acne by the same dermatologist that diagnosed my DH (which prompted my family doctor to send me to the GI for celiac disease diagnosis). When I went to the pharmacy to have my prescription filled, I asked the pharmacist if there was any gluten in this medication. I was newly diagnosed and very naive to the whole process and when the pharmacist told me there was no gluten I assumed he knew what he was talking about. After a couple of weeks I learned more about the disease and product ingredients, and for some reason decided to check my prescription on the manufacturers website. Sure enough I found that it contained gluten. I called my derm. and he prescribed another type of antibiotic for acne. Needless to say I have learned my lesson and I do not rely on anyone else except for the manufacturer.

Tracy

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

It's always best to call the manufacturer directly and ask them. I've never had a problem with a pharmacist or nurse at any drug company that I have called.

I've not had luck with my doctor or the local pharmacy (CVS)--

As far as antibiotics, I always get D and nausea with them--my doctor suggested I take them with a meal--not just a snack or a few crackers. I find that taking them with a lot of food seems to help a little, especially with the nausea--

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