Antibiotics: Side Effects You Need To Be Worried About

Health & Well-beingFebruary 18, 2020

Antibiotics are commonly prescribed by doctors to treat bacterial infections. Although most of its side effects aren’t lethal, antibiotics can still induce severe side effects, like anaphylaxis. In fact, 1 in 5 medication-related emergency room visits is from adverse reactions to them, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). So read on, and check if your antibiotics are causing some of the bothersome side effects below!

Digestive problems

Gastrointestinal issues, including diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea, are the common complaints that patients express. If you have been prescribed these medicines, cutting out high fiber foods and drinking plenty of fluids should be a part of your food plan. To also lessen the risk of developing digestive issues, always read the instructions that come with the medication.

Headaches

Headaches are pretty common among people who take antibiotics. If your head hurts and it’s not from sleep or caffeine deprivation, then it must be the medicine. It is usually only temporary, so if it isn’t inducing intense pain, an over-the-counter analgesic might be the solution.

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Extra sensitivity to the sun

Some antibiotics can affect how your skin reacts to ultraviolet light, and this is because they are photosensitizers. While on these kinds of drugs, sun exposure can cause peeling, blistering, damaged blood cells, and can even create a red itchy rash in just 15 minutes of sunbathing. Avoiding extended exposure to the sun, wearing protective clothing, and wearing sunscreen can battle against sunburns if you’re taking drugs like Cipro, oxycycline, and Bactrim.

Drug interactions

Sometimes drugs can react to other medicines that you’re on or might cause them to work differently. Medications that can cause adverse reactions to antibiotics are antihistamines, blood thinners, muscle relaxants, and some antidepressants. Some birth control pills can also be less effective while you are on antibiotics, and others can also interact with alcohol.

Fungal Infections

Antibiotics can leave us vulnerable to fungal infections, which can occur in common spots like the mouth, on the skin, or beneath your fingernails or toenails. You can take an antifungal medication that may stop the virus, but you should be more careful and must consult your doctor before adding another medicine to your prescription.

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Add in a minute-long meditation sesh in between your usual morning habits.

Anxiety and depression

Antibiotics can cause depression and anxiety too. You are not dull today because you have a headache. It is because your medication is making you feel depressed. These drugs alter the makeup of the body’s microbiome affecting neurological pathways that can be dangerous for the mental health of a person.

Anaphylaxis

Allergic reactions to antibiotics are the scariest of all since its one of the most common reasons people are brought to emergency rooms. Some folks develop rashes or hives, swollen lips, and some even experience shortness of breath. The worst thing that could happen, though, is to experience a full-on anaphylactic reaction, where your throat swells shut. If this happens, a quick dose of epinephrine will literally save your life.