My anti-biotic problems started when I was 27 and became very ill after a trip to Mexico City where I acquired a nasty bug called Shigellosis. Treatment involved a week in the hospital, in isolation and mainlined anti-biotics (Ampicillin) and Potasium for severe dehydration which caused heart issues.

For years after that treatment, I developed Colitis (bleeding of the bowels) every time I had to take anti-biotics, which was often because of frequent bladder infections. Surgery put a stop to the bladder infections and gave me years to rest my system from the onslaught of the anti-biotics. I was finally able to tolerate anti-biotics again about ten years later.

Jodi-

Just looking at the package can give me a systemic yeast problem. When the colon rupture happened they pumped me full of antibiotics for two months....

Yikes! That's awful Jodi. I spent a week in MC also and luciked out. LOVED the food. lol.

Speaking of yeast infections, I also noticed the past two times I've taken the AD's I've gotten a light case of thrush in my mouth. And it also sets off "Burning Mouth Syndrome" which is not fun.

I don't know why my body is suddenly having negative reactions to AD's.

I got a bad case of candida last time I took antibiotics. I was seriously miserable... took a lot of money and time to rid myself of it. IF I ever have to take antibiotics again I will insist on a script of Nystatin as well.

Yes, Nystatin works wonders staving off the candida.

I don't know about age, but I am highly allergic to a number of drugs, and that includes -mycin antibiotics and sulfa drugs. Am ok with penicillin. I get hives.

Sushi, do you ever get that metallic taste in your mouth? Nothing gets rid of it, not even gargling with salt water.

Not that I recall. If you ever get welts or hives as a reaction, discontinue use IMMEDIATELY.

Several things to think about....was the antibiotic for prophylaxis for preventing a gum infection or was it because you have a history of heart problems?
By starting an antibiotic and then stopping before completing the course, you could cause a resistance to it and cause further problems.
The metalic taste could be from the dental problem.
I always take a high quality probiotic when taking antibiotics...prevents yeast infections and the stomach and bowel problems of all the good bacteria getting out of whack.
I think you need to tell your dentist you stopped taking the Cipro.

Sushi, that's what happened when I last took penicillin.

Carol, he put me on it to prevent an infection.

The metal taste isn't from a dental problem because it only happens when I take an AB.

I remember my pharmacist telling me a few years ago that as we get older it's common to become allergic to penicillin. I was just wondering if it's common to have different side effects from other AB's. I did read that there are certain AB's which cause the metallic taste, but the one I'm on isn't listed.

BTW, you convinced me to take my second pill. :)

Lots of meds cause a metallic taste, it's not uncommon. I've had two reactions to pain meds this past year, throat swollen and very scary. Had to do the pred routine and now I have an epi pen in the event it happens again. I guess our immune systems aren't what they used to be. I too take a strong probiotic while on an antibiotic. Maybe it would be a good idea to call the dr. and find out what to do.

I am allergic to several antibiotics... but no metallic taste.

No antibiotic reactions... but then I drink Kefir Milk most days... and that may be a help. I did nearly died from a reaction to Oxycodone after my back surgery.. and that the Lord, I had the sense to tell Larry to not give me any more regardless of my pain... That crap put me through hell...

Strange things happen as we age. I was put on Cipro for a UTI and ever since then, I've had IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). That lasted 3 years until I finally got things back to normal with lots of probiotics and Colostrum, only to come down with bronchitis this year and be given an antibiotic shot plus 10 days worth of pills, and here we go again....back to the IBS-D (diarrhea). It's not fun. Antiobiotics are known to cause IBS. They irritate the lining of the colon.

Cipro as a precaution? That seems like overkill, but perhaps it was a low dose -- or there is nothing milder that is not in the penicillin family? I have two artificial hips and as a precaution am prescribed 1500 mg of amoxicillin before any dental appointment where my gums maybe punctured. You are prescribed this to prevent a systemic infection from traveling through your blood FROM your mouth. (Our mouths are hotbeds of *germs*.)

ALWAYS take probiotics along with an antibiotic. The antibiotic kills *everything* along with the 'bad stuff'. The probiotic puts back the 'good stuff' that keeps your digestive system working properly. Nothing seems to help the awful taste in the mouth; prednisone is the worst for that in my experience.

I was prescribed levoflxacin for pneumonia in February, but at a 'medium' strength (500 mg.). It was unpleasant, but less unpleasant than worsening pneumonia!

I developed an allergy to aspirin after becoming asthmatic and put on steroids in my forties, and earlier to sulfa after taking it for recurring sinus infections. I turned bright red *all over* from the sulfa. Aspirin now makes my sinuses and throat swell.

I wish I could take aspirin, since it actually *treats* inflammation. I believe Tylenol works on pain receptors, not the inflamed tissue itself, but that may be another of the 'things I think I know'. The aspirin allergy means I can't use any of the many OTC's like Ibuprofin, etc. (I don't know what makes these much more expensive pills superior to plain aspirin, which is the anti-inflammatory IN them.)

For anyone on antibiotics, especially older folk or those with compromised immune systems, make sure you are aware of the infectious disease C-diff. I'm battling it right now and it is increasingly widespread, increasingly resistant to treatment, and still little known to many. Just google it for information. Believe me you will want to take every precaution to understand and avoid it.

I definitely know what you're talking about marita40. After a bout of strep throat and the antibiotics killing everything good, getting c-diff, colitis, bladder infection and more I also learned that the antibiotics didn't do anything for the strep anyway except to make me (allegedly) less contagious to others. Won't be making that mistake again.

Cynic, strep, left untreated, can do a lot of damage. My hubby got strep while in the army and it wasn't treated. He got completely paralyzed. It took an old country doctor giving him vitamin B12 injections to get him over the paralysis. To this day, at age 78, he still has damage to his peripheral nerves.

Strep infections also can cause permanent kidney damage and valvular heart disease.
As with all medications risk vs benefit needs to be considered.

The metallic taste left the next day, thank goodness!

My son was misdiagnosed when he had strep. He had gone to the doctor in the morning who said he didn't have strep, and by evening his face was looking at the ceiling, he couldn't control it. Took him to the ER where they gave him a shot, and a few hours later he was on his way back to normal. I shudder to think what would have happened if I didn't take him to the ER.

Jim Henson (Muppet fame) died of strep because he never got treatment for it.