Metronidazole Lasting Side Effects (Page 51) (Top voted first)

I have been taking this medication for 7 days and off of it since a week and still have severe side effects, abdominal cramps, severe headaches, dizziness, unsteadiness... How long is it expected to last? It was prescribed with Ciprofloxacin to me and I take Entrophen on a regular basis...

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Hi, Hopeless. I'm almost back to normal now--I get a few minor flare-ups of symptoms but they are few and far between. It's just enough to remind me that something isn't quite right, but not enough to affect my life in any significant way. What are your symptoms and how long have you had them? I can give you the stats that I know--they're are not based on a huge pool of people but they are from medical journals, so it'll give some idea of what you're dealing with.

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Needhelp15, this "head pounding"--you mean head pressure, right? This awful feeling like your brain is a bag of popcorn, just expanding in your skull? Is it everywhere or just at the back of your head?

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Hi Erin thanks for your last two posts the head pounding is just like as if I had my heart beating in my head if that makes sense? Also how long did it take for you to get to this point of normalcy? Did you take just metradanozole or the cipro as well? Did you seek out treatment, medication or noticed anything that helped ? I have been doing every test I can under the sun with no resolution. Any information would be much appreciated since I'm still in the early stages of these symptoms so I wouldn't mind the stats as well. I also have been noticing the PN ALOT which has been discussed quite frequently on this board. Did that ever go away for you? Sorry for so many questions

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Hi, NeedHelp. PN...do you mean peripheral neuropathy? That's a little different than the heart palpitations you're experiencing. I assume you also have anxiety (common problem with this). It's a little difficult to pin down because you took metronidazole AND Cipro, and both can cause these effects. So it's hard to know which caused what.

By itself, metronidazole can cause the heart palpitations. Most people who have this also have raging anxiety, insomnia, head pressure, brain fog, etc. It's a central nervous system issue--basically, the brain is overstimulated. There are a couple reasons why this could be: 1) metronidazole can affect the GABA in the brain, which is a calming neurotransmitter. That goes out of whack and the brain goes a a bit hyper-crazy; or 2) the drug has caused some damage. Metronidazole can cause brain lesions and personality changes and problems with the autonomic system (the part of the brain that regulars heart rate, blood pressure, breathing) can be a symptom. If I were to guess, I'd say you're dealing with problem one, not two, because most people who have the lesions have a lot more physical symptoms. As an example, I lost the ability to walk and speak while on the drug--those are the most common physical ailments (but not all of them). It could be #2 or both--it's hard to say. If it is brain lesions, the only thing that can spot them is an MRI (not a CT scan), and usually only when you're taking the drug or shortly thereafter. They usually clear up quickly, which is a good thing but it means the "proof" might be gone.

As for Cipro, it can affect GABA as well, hindering its ability to work. I looked this up recently because I was trying to explain the differences with this class of drugs and metronidazole, and forgot that Cipro can also affect GABA. So Cipro can cause all those central nervous system affects as well, all on its own. However, Cipro (and the other drugs in its class of antibiotics) are best known for damaging mitochondrial DNA. This includes tendon ruptures and a lot of other very odd and devastating symptoms. Basically, the body can fall apart, but I don't think this DNA issue is what's happening to you.

Both Cipro and metronidazole can cause PN. That's damage to the nerves, and nerves have a tendency to heal slowly, so it could be a problem that lingers for a while. I did not have this issue, but many people on metronidazole (and/or Cipro) complain about it.

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I am still suffering from severe effects more than 1.5 years later (took 6 days of Flagyl in 2015). I KNOW I have dysfunction with both my central nervous system and autonomic nervous system. This antibiotic NEEDS to be studied more. I haven't seen a neurologist yet but even if I do...how much help they can be when the damage is done?

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Hi needhelp 15
I have that pounding heart in the head. I also can feel it in my throath, chest and even in my stomach. when i lay down i can feel it in the side of my back. I dont know why we can feel The heart pounding like this every where since flagyl, but i have talked to several others that have had it like that.

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Anna! Yes you described my pounding exactly but it comes and goes in other places and is consistent in the head! How long have you been off flagyl and do you still have this symptom? It started while I was on it and hasn't gone away it's been 3.5 weeks since it first happened. Please let me know any other information you have on this symptom because I worry it won't ever go away (but I know it's not from anxiety) because it happens 24/7.

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Ali what symptoms have you had and continue to have? I am sorry you have suffered and are suffering for so long because of this drug.

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Ali, see the neurologist now... they can help with ordering physical therapy which does help.

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Hi needhelp 15
You are in this very early, so maybe its going to get better for you. I took flagyl 1 1/2 years ago. But i have alot of other symptoms /damage from flagyl. But that dosent mean you cant heal.

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The head and heart pounding has been going on for a 1 1/2 years?

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Hi Anna sorry to bother you but you have the pounding symptom everyday 24/7 for a 1 1/2 years?

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Hi needhelp 15
For me its a little better with that pounding, i dont feel it so much in my throath anymore. But to be honest i still feel it my head, my chest and in my stomach, but not 24/7, only in my chest 24/7. The rest, it Comes and goes. I belive its The vagus nerve, it goes through The head,throath, chest and down The stomach. Try not to eat big meals, eat small meals often, thats has helped me a little. The only explanation i have is The vagus nerve about The pounding. Do you have tinggling, numbness and pain?

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Ok, you know how to help the vagus nerve? My nutritionist says:
Sing as loudly as you can. Gargle very loudly. Put your hands together in a tight fist and try to blow into it. Gag yourself but not enough to throw up. And my favorite? Put your face into a pan of very cold water.

Sounds crazy but it seems to stimulate the nerve and help it reconnect with the brain. Actually I spent a lot of time in the begging singing nonsense sounds while driving. That way I didn't have to explain to anyone what I was doing. Then since I have dry eyes (not related to this issue) and have to put heated pads on them and try to squeeze out the oil that gets stuck in the pores at the edges and then wash them with some foamy stuff and they have to be rinsed I use very cold water to wash my face with after all this other rigmarole. I am a lot better.

Not related to the vagus nerve.. I'm in physical therapy and taking private lessons in tai chi which is definitely reducing the dizziness and imbalance issues. Yesterday in the tai chi session we danced and stomped our feet around the room as we worked my joints without pain. It was fun and made me feel happier. But we tried skipping, which I couldn't seem to do and trying made me dizzy. That is an odd one I think. Going to ask the physical therapist and neurologist about that.

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Bjh
Yes im doing all of that for my vagus nerve. I read about that, that singing, gargle and even put The water in cold water is good for The vagus nerve. I wonder if my neightbores like The singing or not haha
Thats good that it seem to make your dizziness better with The thai Chi, continue with that. I saw a new neurologist this week. he was not good either, but at least he said that my arms did not look right at all at my age. So he is going to send me for a emg, for my severe muscle loss. And he was The first neurologist that said my autonomic nervous system is not working right. Thats why my blood pressure and high heart rate is racing extremly high when i stand. So he should see if there are any more tests for The autonomic nervous system. The first tests they could not even read, my autonomic system was to crazy. Im going to do a tilt test on tuesday.
But do you think he admitted that flagyl did this to me? Ohhh no. He said like The rest "Well flagyl is out of your body alone time ago". Hmmm.... They are so ignorant.

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Interesting that my neurologist and my primary doc both said that it was the meds... and after my first round of physical therapy he evaluated me again and said based on what he was seeing it is very obvious that it was the med...

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Bjh
Well all i can say, most of The People that i have talked to, have seen doctors and neurologists like mine. They dont belive. You are very Lucky that you have meet a good neurologist and a good doctor. I wish that i could see them to. Because going from doctor to doctor, and neurologist to neurologist is not funny, when they just think its anxiethy. but i have been diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy now, and still they dont get it.

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Where do you live? I don't suppose any where near Colorado? What kind of insurance do you have?

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Bjh

I live in sweden. Where they say we have good medical care. I can say, no we have not.

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Ok, so this system is not working for you because you can't get a doctor to listen to what is happening to you. I'm really sorry. And I suppose the only solution is to see what all you can do for yourself. At least you are trying. My husband has issues with being out of breath but refuses to talk to a doctor about it.

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