Metronidazole Lasting Side Effects (Page 52) (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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BJH, you are the first patient I've spoken to who has a supportive primary care physician and specialists. My doctors absolutely refused to believe the drug could do this, despite all the symptoms I had listed as side effects. It wasn't until I did my own research and found out about metronidazole CNS toxicity that my doctors could no longer dismiss my claims (except my PCP--after I showed her the medical literature, she had me banned from her clinic). However, other doctors have at least admitted that my problems are possibly related to the drug--that's the best I could get from them. Your case is unusual--it shouldn't be, but it is, unfortunately.

By the way, thank you for the information about the vagus nerve and treatment options. I'm actually having a flare up right now (not horrible but bothersome) and I'm trying out the cold water approach to see if it helps at all.

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singing loudly is also good and you can use it as tension relief against the mad you feel at your doctors!!!!

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ANNA - How long did it take for you to get back to somewhat normal because I am having it in my head and chest 24/7? It is very worrisome because when I workout they intensify so much more and I worry my heart is going to give out or my head is going to explode. I do have numbing tingling and pain. It is occasional but like most of the people on this chat I think I am getting better one day and worse the next. My vision is off and i have a slight tilt to my left side making me unbalanced and uncoordinated. May I ask what you were on metronidazole for?

BJH - I completely agree with ERIN and ANNA. All doctors I have been to do not believe this is due to the medication. Even while on it 3 different doctors (including a specialist) said its not serious and if it is the medication it would resolve after a few days. Well here I am almost three weeks out and still not feeling the same. Wish I had listened to my body and just stopped it.

ERIN - thank you for your long post a few posts back about the GABA receptor. I have came across some info for that, have you found anyway to reset that or anything that helps? I am seeing a neurologist tomorrow so any medical articles or information I can present that you or I have found would be appreciated so I do not get dismissed and be told that it's anxiety and the medication would have been out of my system a long time ago.

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BJH--haha! That's good advice! When I was really sick, I listened to a lot of Tori Amos songs, really dark stuff, to let me vent my anger. Unfortunately, when I have a flare-up, I have respiratory issues and singing can intensify them. It's a part of dysarthria, the slurred speech is just one problem. It can also create a "poor coordination between breathing and speaking." But listening to some angry power music has helped! :)

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Hi needhelp15
I still have The pounding, but its better in the head and throath. But in my stomach and chest i feel it almost every day. it got better in the throath and head pounding, but it took a long time for me. 5-6 months. But it dosent mean its going to be so long for you
Ohhh im so sorry. I have The tingling and numbness to, from head to toe, small fiber neuropathy. And muscle waisting, autonomic system Will not work right, so my blood pressure and heart rate Will not work. Also dizziness and off balance. And alot more
I took flagyl because they took tests from me, down There. It got infected, and they gave me flagyl 400mg, 3 Times a day, didnt take it The last day tough. So total 6 days.
How much did you take?
Im so sorry The doctors Will not belive you either. Its so scary. I have talked to so many that got Hurt from flagyl. And all The doctors and neurologists are blaming this to be anxiethy. They dont even have a clue, how much flagyl can damage a person.
Tell us in here how it goes with The neurologist appointment. I have seen three, The first to was really bad, this third at least admit somethings, but didnt want to even admit that flagyl did this.
Sorry for my bad english, and I hope you heal and get better

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Needhelp, If you plug "metronidazole-induced central nervous system toxicity," "metronidazole-induced peripheral neuropathy" and "metronidazole FDA label" into a search engine, results should come up. Peripheral neuropathy is listed as a warning on the FDA label for metronidazole, and your unsteadiness is listed as a warning as well. The FDA label is a PDF file, and there are several because the FDA doesn't delete the outdated versions. So you need to find the one that has its warnings on page 8, and lists "cerebellar toxicity" and talks about lesions seen on an MRI.

Will your neurologist believe you? I don't know--I hope so. I've noticed that when I showed new doctors research I've pulled, that shuts them up pretty quickly about the problem just being anxiety. I'm not sure what they can do. My worst symptoms were the psychiatric ones--insomnia, anxiety, depression, paranoia. That included the rapid heart beat. I was put on an antidepressant called mirtazapine and that helped me sleep. I think other people have tried beta-blockers, but I'm not sure of their success with them. Good luck!

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Need help 15
Yes to the eye pain!!! My left eye feels strained and my eyesight in that i goes blurry! They feel quite light sensitive too.

I absolutely hate this medication. It made me so I'll while taking it and 9 weeks later I'm still unwell. I've stuffed tingling in my body which is especially bad in my face and head. Lots of stomach problems like nausea and diarrhoea. My appetite still hasn't returned. I feel lightheaded and shaky and my god the anxiety! I've never known anything like it.

My baby was 6 weeks old when i started taking this for a womb infection. He's 15 weeks now and i am still unable to care for him on my own because of how ill I've been. It's been heartbreaking.

My neurologist agrees that the antibiotics caused this. I just hope in time these side effects will fade.

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what treatments or therapy did the neurologist suggest? Physical therapy? tai chi? Anything? Or does he just want you to wait and see? Mine did send me to PT and I'm a lot better and getting better all the time. On my own I'm taking private lessons in tai chi at body plus brain.... will likely graduate to the group classes soon. At first I was too dizzy to do anything with that much motion...and couldnt' get down on the floor or up without help.. Now I can do both... and we've started to dance and bounce to get my hip joints loosened up... yeah!!!

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Nothing yet. He's ordered an MRI which i am having on 30th.

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I am so sorry you are going through this, but know this, you are not alone.

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Hi I took pylera for a h pylori infection in my gut. Pylera consists of metronidazole. That was back in October 2016. It's now April 30th 2017 and I still feel dizzy, drunkenness like I'm on a boat. I'm unsteady. My gastroenterologist just says he's sorry and never took me in for a follow up. I called him so many times. I had an mri, blood tests, Lyme testing everything is normal. Acupuncture did seem to help a bit but my symptoms came back harder. Tried candida diet. Eating kefir yogurt. I don't know how much more of this I can handle. My doctor is referring me to see an ear nose and throat specialist next. I fear these symptoms are permanent.

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Has your doc NOT referred you to a neurologist? If the MRI doesn't show anything that is not a good enough reason to not do the referral. What kind of insurance do you have? Does it require a referral?

Physical therapy and yoga or tai chi do help also. Do you have a lot of tension in your neck and shoulders? Part of it can come from that. I've gotten most of mine cleared up but discovered that because of tension in that area that I'm still having some problems when I turn my head. Working on that now... all the other symptoms have gotten significantly better!!!

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Hi Gabriella
You should go to a neurologist
I have dizziness, of balance too, very severe since i took flagyl/ metrodinazole. Do you have it only when you stand and are walking? Or laying down to?

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I'm going to call my doctor this morning. I feel it all the time. The only time not is when I'm sleeping. I really pray for all of us. This is terrible. I feel myself changing, becoming depressed I feel like I'm in a dream. I'm not even going to bother mentioning that aspect of this damage from metronidazole. I've read forums of people being treated for anxiety and depression - that's just an after effect.

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Gabriella, yes, definitely see your doctor and demand to see a neurologist. BJH is right, that there may be some treatment that can help (physical therapy helped my neck pain, as an example). However, metronidazole CAUSES psychiatric issues like anxiety and depression. They are not after effects--they are symptoms. This drug can damage the brain and affect GABA, a calming neurotransmitter in the brain. I know many, many patients who only have the psychiatric issues and these symptoms come on suddenly with no explanation. The more appropriate term is "altered mental state." There is one case study about metronidazole toxicity that's called, "metronidazole-induced psychotic disorder." Don't ignore symptoms just because they are not "physical" like dizziness or pain.

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Im so sorry Gabriella. I have The dizziness and of balance too all The time, but it so extreme when i stand or walk.its horrible. Im going through so many tests right now. I hope you get better and heal.

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I hope you find answers Anna. I pray for you. For all of us. Has anyone thought of filing any legal suit? I know it would take a lot of work. I feel like a crazy person when I talk about this stuff with my boyfriend or family. Also I tried a candida cleanse, that didn't do anything. I went to the natural food store and purchased GABA supplement but boy does it make me dizzy and tired. I'm going to look into glutathione, I believe it's spelled that way.

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Hi Gabriella
I have thought about legal suit,, but it seems Hard, when The doctors Will not even admit that flagyl damage me like this. Its not easy here in sweden.
I tried probiotics, that didnt do any good. I try to eat as healthy as i can, mostly organic foods and no gluten
If you are concidering gluthatione, dont do to much, like The IV treatments, i have talked to several that got even more Hurt. So be careful.
Have you controlled your heart rate and BP when you stand and when you are laying down. For me, my body cant controll my BP or heart rate any more, its The autonomic nervous system that have been Hurt from flagyl. I guess thats why im so dizzie and of balanced all The time. Just wanted to mention this, if you have The same. I have talked to several that have it like me now, with The BP and heart rate

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Anna I have exactly the same problem with my autonomic nervous system.

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Hi, I am having the runs, look like my belly is swelling and I am a little nervous.

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