Metronidazole Lasting Side Effects (Page 70) (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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Re: Galina (# 1388)

I don't know if my symptoms are from one or both of those meds or something else entirely and probably little chance of ever figuring it out I think. Just slugging through at the moment, waiting for another appt with neurologist...and if he comes up with nothing besides the calcium channel binding antibodies that I tested positive for then I don't know what my next step will be. I'm taking a recently retired nurse friend with me to the appointment.

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Re: BAH (# 1394)

Hello BAH, It is good that you are taking to your appt a friend who was a nurse. May be that will help you during your appt with the neurologist. BAH, I also had muscle twitching and pain for a couple of weeks after my EMG test. The test itself was so painful as well. I will never take it again. I will see my neurologist next month also for the follow up and ask her to order some blood work but I am not sure if she will order them. BAH, I think that your balance and exhaustion problems may be caused by Cipro. Betty who was posting here a few months ago also took Cipro after metronidazole and had the same problems with balance and exhaustion. She posted that her neurologist wanted her to exercise and push it through the fatigue but it did not help her at all. I think it just better for us to do the activities at our own pace without being pushed or rushed. I really hope that time will heal us!!!’ Hang in there!!!!

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Re: Galina (# 1395)

Hi Galina, It is very well documented that symptoms of Metronidazole toxicity include lightheadedness, fog brained, extreme balance disorder, ataxia, dizziness, ear pain, hearing loss, severe tinnitus, chronic migraine, vision loss or disruption, pressure behind eyes, intestinal pain, etc etc. The incidence of harm cannot be accurately tabulated because less than 2% of all adverse events are ever reported to the FDA. This antibiotic is extremely toxic to individuals with pre-existing conditions involving the CNS, especially the brain and spinal cord. However, the latest data from the manufacturer (Pfizer) indicates the drug can disrupt and attack the Vestibular Network which is often compounded by brain swelling (encephalopathy) and lesion formation. These conditions will produce the adverse medical events listed above. Sadly this damage can alter the inner ear and can be permanent. Google Veterinarian Metronidazole Toxicity. Watch the videos and read some of the pet owner testimonials. They walk and probably feel just like us, yet the doctors are all in denial when it happens. Some of those poor little guys never made it back either and their owners had to put them down.

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Re: Galina (# 1395)

Well, I'm eager to get this appt over with to see if we can advance any at all in finding a solution or if I simply have to figure out how to deal with it. And NO, that doesn't including going for counseling to help me cope...as my GP suggested. If coping means accepting that you are not going to get better that doesn't need a therapist. If coping means you just have to figure out how to get on with living however you can that doesn't need a therapist either. It needs some life planning which I can do on my own. OBTW, I am BAH. For some reason I signed on and this stupid thing asked me to sign up again.

Meanwhile I've got issues with my knees, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis so those are issues I have to deal with also.

Thanks for all the support.

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Re: Dennis (# 1396)

Hello Dennis, Yes, this drug is absolute poison!!! I also aware that veterinarians widely prescribe this drug to dogs and cats. I have a Border Collie/ Lab mix who is constantly sticking her nose into some bad stuff on a trail. Luckily, she hasn’t picked up anything bad that needs to be treated with antibiotics. I try to keep a close eye on her but she is a dog and dogs are so sneaky. I heard that metronidazole is given to dogs to treat Giardia and other bacterial infection so I will ensure that my dog will never ever be treated with this horrid drug. The sad part is that people are not warned about metronidazole toxicity. No single doctor warns about the side effects of this drug. They just quietly prescribe it and as a result we all happened to learn from the personal experience. From this point, I can only protect my family members and friends but there are many people out there who are unaware about the danger of this drug.

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Re: BAH (# 1397)

Hello BAH, I hope that your upcoming appt with a new neurologist will be helpful. Dennis just posted helpful information about metronidazole damage to the vestibular system. Vestibular system is in charge of the equilibrium and the normal body movement. It could be that the metronidazole or Cipro caused some damage to your vestibular system causing balance issues. Maybe you can talk to your new neurologist about the connection between these antibiotics and the damage to the vestibular system. Maybe he or she can order some additional testing to check your inner ear for any damage. BAH, I also have issues with the pain in my ankle joints that started 2 months after I took metronidazole. In the beginning, it was very bad but gradually it lessened except in my left ankle. I let it be and hopefully it improves overtime.

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Re: Galina (# 1399)

The ENT is supposed to be checking for that. So when I get the final tests done and get her input we'll know whether or not they think there is a problem in that area.

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Galina (# 1397) --

Well, it was interesting. I did like the lady..maybe because of her reaction to what the neurologist said. Background: When I met with the neurologist the first time, he spent at least 2 hrs talking at me, telling me about the placebo effect of drugs, need for me to push through the fatigue to get a second wind, etc and commented on my movements as "evidence of dementia". The ENT's response was, "bulls***". I nearly fell off the chair!

But after all her tests she said that the issue with my balance is the neuropathy which was caused by Metronidazole for sure. She said that neuropathy causes problems with balance because of loss of feeling in the feet and legs which we use to help us balance. Most people are not aware that we use eyes, brain, hands AND FEET to help us balance and when we can't feel the ground we have difficulty with balance and this uses masses more energy and creates exhaustion. She also said that the results of the test for antibodies....showing positive for calcium channel binding antibodies is NOT proof that I have myasthenia gravis but other tests should be run before I'm treated for this. I did some research and the EMG test is one way to determine this but there is a blood test for certain antibodies (not the ones he tested for) which prove whether or not you have myasthenia gravis and that this should be done before any "treatment of symptoms". Meanwhile she put through an order for more PT to help strengthen my legs and ankles so I can balance better and have more energy. So, do I have an answer? Not sure yet. Will keep you all informed. So one thing she said was that when we get older and have a fall or other issues we get more cautious and then lose muscle tone which makes things worse. Hmm. More later folks.

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Re: BAH (# 1401)

Hello BAH, I am glad that you visited a new doctor for your symptoms. Is she a new neurologist or general practitioner? I think she is a good doctor that looks deeper into your symptoms and simply care about your wellbeing. Did she order more tests to check for myasthenia gravis. I learned that this condition can be autoimmune or can be caused by certain medications. I hope that you dont have it. I was recently seen my primary physician and she ordered ANA comprehensive test to check for autoimmune disorders. Thank to God the test results were normal. I know doctors order several tests to check for antibodies associated with myasthenia gravis. I supposed to have my follow up appointment with the neurologist today but they pushed my visit to May. So I have to wait, but when I go, I will definitely ask her to order some tests that I want. Meantime, I just hanging in there with my painful neuropathy and hope that with time it gets less painful. BAH, how is your symptoms? Any improvements?

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Re: Galina (# 1402)

This was an ENT that I'd reported I was to see this month. She sent a message to the neurologist to do the tests. We did an EMG test which showed I have some nerve damage from an old lower back injury. So I'm to see the neurologist again on March 15th. We'll see what he says. The ENT said the neuropathy was definitely from the Metronidazole back in 2016. She doesn't see any benefit or reason for her to treat me, just reports to the other doctor. She said my tests for balance, etc, eyes and brain show that all is good there, in fact better than most people she tests so it's not brain or eyes that are the problem.

As for how I feel, no, about the same. I got a pedometer to see if I could gradually increase my activity levels. Today, after I got it installed on my phone I did some 1400 steps. Not impressive but I managed to do a bit more and tomorrow will be the proof, whether or not I'm too exhausted to do much then as usually happens. Since I also have issues with osteoarthritis and bad knees I'm also working my way through a book on how to treat your knees yourself. Following its advice, so have to get up again even if I don't walk far. I'll be back with any more info I get that might help.

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Re: BAH (# 1403)

BAH, I hope that your upcoming appointment with a neurologist goes well. May be he or she can order some tests to check for myasthenia gravis to rule it out. My neurologist is very non cooperative but I don’t have any other ones that any better in my locations. I will go to see her in May and hopefully she can order some blood work. BAH, I think that in our situation we have to do what we can every day without pushing ourselves to much so won’t feel seek afterwards. It is hard for me to limit my activities because I was very active person before taking metronidazole, but i’ve learned to be patient and not to overdo myself and treat my body well. I have no choice but to be more conscious nowadays about how much activities I do. All I know that one day I will be healthy again! It may take a lot of patience and time but I will get there. Please take care yourself and never give up hope. We will get there step by step! Please let us know how your appointment on March 15th goes.

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Re: Galina (# 1402)

Well, it was a bust. They did rule our mathenias gravis (or however you spell that) but basically said they had no idea!!! but decided to do another MRI and more bloodwoork. bloodwork came back normal. haven't heard anything about the MRI results yet.. that was done last Friday so assume I should hear something this week.

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Re: BAH (# 1405)

Good morning BAH, I am so glad that you are negative for myasthenia gravis! That is a great news and I am sure that the MRI will be normal. Did you have a brain or spine MRI? How is your balance and energy level?

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Re: Galina (# 1406)

Well, waiting on the MRI, don't expect an issue there.. As for energy level? HA! I got a pedometer on my cell phone to track how far I walk each day. For the past 6-7 days I've been able to add a couple of steps each day and they are growing but I'm only getting tired-er... as in more tired than before. Still waiting for that second wind. HA!

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Re: BAH (# 1407)

Hello BAH, I am glad that you are keep walking although it is not easy. I’ve been walking every single day with my painful neuropathy and not giving up. I think I had no choice but walk because I have a big dog and I need to walk her every day otherwise she would raise hell. It’ been almost 13 months for me since I took metronidazole and I feel that I am making progress toward getting my health back. It’ been a very bumpy and slow road but I am getting there. My neuropathy is lessening in the feet and legs and I feel that my nerves are healing as I can do more and feel less pain. I hope that as time goes by my nerves will heal and I will regain my health back. BAH, you will get better. Just take a day at the time and do what you can. May be gentle stretching will be also beneficial to you. I’ve been stretching a lot on my yoga mat and I feel that it makes my body stronger. BAH, hang in there and believe that time will heal, just don’t take any medication because they all have bad side effects.

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Re: Galina (# 1404)

MRI was of brain... the written report says it was normal, actually it said "grossly normal"! Got a laugh out of that. The neurologist was to get the actual DVD but so far they don't seem to have it. I had to call the folks that did the imaging and ask if they sent the DVD and they said they don't send unless the doc requests it and there was no request. So I sent that info to the doc... a week later got a reply from an assistant that they were asking for it. That's been about a week. I really don't expect anything to show other than the normal aging process.

As for exhaustion? I've been recording my steps, etc. and when I get close to 4000 steps I'm nearly nonfunctional the next day, sometimes 2 days. Meanwhile I'm still the same hyperactive person who teaches watercolor painting and gardening techniques and am the lead person preparing for a huge plant sale on May 18th and have my own garden plot to maintain. IF it weren't for my friends in my gardening projects it would never get done. I'm thinking that either I will get better in a year or never. My vital signs are all good. I just have a major issue moving my body through space, if that makes any sense. I can stand still and do a lot of stuff for an hour or more as long as I don't walk more than a few steps. When I do, I get winded and often have to sit down to calm my breathing and rest for a few minutes before I go back to it, which I always do.

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Re: BAH (# 1409)

Hello BAH, I am so glad that your MRI of the brain is normal. Having normal tests’ results are always encouraging. I am glad that you are doing what you love like teaching a watercolor painting and gardening. You are doing your best considering what you went through. Keep pushing and hope that time will heal. I am glad that you have good friends that understand and support you through this hard time!!! I am just like you, doing my best every day and hope that within a year or two I will recover. BAH, I have my follow up appointment with the neurologist in mid May and we will see what she is going to say. It’s been more than 8 months since I’ve seen her. BAH, you said that you had a brain MRI. Was it ordered with Contrast injection?

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Re: Galina (# 1410)

Galina, the brain MRI wasn't done with contrast injection. So, I don't know what else to do so continue to struggle through and hope that eventually it will get better. I'm not feeling very hopeful at this point.

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Re: BAH (# 1411)

BAH, I am so glad that you had an MRI without contrast because the contrast is toxic itself. I know that we want to heal faster but it is not the case with us. Please, just do what you can, keep faith, and take a day at the time. I hope that God will help us and things will get better overtime. Meanwhile, eat healthy, less sugar and more fresh fruits and veggies. BAH, have you tried a ginger tea? Ginger is very beneficial for the health. It cleanses the blood and body and overall good for the immune system. Recently, my husband and I had a very bad case of flu and we started making our own ginger tea and it helped us a lot with the symptoms and the duration of the flu. Now I drink a cup of ginger lemon tea every day just to keep the cold and flu away. I don’t take any supplements at this time because my B1 and B12 vitamins and minerals are normal. I just do my beat to eat healthy and keep hope that things will get better. BAH, please keep faith and hopefully in a few months our health will get somewhat better.

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Re: Galina (# 1412)

I don't know about the faith part but thanks for the good thoughts and wishes. I can't use ginger, it makes my lips swell... and I don't drink tea any more. was raised on sweet iced tea but in 1983 or so I stopped drinking it altogether. I mostly drink lemon water with a bit of cranberry sometimes other wise just water after I've survived the process of waking up by drinking 2 cups of coffee...LOL. Actually I don't think coffee wakes me up, it's just something to do until I do wake up.

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