Metronidazole Lasting Side Effects (Page 2) (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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I took Augmentin for 10 days for a persistent cought (Amoxicillin/Claulvanate) and am having all the same symptoms you all are describing, except for the Peripheral Nueropathy (horrific anxiety and panic attacks from hell, horrible depression, brain-fog, derealization/depersonalization, racing heartbeat, etc). Of course the doctors say my symptoms have nothing to do with the Antibiotic. I just finished 10 years of school (off and on) got a master's degree and have to start my new job the day after tomorrow!!! I am having the worse panic attacks you can imagine, and horrible depression. It feels like a cattle-prod or some sort of tazer has been attached to my spinal cord and is sending horrific electrical waves up my spine and throughout my body. When I drink something my esophagus burns. I smell a funny chemical smell when I breathe out. I took the Augmentin twice a day for 10 days from June 6th to June 16th of this year...it is now almost 2 months later and symptoms have not abated...maybe only by like 15% have they gotten better so far. This is one of the scariest and worst things that has ever happened to me. If anyone could offer me some hope that has been through this, it would be greatly appreciated! I just want to know that this will get 100% better and is nothing permanent! :(

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The side effects of metronidazole seem greater than the sickness. At least in my opinion from observations made to my mother's 14 day medication.

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Please don't despair. I took this medication at the end of June beginning of July 2012 and I had the same reaction as you have. The neuropathy has gotten better for me. I would go to a Naturopathic doctor if you can. You need to help your body recover from this poison. I still feel weak at times and my feet do burn from time to time as well. I also get dizzy but nothing compared to the way it was. It has affected my life and health but I believe our body will heal itself, if we give it the right things such as food etc. Don't give up hope. I'm glad I didn't.

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I was on flagyl for 7 days and have been off of it for one week . Still a horrible thick salty taste in my mouth , extreme abdominal pains with bouts of extreme diarhea. No matter what I eat , it seems to upset my stomach . I also have ibs and female issues , but nothing compared to what the flagyl seemed to do to me.

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Hi, Karol. Thank you for taking the time to read through the posts; other people have explained about metronidazole's (and cipro's) toxicity before, so it's a good thing to do.

It could be either drug--both can affect the central nervous system--but from what you're describing, I'm going with metronidazole and here's why. The aching at the base of your skull--that's classic metronidazole. I'm not saying Cipro can't cause this (it causes a lot of things), but to be frank, metronidazole's toxicity is bad but Cipro is typically worse and usually affects more (sometimes all) of the body.

What you're describing is depression and anxiety. That "lack of motivation" and doom and gloom--psychiatric effects seem to be the most common issues with metronidazole, despite what your doctor thinks (doctors are clueless when it comes to adverse drug reactions).

Here's some good news--from what I've read, the psychiatric effects have the best chance of recovery. That's no guarantee but the odds are in your favor. It might just take some time. Basically, your central nervous system is a little wacko right now, and needs time to heal from the toxicity.

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Metronidazole toxicity is really unpredictable. Most people recover completely, others improve but don't fully recover, and a small few (about 4%) have permanent cognitive impairment. That being said, the fact that you're able to write this gives me the impression you're not in that 4%. I didn't have memory issues but I had a very difficult time concentrating and doing my job for several months. That eventually cleared up but it did take time.

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Yoyo, if your doctor or neurologist did an inkling of research, they'd know that the only thing that can detect issues with metronidazole is an MRI. But even that can't show everything, especially weeks after taking the drug.

The drug is a neurotoxin, and it causes a hefty stack of symptoms. Most people do make a full recovery but there is no guarantee. The psychiatric issues seem to have the best chance at a full recovery. I'm two years out and still have some lingering issues, BUT I'm working and am happy, and the problems are minor compared to what they were when this first happened. The best healer is time.

I am sorry you're going through this. There are warnings on the drug's FDA label about its cerebellar toxicity, but doctors don't look at drug warning labels. If you plug "metronidazole toxicity" into your search engine, you'll see for yourself. I wish you luck.

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Hi, Yoyo. I did--my legs jerked randomly throughout the night. I also had hands tremors (not just when sleeping, though). More on the left than right. The leg jerking stopped after about seven months, the hand tremor in my right hand resolved and the left one flares up only time-to-time and is usually an "internal" tremor (aka, I can feel a slight instability with my left arm/hand but it's usually not enough to affect my use of the hand).

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Vanessa, anxiety is one of the most common side effects for this. Let me guess--obsessive thoughts, constant panic attacks, lowered stress threshold (where little things like getting into an argument with someone can leave you much more upset than you normally would be).

I bet it's also causing sleeping problems, sensitivity to light and/or sound, and possibly a strange, pressure-like sensation in your head (either your whole head or the back of your head). Any of those on the mark?

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I am so glad I found this, I am on the same dosage for 10 days (now on my 5th) and thought I was going crazy, as I feel spaced out most of the time and keep loosing my balance,although I have less pain I am wondering if it should be gone by now. How are you feeling

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I have a lot of information to share, so bear with the long response. I got the results of my Audio Evoked and Visual Evoked Potential tests. They were both within the normal range. My neuro says these basically measure the function of the brain stem, so it's a good thing that they are within normal limits. Apparently, damage to the brain stem is almost always permanent in some respects.

He said he now suspects – based on my continued difficulties with visual tracking and visual stimulation – that the flagyl caused damage to my inner ear and vestibular system - OTOTOXICITY. We thought we’d ruled that out (another doctor did an inner ear test on me), but as I read more on ototoxicity, this seems to be EXACTLY what I have (and what others on here have described as their symptoms):

From Wiki: "When the vestibule and/or semi-circular canals are affected by ototoxicity, the eye can also be affected. Nystagmus and oscillopsia are two conditions that overlap the vestibular and ocular systems. These symptoms cause the patient to have difficulties with seeing and processing images. The body subconsciously tries to compensate for the imbalance signals being sent to the brain by trying to obtain visual cues to support the information it is receiving. This results in that dizziness and “woozy†feeling patients use to describe conditions such as oscillopsia and vertigo."

My next steps are to see an oto-neurologist - a specialist within the field of neurology. I'll share more on that after my visit.

The prognosis:

Neuro said that most patients experience the most improvement within 3 months if they are going to improve, 6 months it will begin tapering off, and within a year, any damage left is likely permanent. I’m closing in on 5 months with no improvement.

I'm scared, like I know we all are.

I hope this was not too long of a response, but I hope it will provide valuable information for those who have not had these tests but have experienced symptoms similar to those I have suffered. Today is a particularly bad day. I didn't get enough sleep, which always sends me reeling with dizziness.

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Tex, Sorry to hear about your experience with this poison(drug). At the end of June, 2012, I took the same dose per day as you did, but I took it for 4 days and I'm still dealing with symptoms. I am spending loads trying to heal my body from peripheral neuropathy. A neurological diabilitating condition causing your nerve endings to die. I suffered from the dizziness, vertigo and imbalance too. All have gotten better. I still have the imbalance at times. The pain in my feet is scary and the crawling abnormal feelings in my arms and legs almost drive me wacky. :( I'm glad you found this place to talk about what has happened to you. I think you have a very good chance on getting better from your symptoms since you haven't described any nerve damage symptoms and my other symptoms such as you described are so much better. Only feel dizzy sometimes if I'm over tired but that is happening less. Hope this is encouraging to you.

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Hi Jm123. I'm sorry to hear that you are having horrible experience. I took it for 4 days as well. I took 3 doses of 500mg per day. I had the symptoms which you describe and they lasted for me, about 3 months. Got continually better during the third month. However, for me the fourth day of taking the metronidazole my feet and hands started to tingle which meant nerve damage and I still have symptoms of peripheral neuropathy 7 months later. If you haven't experienced tingling or pain in your limbs this is very good. I believe the rest will go away in time. It was very scary for me as I know it must be for you. It's a horrible drug and if I would have known I would have never taken it. Keep me posted, please on your situation. Thanks.

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Hoping this posts -

I was just diagnosed last week with permanent, irreversible inner ear (left) damage at a top teaching hospital by a well-respected doctor. This is the result of taking these medications.

Erin

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I just took Metronidazole last weekend for three days. I ended up in the ER as I was sure I was dying! Now I have been off for three days and am experiencing extreme sensory peripheral neuropathy, headaches at base of skull, foggy brain, and anxiety and panic attacks to the level of suicide thinking! I have never in my life felt anything like this before. It seems to get worse on a daily bases. I am looking for hope that these feelings will end.

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Hi how are you. I am also going through the same side affects. It's been one day since I stop using the pills. My eyes are very sensitive to the light and sun. I feel Tingly feelings in my body. I feel really weak. When I walk I feel light headed. I have to hold on to things to make sure I don't fall

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Nybabymama, I felt all of the things you are speaking of and more. The PN was worse at night when I was lying in bed. I had episodes of tingling in my lips and face as well. Even part of my head would tingle sometimes. My heart goes out to you for it must be very difficult to keep care of your little ones. My grandson who I am bringing up was 10 and had to go to relatives for about a month or so. I still suggest you go to a naturopathic dr. who knows something about this. There are other things I took but you would need to consult one to see about nursing. What does your family dr. say about all of this happening to you? There should be a joint lawsuit put out against these pharmaceutical companies making this med. Please keep in touch. As I said before although I wouldn't say I am the same as before I took the med, I am much better. I'd say about 80% most days. :) I was very anxious and frightened too.

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Update 6 weeks post stopping Flagyl: My neuropathy continues to get better, as has my anxiety. It's not gone, but much better. But as my anxiety has cleared, it had revealed that the other strong and powerful symptoms don't seem to lessen up. I'm dizzy every day. I mean every single day. It's bad enough where i am not comfortable to drive. I also have excruciatingly painful head and neck pressure. I rarely get relief from these two symptoms. I tried a chiopracter 5 days ago and came out with 4 days of the worst migraine of my life. I think she aggravated the nerve damage that was already done. If anybody else can comment on head pressure or dizziness, I would appreciate info. When will this nightmare end???

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Kate, It will get better in time. It took me over 2 months for the dizziness and imbalance to completely go. I suggest you try to get charcoal to take the toxins from these medications out of your body. I didn't know about this and didn't do this. I wish I had, I probably would have recovered sooner and maybe I wouldn't be dealing with PN nerve damage from taking this poison they call medication.

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Has the anxiety gone away yet? I am experiencing horrific panic attacks from an antibiotic that poisoned my system...it's been two months since cessation of the poison and the panic attacks have only gotten worse! Please tell me they went away completely? Not only that...I've experienced depression as well.

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