In our last article on the side effects of amoxicillin we discussed them in detail so that you may gain sufficient knowledge and understanding about them. In this article we continue with that task and hopefully at the end of it, you will have accumulated enough information that will make you become immediately aware of the side effects that occur from taking amoxicillin together the steps you need to take to protect yourself. Let’s have a look at the more serious side effects of amoxicillin.
The more serious side effects of amoxicillin:
Allergic reactions similar to itching or hives, swelling of the tongue, face or lips
Many people think that allergies indicate a negative reaction to a particular drug but this is not really the case. Actually, allergic reactions seldom occur and while they may appear to be allergic reaction, it’s really a non-allergic adverse reaction.
Mild allergies involve hives and itching and while they aren’t really worrying, they need to be monitored in case symptoms become worse. Fortunately they can be treated with antihistamines and hydrocortisone.
Sure symptoms of severe allergic reactions are shortness of breath and swelling of the tongue, face and lips. If these symptoms appear, you should seek immediate medical attention.
You should take note of the rash spread or its redness. Amoxicillin induced allergic reactions can be delayed even after you’ve stopped taking the drug.
Breathing issues
When you take amoxicillin, you may find it difficult to breathe when you have nasal congestion or when doing strenuous exercise after being inactive. Difficult breathing may be an allergic reaction to amoxicillin.
Ease your breathing by doing these suggestions:
- Purse your lips while breathing for slowing down your breathing an breathing more deeply.
- Don’t rush your routine but exercise at a comfortable pace.
- Don’t hold your breath
- Sit in front of a fan
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to amoxicillin or penicillinfor a prescribed treatment to prevent the reaction. Contact your doctor right away if your breathing gets worse.
Also call your area’s emergency phone number (e.g. 911) or go to the emergency room.
Blistering
Blisters are formed by the collection of fluid under the skin into small raised sessions. They are typically caused by allergic reactions, burns, excessive friction, trauma of the skin or from frostbite.
Blisters can also be a symptom of systemic illness, or a separate skin disorder. Fortunately mild, non-itching rashes can be treated with antihistamines or hydrocortisoneandoatmeal bathsand drinking lots of water.
If your skin begins to blister, peel or becomes loose, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Dizziness
Dizziness involves a feeling of lightheadedness, fainting, unsteadiness, or loss of balance also known as vertigowhen you feel yourself or the room spinning or moving around.
Most causes of dizzy feelings are not serious and can either get better quickly on their own or can be easily treated.
You need to tell the doctor about the types of medications you are now taking before amoxicillin is prescribed for you. To help control your dizziness spells, try not drinking alcohol while on amoxicillin.
You should also avoid driving until you get use to the effects that amoxicillin has on you and if you feel dizzy, sit down for a moment and wait for it to pass and keep your head up with a pillow if you are lying down. You should note that dizziness can be a symptom of anemia, or an allergic reaction.
When the dizziness is accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath or swelling of tongue, lips or face a severe allergic reaction may be in progress, seek immediate medical attention.
Sleeping problems
Insomniais the name given to the inability to go to sleep either when you first get to bed at night, waking up too early and waking up many times during the night.
We all have difficulties to sleep during the night, but this is not a real problem. The problem is that 25 percent of American experience acute insomnia every year and insomnia has become a severe problem for many people.
Seizures
A sudden change in behavior that features changes in your sense of feeling or movement (motor activity) due to abnormal firing or nerve cells in the brain constitutes a seizure.
Epilepsy for instance is characterized by recurrent seizures that can include jerking muscle movements called convulsions.
You should contact your doctor if you are experiencing this side effect from taking amoxicillin.
Dark urine
The appearance of normal urine is of a pale or straw yellow color. When urine becomes different from this color, it is considered abnormal. An abnormal urine color may be cloudy, dark or blood tinged.
Any urine color change or the presence of an abnormal urine color that cannot be linked with normal intake of food or drug should be quickly reported to your doctor.
This is essential if the condition happens for longer than a day or two or if you have repeated episodes of their occurrence.
Dark urine may be the result of taking amoxicillin because of changes in the functions of the blood, liver, and/or kidney. It’s very rare for renal toxicity to happen (about .03 percentget it) but when it occurs, it can be serious.
People suffering from kidney problems should not take amoxicillin so as to avoid this side effect and potential kidney damage. Another type of antibiotic can be prescribed for you by your doctor.
If your doctor prescribes amoxicillin for you, make sure to strictly follow the time schedule given by your doctor for taking your dose. Drinking the recommended amount of water is also important.
A severe side effect of amoxicillin is dark urine so if you witness a change in the color of your urine you should talk to your doctor.
Difficulty urinating
Discomfort, a burning sensation or pain that accompanies urination is called painful urination and is often causes by an infection of the urinary tract.
Amoxicillin has the ability to form crystals in your urine which are tied to the amoxicillin and their look is different from the crystals that are commonly found in urine.
Fortunately it can be addressed if you don’t take more than your prescribed dose and that you dring lots of water. If you experience a slight discomfort with you urinate, drink water so you can reduce the amount of protein in your diet.
Renal or kidney failure or damage may be indicated by painful urination. You should contact your doctor if you are experiencing this irregularity.
Pronounced weakness or tiredness
Fatigue summarizes your feeling or tiredness and weakness or the lack of energy.
Fatigue is not drowsinesswhich is a feeling of needing to sleep. Fatigue is a lack of energy and motivation.
However, drowsiness and apathyor not caring about what happens, can be symptoms that accompany fatigue.
If your fatigue can be categorized as “excessive tiredness” your fatigue becomes a serious side effect.
It’s a very rare condition to get but you still need to talk to you doctor about it because it can get serious when the nervous system is affected.
If you just feel tired, try to rest for a little while, don’t exert yourself too much and make sure you get enough sleep. Try to reduce stress as much as possible.
Unusual bruising and bleeding
Broken blood vessels can cause bleeding under the skin called petechiae.Blood can also collect under disuse in large flat areas or purpuraor in very large bruised areas called ecchymosis.
Amoxicillincan cause bleeding and if you experience it, immediately see a doctor because internal bleeding may be occurring that can lead to bleeding of the digestive system, or the brain (rare).
Yellowing ofwhite of theeyes or skin
This condition is called jaundice that creates a yellow color to the skin, mucous membranes or the whites of the eyes.
This effect and damage to the liver can also be caused by amoxicillin and it can continue even after the drug doses have stopped.
Early recognition of symptoms such as fatigue, poor appetite and vomiting can help prevent the jaundice from getting worse. You should talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.
Conclusion
This article has strived to give you the most pertinent information concerning the side effects that may be caused by taking amoxicillin. There’s very little doubt that the drug treatment has proven very useful in treating different conditions especially the ones listed in these pages. More important however is the knowledge you now have on the side effects that may occur and the measures you need to take to protect your health.
