Hi all, I know you aren't supposed to take antacids with Zith but what about the other abx's. I am on oral Biaxin and Flagyl. I get heartburn regularly and whenever I use Tums, I get loose bowels.
Is this a common side affect? Just wondering because I really need to take something for the heartburn but hate having to get up several times in the night. Anyone know?
Thanks in advance!
Posted by BOEJR (Member # 1734) on :
UP
Posted by ByronSBell 2007 (Member # 11496) on :
Good grief - if you are on Flagyl you should be on something to protect your stomach. You can also try Tindamax, a Flagyl derivative that is less harmful to the stomach. My daughter and I both ended up on prescritpion stomach protectors, and eventually had to be on the more expensvie Nexium - although docs usually have samples. OTC was not enough.
We were never told not to take antacids with Zithromax - my daughter was told it was okay to take something while on Zithromax.
However, you need to find out the time-spacing required, depending on what you do take. OTC antacids were to be 2 hours away from the ABX. Nexium is to be taken 1 hour before ingesting something so we keep ours by our bedside & take it when we wake up in the early AM hours then go back to sleep; I was on something else that could be taken 30 minutes before ingesting anything.
Heartburn is creating its own damage which can cause you further problems in the future - speak to your doc and get help.
I don't know what is in Tums, but too much magnesium can cause loose bowels & many of the OTC products are mainly magnesium.
ESG
Posted by ESG (Member # 4816) on :
PS - if you are frequently having loose bowels, as you said, you are also losing nutrients and fluids: this is not good either.
ESG
Posted by sickandtiredofbeingsandt (Member # 10189) on :
Byron, Thanks for that link. It reminded me of a few things. One is that chocolate is my best friend and also my worst enemy.
ESG, Thanks for your replies and your concern. Flagyl doesn't seem to bother my stomach. I had the heartburn problem before I started any abx.
I had asked my PCP about GERD meds and he told me there were a lot of undesirable side affects. I told him that Tums helped me so he said to use them.
When I started the Biaxin and Flagyl was when I noticed the loose bowels. So I am just trying to figure out the co-relation.
I try to stay hydrated. I don't have diahhrea so I don't think I am loosing nutrients. I just have to "go" alot when I take the Tums now.