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Can Z-pak Cause A Severe Allergic Reaction?
Question: I was recently on steroids for a severe allergic reaction to the pollen in the air. That did not help my situation; and I was then on two inhalers (Alvesco and ProAir HFA), extended Z-pak, Qnasl, Allegra, and was already on Effexor ER. I haven't taken any of the other medication (except the Effexor) in a little over a week. I've noticed that my stools are flaky and light brown or yellow. They look slimy, and they float on the top of the water. Could these medications have caused this, or could it be something more serious? Additional info - I do not have my gallbladder. It was removed in 2003.
Brief Answer:
Z-pak could cause your symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Z-pak could cause the change in your stool. Z-pak is an antibiotic. Most of antibiotics kills some part of good intestinal bacteria. This good intestinal bacteria are responsible for intestines protection against bad bacteria. When you take an antibiotic, good bacteria can be replaced with bad bacteria and cause many nonspecific symptoms like stool color change, stool amount and consistency change, abdominal pains.
Stool has brown color because it contains digested by bacteria bile (so the yellow bile turns into brown stercobilinogen). Now when there is not enough bacteria to digest bile, the stool can be yellow instead of brown.
Floating can be caused by a gas in the stool. Gas production is increased in case of intestinal infection.
Now, to normalize your stools, please start probiotic intake. This should restore good bacteria. Please also increase fiber intake.
If probiotic wont help in a week or so, you should have stool test and stool culture test done. Rifaximine treatment should be considered.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Z-pak could cause your symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Z-pak could cause the change in your stool. Z-pak is an antibiotic. Most of antibiotics kills some part of good intestinal bacteria. This good intestinal bacteria are responsible for intestines protection against bad bacteria. When you take an antibiotic, good bacteria can be replaced with bad bacteria and cause many nonspecific symptoms like stool color change, stool amount and consistency change, abdominal pains.
Stool has brown color because it contains digested by bacteria bile (so the yellow bile turns into brown stercobilinogen). Now when there is not enough bacteria to digest bile, the stool can be yellow instead of brown.
Floating can be caused by a gas in the stool. Gas production is increased in case of intestinal infection.
Now, to normalize your stools, please start probiotic intake. This should restore good bacteria. Please also increase fiber intake.
If probiotic wont help in a week or so, you should have stool test and stool culture test done. Rifaximine treatment should be considered.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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