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Suggest Treatment For Side Effects Of Amoxicillin
Question: My mother (83 yrs old) has severe arthritis in her shoulders and her neck. She was told to stop taking aspirin and was switched to Alleve in early May. She has been taking 4 Alleves/daily. In addition she takes 3 Oxycodone and 3000 mg Tylenol/daily for pain in her shoulders. The end of May she had a tooth (top back molar) fall out. She had an absess and infection in the sinus cavity above her two back molars that resulted in the teeth being removed. For the infection she has been on an antibiotic since Memorial Day. She took Amoxicillin for 3 days before Memorial Day. On Memorial Day I took her to an Urgent Care for severe headache, jaw pain and ear ache. They diagnosed the infection due to the tooth and gave her Clindimycin. She appeared to have a reaction and her tonque swelled, and so I took her back to the Urgent Care and they switched her to Augmentin. She had a reaction to it, too (ear ache and swollen tonque, and so she stopped after 5 days until the teeth were removed 2 days (later XXXXXXX 13.) She has been taking Amoxicillin since XXXXXXX 13. She complained that her ear was hurting off and of to the Dentist on XXXXXXX 20, and so he extended her 10 day course of Amoxicillin another 7 days. Today, she is having trouble talking, she drools, and her speaking is slurred. It has been gradually getting worse. We first thought it was because of the infection, and then because she had a big hole where the two teeth were. Then we thought it was the Amoxicillin and she was having a reaction to it. Now I am wondering if she is reacting to Alleve. She is worried she has had a stroke!!!!! What are the symptoms of an overdose to Alleve? What are the symptoms to an overdose of Amoxicillin. Are any of them what she is experiencing? Please help me know what to do! We are going on a vacation and I want to be sure she is ok. I do not know what kind of doctor to see now? (Ear, Nose & throat or a Neurologist, who?) Thank you so much!!!
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I do not think the drooling speech is related to an Alleve or Amoxicillin overdose, they do not manifest in that was, do not cause slurred speech, usually with digestive symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain etc.
The discussion is most probably between an allergic reaction, worsening of the infection and stroke. In the first two instances the slurred speech would be if there is local swelling of the tongue and oral soft tissue which wouldn’t permit her to articulate clearly. In the case of stroke it would be an issue of a paralysis of the throat muscles responsible for articulating words. So in case there is no visible swelling of the tongue or any other local visible swelling I would say that stroke is well possible.
So in that case since stroke is an emergency I would take her directly to the ER, wouldn’t wait for an appointment to whichever specialist and then it’s up to the ER people to call the neurologist (or ENT if they see some local issue responsible), it depends also on where you live, ER organization and whether they have neurological consults available for 24 hours or not. But for sure stroke suspicion is a medical emergency which requires urgent evaluation with neurological physical exam and head imaging.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I do not think the drooling speech is related to an Alleve or Amoxicillin overdose, they do not manifest in that was, do not cause slurred speech, usually with digestive symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain etc.
The discussion is most probably between an allergic reaction, worsening of the infection and stroke. In the first two instances the slurred speech would be if there is local swelling of the tongue and oral soft tissue which wouldn’t permit her to articulate clearly. In the case of stroke it would be an issue of a paralysis of the throat muscles responsible for articulating words. So in case there is no visible swelling of the tongue or any other local visible swelling I would say that stroke is well possible.
So in that case since stroke is an emergency I would take her directly to the ER, wouldn’t wait for an appointment to whichever specialist and then it’s up to the ER people to call the neurologist (or ENT if they see some local issue responsible), it depends also on where you live, ER organization and whether they have neurological consults available for 24 hours or not. But for sure stroke suspicion is a medical emergency which requires urgent evaluation with neurological physical exam and head imaging.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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