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Taking Antibiotic For Tooth Abscess. Got Constipation And Now Diarrhea. Side Effect?

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Posted on Mon, 22 Apr 2013
Question: Have been taking antibotics for the last week for a tooth abcess was constapated after getting my tooth taken out the morning i have had boweel movements 3 times this mornning 1 was diorria
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (23 minutes later)
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

Antibiotics can cause gastrointestinal upset and diarrhoea. It is a common side effect of this type of medication that normally resolve when the antibiotics are completed.

If you have already completed the antibiotic course, then it is likely that the antibiotics is related to either a bacteria or virus that is presently infecting your stomach and intestines. In most cases of infective diarrhoea, it is related to a virus not a bacteria.
A bacterial diarrhoea may present with fever and blood in stool in some persons.

The main treatment for diarrhoea is fluid management. It is not advised to take any medication to stop the stool because it would actually worsen the symptoms.
You should avoid solid food for 24 to 48 hrs and use mainly liquids.
Avoid any milk products because they can worsen diarrhoea. You should consider drinking a small amount after each stool to replace what is lost.
The use of yogurts with probiotics would help replace the good bacteria in the colon and may help the diarrhoea to resolve faster.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Michelle Gibson James (13 minutes later)
Thanks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (21 minutes later)
You are welcome, feel free to ask anything else
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Michelle Gibson James (9 minutes later)
I have been taking antibotic now on and off for the last 6 weeks it have make me constapated and dirroria nausea now that i have finish the antibotics and the tooth remaoved hopefully this will resovle, should i been on antibotics for so long
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (1 hour later)
Hi

6 weeks is a long time for an antibiotic course. It would be used if the doctor believed that the infection was chronic ( prolonged or longstanding) or it was not responding to the normal course of antibiotics.

Such a long course of antibiotics can definitely cause the bowel problems that you are presently experiencing.
It may take 1 to 2 weeks for your bowel function to return to normal.

Please feel free to ask anything else
Note: Find out which dental treatment will work best for your teeth. Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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Taking Antibiotic For Tooth Abscess. Got Constipation And Now Diarrhea. Side Effect?

HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

Antibiotics can cause gastrointestinal upset and diarrhoea. It is a common side effect of this type of medication that normally resolve when the antibiotics are completed.

If you have already completed the antibiotic course, then it is likely that the antibiotics is related to either a bacteria or virus that is presently infecting your stomach and intestines. In most cases of infective diarrhoea, it is related to a virus not a bacteria.
A bacterial diarrhoea may present with fever and blood in stool in some persons.

The main treatment for diarrhoea is fluid management. It is not advised to take any medication to stop the stool because it would actually worsen the symptoms.
You should avoid solid food for 24 to 48 hrs and use mainly liquids.
Avoid any milk products because they can worsen diarrhoea. You should consider drinking a small amount after each stool to replace what is lost.
The use of yogurts with probiotics would help replace the good bacteria in the colon and may help the diarrhoea to resolve faster.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions