Antibiotic Dosages - Adjust?

[Neto]

Just recently had an oral surgical procedure, so I was prescribed to take antibiotics. I usually start feeling ill after a few days of antibiotics, and have sometimes reduced the dosage to half, in order to not get sick and 'loose' the medication anyway.

This is a bit different antibiotic, and this time I made it to after the 7th pill before it made me ill (3 1/2 days). (Supposed to take a total of 20.) It is Amoxicillin & Clavulanate. (The bottle says 'Substituted for Augmentin". Does that mean that the pharmacy substituted for what the surgeon prescribed? The nurse had told me that they were going to "use a bit different antibiotic". I've taken straight Amoxicillian before, and it DOES make me ill. Just wondering now.)

I would appreciate hearing from the medical people here, if it is convenient.

"Symptoms": out of breath, shaky, upset stomach & soft stool.

[Ken]

Just recently had an oral surgical procedure, so I was prescribed to take antibiotics. I usually start feeling ill after a few days of antibiotics, and have sometimes reduced the dosage to half, in order to not get sick and 'loose' the medication anyway.

This is a bit different antibiotic, and this time I made it to after the 7th pill before it made me ill (3 1/2 days). (Supposed to take a total of 20.) It is Amoxicillin & Clavulanate. (The bottle says 'Substituted for Augmentin". Does that mean that the pharmacy substituted for what the surgeon prescribed? The nurse had told me that they were going to "use a bit different antibiotic". I've taken straight Amoxicillian before, and it DOES make me ill. Just wondering now.)

I would appreciate hearing from the medical people here, if it is convenient.

"Symptoms": out of breath, shaky, upset stomach & soft stool.

Can you not call your clinic and ask them if what you got was actually what they prescribed and intended? And ask them if they have an alternate therapy?

[JohnH]

I'm not a pharmacist, but "clavulanate" is the chemical name for the brand name drug Augmentin. Doctors usually write out brand names on prescriptions because they are less confusing / ambiguous that way. The pharmacy must legally put the chemical name and a note of the substitution if they don't dispense a drug from that specific brand name's manufacturer.

So, for example, a doctor could write you a prescription for Tylenol... instead of buying brand name Tylenol, you could get acetaminophen instead.

[Neto]

Just recently had an oral surgical procedure, so I was prescribed to take antibiotics. I usually start feeling ill after a few days of antibiotics, and have sometimes reduced the dosage to half, in order to not get sick and 'loose' the medication anyway.

This is a bit different antibiotic, and this time I made it to after the 7th pill before it made me ill (3 1/2 days). (Supposed to take a total of 20.) It is Amoxicillin & Clavulanate. (The bottle says 'Substituted for Augmentin". Does that mean that the pharmacy substituted for what the surgeon prescribed? The nurse had told me that they were going to "use a bit different antibiotic". I've taken straight Amoxicillian before, and it DOES make me ill. Just wondering now.)

I would appreciate hearing from the medical people here, if it is convenient.

"Symptoms": out of breath, shaky, upset stomach & soft stool.

Can you not call your clinic and ask them if what you got was actually what they prescribed and intended? And ask them if they have an alternate therapy?

As far as I can recall, every antibiotic I've ever taken does this to me. I was just hoping that this one would be different.
The dosage is 875 mg amoxicillin & 125 mg clavulanic acid per tablet. (Directed to take one each 12 hours.)

[JohnH]

I would talk to your doctor about the symptoms and find out if you can switch to a different antibiotic.

[Soloist]

Unless specifically specified by the doctor, they will pretty much always substitute a generic.
The pharmacy wants to save money, and the patient usually isn’t very happy with big expensive medication’s, and the insurance company doesn’t want pay that either.

[Ken]

Just recently had an oral surgical procedure, so I was prescribed to take antibiotics. I usually start feeling ill after a few days of antibiotics, and have sometimes reduced the dosage to half, in order to not get sick and 'loose' the medication anyway.

This is a bit different antibiotic, and this time I made it to after the 7th pill before it made me ill (3 1/2 days). (Supposed to take a total of 20.) It is Amoxicillin & Clavulanate. (The bottle says 'Substituted for Augmentin". Does that mean that the pharmacy substituted for what the surgeon prescribed? The nurse had told me that they were going to "use a bit different antibiotic". I've taken straight Amoxicillian before, and it DOES make me ill. Just wondering now.)

I would appreciate hearing from the medical people here, if it is convenient.

"Symptoms": out of breath, shaky, upset stomach & soft stool.

Can you not call your clinic and ask them if what you got was actually what they prescribed and intended? And ask them if they have an alternate therapy?

As far as I can recall, every antibiotic I've ever taken does this to me. I was just hoping that this one would be different.
The dosage is 875 mg amoxicillin & 125 mg clavulanic acid per tablet. (Directed to take one each 12 hours.)

Probably because they all do the same thing, which is destroy or disrupt the bacteria in your gut biome. Which is probably what is giving you the nausea and upset stomach.

[Neto]

Can you not call your clinic and ask them if what you got was actually what they prescribed and intended? And ask them if they have an alternate therapy?

As far as I can recall, every antibiotic I've ever taken does this to me. I was just hoping that this one would be different.
The dosage is 875 mg amoxicillin & 125 mg clavulanic acid per tablet. (Directed to take one each 12 hours.)

Probably because they all do the same thing, which is destroy or disrupt the bacteria in your gut biome. Which is probably what is giving you the nausea and upset stomach.

I strongly suspect that you are totally correct. I have also been drinking those little bottles of something we became acquainted with in Brazil - I cannot recall the name that it on it, but it's a type of 'probiotics'. That does help, but we're out now. (I think my wife bought it in a Brazilian store we go to anytime we are in Columbus. That's the closest one to us, a couple of hours away.)

[Ken]

As far as I can recall, every antibiotic I've ever taken does this to me. I was just hoping that this one would be different.
The dosage is 875 mg amoxicillin & 125 mg clavulanic acid per tablet. (Directed to take one each 12 hours.)

Probably because they all do the same thing, which is destroy or disrupt the bacteria in your gut biome. Which is probably what is giving you the nausea and upset stomach.

I strongly suspect that you are totally correct. I have also been drinking those little bottles of something we became acquainted with in Brazil - I cannot recall the name that it on it, but it's a type of 'probiotics'. That does help, but we're out now. (I think my wife bought it in a Brazilian store we go to anytime we are in Columbus. That's the closest one to us, a couple of hours away.)

There are all kinds of probiotic products on the market these days like yogurt drinks. Especially in more health-food oriented stores. You shouldn't have to drive to Columbus.

[Neto]

Last night I cut the tablet in half. I just cannot function if I take the full dosage. (I do, after all, weigh less than 130, and I'm 5' 10 1/2" tall.)

Feeling OK so far this morning.