Anyone experience this side effect from Augmentin (antibiotics)?

N

NancyNGA

Well-known Member
Location
Georgia
I'm on the 16th day of generic Augmentin (amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium, 875-125, twice a day) for a *possible* sinus infection. Five days to go.

Starting yesterday I've got itches all over. All I have to do is touch a spot somewhere and it starts to itch there. Arms, upper body, especially the back of the my head where it touches a pillow. A slightly red rash, but that is probably just due to scratching.

Has anyone had a reaction like this? Maybe to just one or the other of the two components? Or just to antibiotics in general?

I've never been on any antibiotics for more than 10 days in my life, so this is a new experience. Went through the usual adjustment period, and that seemed to be over. Now this started and I can't really think of any other explanation.
 

Call your pharmacist or doc. Amoxicillin is a relative of penicillin which often causes rash or skin disturbance as a sign of allergy.
 
Well, I'm stopping it as of right now! Twenty-one days of antibiotics is silly when you are just guessing what's wrong to begin with. Who knows what your immune system may decide to do. It might say, "We don't like this stuff now. It's been around too long. If it ever comes back we'll fight it big time."

Just took some generic Benadryl. Will see what happens in the morning. Problem is, if it goes away, it could be just the Benadryl, or it could be because I stopped the antibiotics. I just want to get this medicine over with. It's been one nuisance after another.
 

You might want to take some probiotics now since all your good bacteria has been killed off by the antibiotics.

What you have sounds like a type of fungus caused by candida. Candida builds up in the system when your bacteria is off balance.

Eating a good quality yogurt like Danone or Astro all natural should help a lot since it has acidophilus and beneficial bacteria.

Its good that you are off of them now. Yes and it could also be an allergy but usually these signs show up immediately, not later.
I’m allergic to penicillin so can’t take any of the ones ending in ‘cillin’
 
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As usual with antihistamines, like Benadryl, they make me sleepy, then I wake up wide awake about 3 hours later. So here I am at 4:00 am. :rolleyes:

No itching when I first woke up, but I think it was that way yesterday morning too. Started gradually coming back after you start moving around.

Thanks for the replies. I felt fine otherwise, except now a little weird and stuffy because of the Benadryl. It's a vicious cycle, isn't it. Ha!
 
I developed an allergic reaction to amoxicillin about a decade back. For me it was like being poisoned with my stomach and intestines revolting big time... had to keep a small bathroom trash can with me at all times and make mad dashes to the john. It wasn't pretty and was particularly problematic because I had taken it in the past with no problems. The first episode was so much like food poisoning that I had to go through a repeat a week or so later when I felt strong enough... then I was told to take with food... then it was half a dose with food. I got real tired of that!
 
dpwspringer, that's what I'm a little afraid of---*developing* an allergy to amoxicillin that I might not have had before. Every time I take it lately the side effects are a little more pronounced, but only after 7 days of it. It is the only antibiotic I've ever been prescribed as I recall, and it always worked on whatever. It would be a shame to develop an allergy to it for nothing. Maybe your immune system doesn't work that way, though.
 
I guess I should update this, but there have been several confounding factors since, and it got confusing.:confused:

After taking one Aleve to counteract the hangover effects from Benadryl (this is getting ridiculous), no antibiotics for 36 hours and no Benadryl for 24 hours, all itching stopped!

But then, I decided to put up some fiberglass insulation for a project I'm working on, just to see if that could have been related. I did handle it briefly before. I've never had itching from insulation before, just a prickly feeling. Itching started on my hands and forearms, nowhere else, but worse even than chiggers! Either they've changed what's in the insulation or I've changed.

And then there are these annoying little gnats out in the country that just hatched out. They follow you around all day buzzing your ears and occasionally one will bite. That makes your ears itch and get hot. So I also have two itchy ears, and a bug bite on my leg, probably some kind of fly or a fire ant. {sigh}

It has now become impossible to sort out the various itches, so I won't follow this up anymore. :rolleyes::):p:confused::playful::eek:nthego:
 
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Here's my update, I finally corrected the bowel problem. I quit taking the amoxicillin on Saturday morn. I ate more fiber/fruits/greek yogurt. Sunday was great, noticed Sun eve that my feet were itching, not being too much of an alarmist I ignored it until bedtime. Taking off my shoes & socks I discovered the rash. I can't remember taking amoxicillin ever before. The rash covered both feet, up to a few inches above my knees, my wife said I had patches all over my back. I was afraid to take benadryl then, I was drugged up with an 800 mg IB & my BP meds. At 03:30 I arose (age thing) & decided I could take one then. This morning the rash was still there but the itching was pretty well abated. It is 08:45 & took my 2nd benadryl. Hope it takes care of the rash.
 
Thanks for posting the update Roadwarrior. Good to hear you're getting better.

I'm pretty convinced now mine was due to the Amoxicillin, because I haven't touched insulation for 3 days. Slightly better today, but not much. It's like your whole body tingles, and if you accidentally scratch anywhere, it turns red and itches even more.

I just read somewhere that the rash can start even after you stop taking the antibiotics. What a nuisance!

What if it never goes away? :eewwk: Just kidding (I hope).
 
That's what I think happened to me, my last dose was 36 hours before the rash started. It's getting better with each dose (3rd) of benadryl. The itch is now almost gone unless I mess with it. I think back now & can't ever remember having hives or rash. But, then again I can't ever remember taking that antibiotic. I did get staph infection in my lower leg 15 years ago, they gave me IV's & followup antibiotics but never remember any rash. I hope it doesn't linger.
 

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