Stomach pain with antibiotics

October 4, 2017 3:02 PM

After taking a mega-dose of Amoxicillin prior to a teeth cleaning, I’m having severe stomach pains. How can I get some relief?

I have to take antibiotics for teeth cleanings. Somehow I always forget how badly it hurts my stomach afterwards. I took the antibiotics at 9am, and I’m now experiencing stabbing, sharp stomach pains every 5 minutes or so. I know to take probiotics to realign everything long term, but is there anything I can do right now to deal with the pain? I’ve taken Imodium to deal with (ahem) other side effects.

posted by bluloo to Health & Fitness (11 answers total)

For me, one of the best things I can do to alleviate the stabby post-antibiotic pains I always get is to drink aloe vera juice. I get a bottle of this stuff at my local natural foods place and drink a shot every twelve hours or so on a pretty empty stomach. Like, I might also eat a cracker with it just to give my stomach something solid to turn over in there but in general I want the juice to have access to my stomach lining and get to work soothing the ouchies.

I'm not sure that this isn't hippy-dippy woo, but it sure works for me personally and it doesn't cause gastrointestinal upset further down the chain like a dairy product would for me.
posted by DSime at 3:08 PM on October 4, 2017

I'd take a Prilosec.
posted by ch1x0r at 3:24 PM on October 4, 2017

I get sick and sore and awful for antibiotics - besides getting the no yeast infection pill - weed is literally the only thing that has ever helped.
posted by I'm Not Even Supposed To Be Here Today! at 3:27 PM on October 4, 2017

The last time I was on a gut-trashing antibiotics, taking VSL 3 a few hours after each dose, and for a week afterward, kept my stomach intact. We get it at CostCo.
posted by dws at 3:32 PM on October 4, 2017 [1 favorite]

The Pepto tablets help a bit for me, usually taken along with some ginger ale that actually has some ginger in it.
posted by Sequence at 4:16 PM on October 4, 2017

Prilosec + pepto works for me. I usually do ginger tea instead of ginger ale because carbonation also hurts my stomach sometimes.
posted by pazazygeek at 4:51 PM on October 4, 2017

Priolosec takes a day or two to kick in. Take Pepto and grab a probiotic - VSL or Align. Always take a probiotic when you take an anti biotic. Peppermint may also help but can increase acid pain. (Chronic stomach illness person here.)
posted by Crystalinne at 5:39 PM on October 4, 2017

Did you take them on a full stomach? Usually taking them on a full stomach, plus a probiotic, plus Pepcid will work.
posted by biscotti at 5:41 PM on October 4, 2017

Talk to your doctor about whether there's a different antibiotic you could try. Zithromax gives me intolerably awful abdominal cramps, but other ones don't cause a problem.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 6:24 PM on October 4, 2017 [1 favorite]

H2 blocker like Pepcid may be helpful. You can get it over the counter.
posted by killdevil at 6:27 PM on October 4, 2017

Mix a little baking soda and water and sip it. May be short term, but it helps.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 7:07 PM on October 4, 2017