Antibiotic Side Effects

Antibiotics are a group of prescription drugs used to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics are in the hundreds, and all of them offer some side effects.

Digestive

One of the most common side effects when taking antibiotics is digestive problems. Diarrhea, nausea, cramping, bloating, and pain, are all things that may be experienced when taking almost any antibiotic.

Heart and Other Bodily Functions

Some people experience heart palpitations, abnormal heart beat, severe headaches, liver problems including jaundice, kidney problems including dark urine and kidney stones, and possible nerve problems such as tingling in the hands and feet.

Infections

Women are most prone to one of the most common side effects of antibiotics: yeast infections.

Serious and Life Threatening

Liver dysfunction or damage, tremors, coma, decreased white blood cells, brain damage, kidney damage, tendons rupturing, heart arrhythmia and death.

Resistance

The more often a person take antibiotics, the more resistance develops. When a person becomes resistant to antibiotics, there are some that won't work to help heal infections, and possibly higher doses of stronger antibiotics will have to be given in the future. That would increase the possibility of side effects that are serious or life threatening.

Allergies

It is not uncommon for allergies to antibiotics to develop, even after years of being on them. Hives, itching and swelling in the mouth or throat are all symptoms that an allergy has developed.

References

• Antibiotics