Antibiotic side effect or something else?

Look, I apologize if this sounds a bit crude. I’ll try to keep it somewhat decent, but nature is nature, and this is just how it is...

So, I'm 27, and thank God, I’ve managed to go my whole life without ever needing an antibiotic... until last week. A wisdom tooth started killing me, so I went to my dentist. He told me the area was badly inflamed and abscessed, so he had to pull it—but first, he prescribed antibiotics to settle the infection and clear out the bacteria.

He put me on Clindamycin, 300mg. By the second day, I already had nasty diarrhea. Then, the day after that, I started feeling pain down there whenever I wiped after a bowel movement. Eventually, it turned into this itching, which was maybe even better—just a little itch here and there while wiping.
I finished my last dose of antibiotics last Saturday.
Throughout this week, I felt like things were slowly calming down; I'd get some itching during or shortly after using the bathroom.
But the day before yesterday, the itching became much more intense and unbearable.
Yesterday, it actually started burning when I used the bathroom and wiped... and it all culminated last night with a bout of quasi-diarrhea that was painfully stinging.
And the worst part is, it hasn't let up. It's been stinging slightly all night, and it still is now.😢

Do you think this is a side effect of the antibiotics, or could it be something else entirely?
Does anyone have any advice on what I can do to get this to settle down?

Antibiotics can definitely cause diarrhea. Is that listed under the potential side effects?
Also, this itching and burning sensation feels a lot like I might be dealing with hemorrhoids.

It says diarrhea is a possible side effect.

Hemorrhoids? Yeah, I’m not a fan of that prospect. I was really hoping this was just some reaction to the antibiotics, especially since everything flared up right when I started taking that poison.

Did you end up reaching out to the doctor who prescribed those antibiotics—to actually tell them what’s going on with you?

It could totally be the antibiotics. They wipe out all the good bacteria in your gut, which is why doctors always tell you to load up on yogurt or probiotics whenever you're on a course.

It’s entirely possible that’s what caused it... I actually had to take antibiotics myself following a wisdom tooth extraction, though I didn't experience anything quite like that. However, once I took the next dose—which happened to be around 2:00 AM—I felt absolutely terrible. It was this sharp pain climbing from my stomach up toward my chest; honestly, I thought I was having a heart attack. I ended up stopping the medication on my own, which wasn't exactly the smartest move, but I just couldn't handle it.
Maybe ask a pharmacist if you don't mind asking, at least.

And make sure you eat something every single time before taking a pill, even if it's just some oatmeal.

It’s definitely the antibiotics causing the diarrhea, I’m 100% sure about that.

I was on Augmentin for a full week... and let's just say my digestive system has been going through a real deluxe experience lately.

I’m quite convinced that this is just a side effect of taking antibiotics, as I've personally dealt with similar issues myself when using a different prescription.
Regarding that itching sensation and everything else, my take is that the diarrhea likely triggered the hemorrhoids.
Unfortunately, that’s just how it went for me. I know for a fact I didn't have any hemorrhoids before, since I had a medical checkup, but as soon as my digestive system started acting up, those exact symptoms showed up whenever things got difficult.

@Sophia Parker6, it’s actually quite plausible that you're dealing with antibiotic-induced diarrhea—something I recently had to navigate myself 🙂.
I would definitely rule out hemorrhoids; that itching and stinging sensation sounds more like localized irritation from the strain of that "heavy" bowel movement, which should settle down on its own in time.

Thanks for all the input..

I’m leaning toward the antibiotics being the culprit too. Whether they triggered hemorrhoids or something slightly less dramatic remains to be seen..
I feel better than I did two days ago, but I'm definitely not back to normal yet. I'll just monitor how things progress before deciding if a trip to the doctor is actually necessary..

Now I'm just sitting here regretting taking them. Everyone kept telling me, "Just take them, don't be dramatic." Honestly, it feels like my dentist handed them out just to make sure everything would settle down by the time my extraction appointment rolls around. In hindsight, I have a feeling it probably would have cleared up on its own anyway..

Sophia Parker6, honestly, you’re probably better off just taking the antibiotics—don't feel bad about it. I know they aren't exactly a walk in the park, but you really have to weigh the lesser of two evils here when looking at the potential fallout. 😉
I tried to hold out and avoid them this time around, but my condition was just getting progressively worse by the day; I can tell you from experience that despite all those annoying side effects I had to deal with, they were a total lifesaver. 🙂

Hi there. I’m looking for some advice on how to handle this. My doctor prescribed some antibiotics yesterday for a bladder infection, and now I’ve developed diarrhea—the instructions mention this is a common side effect. Should I reach out to my physician, or is it okay to just take some Linex on my own? I've heard it can be quite helpful.

Eat some yogurt!!!

I've been eating some yogurt, but I'm feeling quite nauseous and have actually vomited. My doctor has already finished for the day, so I'm unsure whether I should push through with the antibiotics or stop, though I really ought to continue since I'm dealing with a bladder infection. 😢

Terry Fowler2 said:I've been eating some yogurt, but I'm feeling quite nauseous and have actually vomited. My doctor has already finished for the day, so I'm unsure whether I should push through with the antibiotics or stop, though I really ought to continue since I'm dealing with a bladder infection. 😢

Maybe you should just head to the ER...
Do you ever ask them for advice over the phone...

For me, using Sumamed resulted in swollen lips... plus they felt itchy and irritated. It was absolutely miserable.😱

I don't think I'll head to the ER. I'm planning to stop taking the Cephalin, and hopefully my doctor will prescribe a different antibiotic instead.

Terry Fowler2 said:I've been eating some yogurt, but I'm feeling quite nauseous and have actually vomited. My doctor has already finished for the day, so I'm unsure whether I should push through with the antibiotics or stop, though I really ought to continue since I'm dealing with a bladder infection. 😢

You really should consider taking probiotics. They're those beneficial bacteria, conveniently packaged in supplement form. Highly recommended! 😍There are some truly excellent probiotics out there—take VitaFit Premium, for instance. It’s pricey as hell, but honestly? It works wonders. They offer various pack sizes, so don't let them talk you into the most expensive one; you probably won't need that much volume. You can always go with Linex instead. It's way more budget-friendly.

The downpour will let up any minute now. 😉

mellowlynx, thanks for the advice 🙂 but I'm not sure if I should continue with the antibiotics since everything just passes right through me. :S Is it possible the medication isn't working quite as intended?

Terry Fowler2 said:mellowlynx, thanks for the advice 🙂 but I'm not sure if I should continue with the antibiotics since everything just passes right through me. :S Is it possible the medication isn't working quite as intended?

No problem at all. 😉 You really ought to finish the full course exactly as prescribed until you can touch base with your doctor on Monday. The only exception is if you start experiencing severe side effects—in that case, stop immediately.

By the way, there's a Medication Referral Center over in Chicago. You can give them a call anytime to ask questions about any medication you're taking. 😉