10 Side Effects of Antibiotics and What to Do About Them - Article Health

Antibiotics are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. These medications are used to treat bacterial infections, which—unlike viruses—usually don’t go away on their own. And while studies show that antibiotics are overprescribed and often given to patients who don’t actually need them, doctors also agree that the drugs, when used correctly, are an extremely important (and often lifesaving) part of modern medicine.

Like all drugs, antibiotics can have side effects. Most aren’t life-threatening, and patients can often ask their doctor for help in preventing or managing unpleasant complications like diarrhea or secondary infections.

Digestive problems
One of most common complaints from patients taking antibiotics is gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, says Kate Dzintars, PharmD, a clinical pharmacy specialist at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “There is a condition called antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and we council patients to be on the lookout for that,” she says. Drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding high-fiber foods may help patients cope until they’ve finished their course of medication.

Headaches
Headaches are another common complaint from people taking antibiotics. “If you have a headache and you don’t think it’s from sleep deprivation or caffeine deprivation, it certainly could be the antibiotic you’re taking,” says Dzintars.

Sensitivity to sun
Certain antibiotics are photosensitizers, which means they affect how the skin reacts to ultraviolet light. Exposure to sunlight while on these drugs can increase the risk of sunburn, blistering, peeling, and subsequent damage to skin cells. Some of these drugs can also interact with sunlight to cause a red, itchy rash—even in just as little as 15 minutes of exposure, according to Scientific American.

Drug interactions
Taking antibiotics may treat your bacterial infection, but it could also cause other medications you’re currently on to work differently—or not as well. Drugs that can interact with antibiotics include blood thinners, antacids, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory drugs (like over-the-counter pain medicines), psoriasis medications, diuretics, antifungal drugs, steroids, diabetes medications, muscle relaxants, migraine medications, and some antidepressants

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