[emilyx]

i took some antibiotics for an a skin problem a couple months ago
i was concerned whether it was safe but the doctor said that it was very safe
after i took it, i got muscle pain and joint paint a few days when i started it, and it still hasnt gone away after several months, it got a little less but never completely going away, ive never had problems like this before
im in my 20's, and a "small person", 4'9'' without much muscle mass so i wondered if the medication had a very bad effect on my muscles

i am angry at the doctor because he has known me for 2 years and knew that i had concerns about the safety of medications and didnt think that he would give me something like this
i found the medicine can cause some serious issues that are really rare but still i would want to know that, and the doctor didnt tell me, maybe he thought it wouldnt happen
i tried to search about the medicine before i took it.. but everything will have side effects so i cant distinguish between medicines myself, and i dont understand everything about the medicines myself so i need to rely on a knowledgeable person to help me judge if its safe or not

i know he wasnt trying to make me sick on purpose but i wish that this had been prevented and that he didnt give this to me, and told me about the potential problems
i regret taking it
i told him of my pain that i got after i took the medicine and i think i implied that i was not happy with him that this happened, and he basically told me that i need to see other doctors
i am upset that he doesnt really care, and that he thought he can just give me anything and he wont have to deal with it

i was going to send him another complaint that was a little longer, but do you think that i have a right to be upset at him?

[Lmats]

I'm no doctor, but don't you legally have to list the common side effects and the potentially dangerous side effects of a medication? When I got put on Wellbutrin, my doctor listed some rare side effects that were dangerous to me if they appeared.

I really think he's acting somewhat unprofessional. To ignore your concerns and tell you to see other doctors? Is there any way you could report him somehow? He doesn't sound like he should be a doctor. I'd take his advice and go see other doctors.

I'm sorry you have to go through this and I wish you a speedy recovery!

[emilyx]

i wish my doctor did that but i dont think that they are required to
the prescription on the medicine has warnings but *every* medication has warnings so i cant judge from that if the medicine is ok or not

when i complained to him he said it was a common medicine, that anything im experiencing is temporary and it should go away soon, but its been a couple months and it still happens

he admitted he doesnt know why this is happening and he told me that i can see a specialist (i guess a muscle doctor), i think because he doesnt know what to do, at first, maybe he didnt even believe my pain was from the medicine, he said if it was it should have gone away by a week already, but i persisted and said that i never had this kind of pain before and i dont think its a coincidence

but my anger with him is that this shouldnt even have happened in the first place, i found the medicine has some issues reported with it that arent understood and people dont know why its happening, im not ok with something like that in my body at all

when he gave me the medicine i believe his intentions were good, that he was really just trying to cure my problem
i dont think he expected this to happen either
and maybe he doesnt know the details or possible rare effects of every single medicine

but i keep thinking how this could have been prevented
i would have taken whatever he prescribed me and i relied on him to know if the medicine was safe or not
do you think i have any right to be angry at him or is it not his fault at all?

so i dont know what to do
should i persist in telling him my concerns?
i know he cant do anything now, but maybe i just want him to.. acknowledge that something happened because of what he prescribed me instead of like just dismissing me, i dont think he even feels bad that i am having the pain
i left a message a month ago and i told him that it was still happening but i didnt hear anything back

I also developed some serious pain issues that have never gone away after having a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic about 4 years ago.

The antibiotic I took was a member of a group of drugs known as Sulfonamides.

I can never take any drugs from that group again as it could prove fatal.

The doctors I've tried to discuss it with have also been reluctant to say whether or not the drug is the culprit, but in my heart I know it is.

I've recently been diagnosed with some serious arthritis issues too and can't help but wonder if the drug caused the onset of all that as well.

Guess I'll never know because I was already reluctant to go to doctors before all this happened and now I'm even more reluctant to go!

[emilyx]

Originally Posted by Pfrog

I also developed some serious pain issues that have never gone away after having a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic about 4 years ago.

The antibiotic I took was a member of a group of drugs known as Sulfonamides.

I can never take any drugs from that group again as it could prove fatal.

The doctors I've tried to discuss it with have also been reluctant to say whether or not the drug is the culprit, but in my heart I know it is.

I've recently been diagnosed with some serious arthritis issues too and can't help but wonder if the drug caused the onset of all that as well.

Guess I'll never know because I was already reluctant to go to doctors before all this happened and now I'm even more reluctant to go!

sorry to hear that
how long did you take it for? did it ever get any better over time?

[emilyx]

im thinking of writing him a letter with my complaint
to tell him that i am still getting the pain after almost 4 months
that i wish he didnt ignore the risks or think that the medication had no risk, that i wish he had been more careful to tell me the risks instead of assuming that i would be ok with any medicine that was prescribed a lot or if side effects resolve
i dont want something like that in my body in the first place that even has the potential to cause some issues whatever they may be, or if it might be unpredictable
i think that it shouldnt have been given to me in the first place because it risks too much more than what im willing to do but its supposed to be extremely rare and low so probably he didnt think anything would happen, he said that he prescribes it all the time and he hasnt had anyone else had a bad reaction to it

yes i am angry at him even though i know he didnt intend this to happen
but am i justified in getting upset at him?
what do you think his response will be? maybe he wont say anything or he'll get angry?
why doesnt he even say something to me that indicates that he feels bad about what happened? i just get the feeling like.. he doesnt care and when i complain to him then it just makes him angry

Originally Posted by emilyx

sorry to hear that
how long did you take it for? did it ever get any better over time?

I took it for a total of about 3.5 weeks before all hell broke loose.

My kidneys fully recovered after a year.

The torn ligament in bottom of foot (due to severe cramps caused by medication) took a couple of years to heal, but still causes problems if I'm not careful with it.

I've still got scars from the Erythema Nodosum that developed in lower legs and one patch of nodules remains very tender.

The overall pain in joints, muscles, and other tissues never went away.

And, again, I've developed some serious arthritis issues all over that I feel could be directly connected since I had no known problems with all that prior to taking the med.

Here's a couple of links regarding other people's nightmares with this particular family of antibiotics.

Sulfonamides Bactrim Septra Septrin Sulfatrim SMZ-TMP side effects mail - 24 - Brian Deer

Bactrim - The Law Offices of Gregory Krasovsky

I'm hoping all of the drugs in the sulfonamide family will eventually be banned and the manufacturers successfully sued the hell out of!

[emilyx]

Originally Posted by Pfrog

I took it for a total of about 3.5 weeks before all hell broke loose.

My kidneys fully recovered after a year.

The torn ligament in bottom of foot (due to severe cramps caused by medication) took a couple of years to heal, but still causes problems if I'm not careful with it.

i wish doctors would be more careful when prescribing antibiotics
i dont know if they would even take their own prescriptions
they act like its not a big deal and dont believe that it can cause any issues despite the evidence out there

do you think your doctor is responsible in any way? what did he do when you told him of your symptoms?

i took it about a month, he told me the dose was normal, but still for my body size and height it probably had a stronger effect on me than normal

when did the pain in the muscles and tissues start after you took the medicine?

mine started the day after i stopped the medicine
and im worried that its the start of something like arthritis too

i didnt take that class of antibiotics but theres a lot of antibiotics that can be dangerous but the doctors dont believe it
i dont know why they dont believe it, if they really dont believe that they can do somethign bad or they are just trying to protect themselves from some liability since they prescribe them

Originally Posted by emilyx

i wish doctors would be more careful when prescribing antibiotics
i dont know if they would even take their own prescriptions
they act like its not a big deal and dont believe that it can cause any issues despite the evidence out there

do you think your doctor is responsible in any way? what did he do when you told him of your symptoms?

i took it about a month, he told me the dose was normal, but still for my body size and height it probably had a stronger effect on me than normal

when did the pain in the muscles and tissues start after you took the medicine?

mine started the day after i stopped the medicine
and im worried that its the start of something like arthritis too

i didnt take that class of antibiotics but theres a lot of antibiotics that can be dangerous but the doctors dont believe it
i dont know why they dont believe it, if they really dont believe that they can do somethign bad or they are just trying to protect themselves from some liability since they prescribe them

Sure I think the doctors who prescribe it are responsible to a great extent. They've seen and heard of all the serious allergic reactions up to and including people dying from it. Of course, since they're in bed with Big Pharma and receive a lot of incentives and kickbacks for meeting quotas, they're not gonna expose that cash cow for what it is.

The doctor who gave me the antibiotic was an ER doctor - I had no insurance at the time - When I came back in with the symptoms he was very dismissive and replied that serious allergic reactions only happened to 1 out of 100,000 patients. You read that right - 1 out of 100,000!!! I smarted off that I was 1 of those 100,000 and that I was in excruciating pain and that if my kidneys were permanently damaged they would cover dialysis for the rest of my life.

He told me to take Benadryl for the third degree type burns on my lips as well as the rest of the rash, hives and itching that broke out all over my body. He also told me to be sure (after the fact) to drink plenty of water (it would have helped had he mentioned this upon prescribing it) to flush my kidneys and mentioned steroid injections for the erythema nodosum, but I declined that. He said everything should be back to normal in 6 months to a year.

The pain started a few days into the course of treatment and included the most excruciating muscle cramps which is what caused the ligament in the bottom of my foot to tear. Some people's Achilles tendons will actually rupture and break through the back of their legs requiring emergency surgery!

The pain has never gone away, and I suffer from a lot of fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath and malaise that I never had a problem with before either.

I went from being a person full of enthusiasm and energy that could hike any trail from moderate to difficult with no problem for over an hour 5 days a week to a person who now goes to the same park and has to utilize a cane for stability and sit down every 15 minutes to alleviate the pain before continuing on a casual stroll.

So, yeah, I'm a bit pissed about it too ... Especially when nobody will listen to me when I tell them the damn allergic reaction to that wicked medication caused all this.

It's downright criminal and if I had the money, time, resources and energy, I'd take out a lawsuit of my own.

That's where our doctors and Big Pharma have us as well ... They know most of us can't pursue it, so it kind of protects them as well as prevents them from doing what they know is right.

[possum220]

Hi emily. Sorry to hear about your pain. I'm glad that your doctor has recommended a specialist for you to go to. When doctor prescribe a medication they are supposed to weigh up the the benefits against the risks before making that decision. They are doing it in your best interests.

I am highly sensitive to most medications. Especially those including acids. I had a very bad case of hives and my P'doc now asks me to check the medication to check its contents. I dont mind doing it at all when it stops me from getting sick. Recently I was told to take iron tablets. Normally if a person experiences a side effect it will be constipation. I had the opposite.

Given that there are thousands of medications on the market and a lot of possible reactions that each individual may or may not have, I think telling your doctor about your concerns is valid. However to continue to raise the issue when they have already not responded sounds like they dont want to listen. Our bodies are all so different in how they will process medications. Sometimes we will find ourselves up the creek through no fault of our own.

Please go and see this muscle doctor and get some relief. Maybe go and see another doctor just for a second opinion about what was prescribed for you and to be heard.

Is the some medical board in your country that might listen to your concerns?

I do hope the pain goes away soon.

[emilyx]

Originally Posted by Pfrog

Sure I think the doctors who prescribe it are responsible to a great extent. They've seen and heard of all the serious allergic reactions up to and including people dying from it. Of course, since they're in bed with Big Pharma and receive a lot of incentives and kickbacks for meeting quotas, they're not gonna expose that cash cow for what it is.

The doctor who gave me the antibiotic was an ER doctor - I had no insurance at the time - When I came back in with the symptoms he was very dismissive and replied that serious allergic reactions only happened to 1 out of 100,000 patients. You read that right - 1 out of 100,000!!! I smarted off that I was 1 of those 100,000 and that I was in excruciating pain and that if my kidneys were permanently damaged they would cover dialysis for the rest of my life.

He told me to take Benadryl for the third degree type burns on my lips as well as the rest of the rash, hives and itching that broke out all over my body. He also told me to be sure (after the fact) to drink plenty of water (it would have helped had he mentioned this upon prescribing it) to flush my kidneys and mentioned steroid injections for the erythema nodosum, but I declined that. He said everything should be back to normal in 6 months to a year.

The pain started a few days into the course of treatment and included the most excruciating muscle cramps which is what caused the ligament in the bottom of my foot to tear. Some people's Achilles tendons will actually rupture and break through the back of their legs requiring emergency surgery!

The pain has never gone away, and I suffer from a lot of fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath and malaise that I never had a problem with before either.

I went from being a person full of enthusiasm and energy that could hike any trail from moderate to difficult with no problem for over an hour 5 days a week to a person who now goes to the same park and has to utilize a cane for stability and sit down every 15 minutes to alleviate the pain before continuing on a casual stroll.

So, yeah, I'm a bit pissed about it too ... Especially when nobody will listen to me when I tell them the damn allergic reaction to that wicked medication caused all this.

It's downright criminal and if I had the money, time, resources and energy, I'd take out a lawsuit of my own.

That's where our doctors and Big Pharma have us as well ... They know most of us can't pursue it, so it kind of protects them as well as prevents them from doing what they know is right.

i read everything you wrote and i can empathize with you
I'm sorry you had to go through all that
ive read about some dangerous antibiotics and horror stories that people went through and their doctors totally dismiss them
i think the dangerous antibiotics should be banned

when i went to see my primary care physician he didn't believe me that it had anything to do with the medicine, he thought it was from stress, and told me to take some pain reliever

[emilyx]

Originally Posted by possum220

Hi emily. Sorry to hear about your pain. I'm glad that your doctor has recommended a specialist for you to go to. When doctor prescribe a medication they are supposed to weigh up the the benefits against the risks before making that decision. They are doing it in your best interests.

I am highly sensitive to most medications. Especially those including acids. I had a very bad case of hives and my P'doc now asks me to check the medication to check its contents. I dont mind doing it at all when it stops me from getting sick. Recently I was told to take iron tablets. Normally if a person experiences a side effect it will be constipation. I had the opposite.

Given that there are thousands of medications on the market and a lot of possible reactions that each individual may or may not have, I think telling your doctor about your concerns is valid. However to continue to raise the issue when they have already not responded sounds like they dont want to listen. Our bodies are all so different in how they will process medications. Sometimes we will find ourselves up the creek through no fault of our own.

Please go and see this muscle doctor and get some relief. Maybe go and see another doctor just for a second opinion about what was prescribed for you and to be heard.

Is the some medical board in your country that might listen to your concerns?

I do hope the pain goes away soon.

i dont have health insurance so even if i wanted to see another doctor i cant really afford it ,they would probably want to do tests like x-rays and things like that

do you think my doctor should respond to me? or is he allowed to just ignore me if he wants, like he can just give any antibiotics and hes not responsible for what happens?

the medicine is a common medication given to this problem so legally maybe he didnt do anything wrong

i am angry with him because he didnt tell me the risks of the medication or i personally wouldnt have taken it (even if the medicine is common and maybe most other people are fine with it)
so is he allowed to do that, to give me a medicine that most people are ok with but that personally i wouldnt be if i knew the risks?

i prepared a letter where it told him that i wouldnt have taken it if i knew the risks, that he shouldnt just assume im ok with it because its common and many people take it
even if the risk is small, i wouldnt have taken it
because my body reacts unpredictably to medicines and i dont want to take that chance

do you think that he should reply or do you think that its perfectly ok for him not to say anything?

i mean he was the one who gave me the prescription
it seems like they can just prescribe anything and if the patient has problems then they arent responsible and they can just send them to other specialists
even if the patient wouldnt have taken the medicine if they knew the risks

Hey, emilyx ... UPDATE: Was just reading another link about the antibiotic I had the allergic reaction to BACTRIM: Side effects, ratings, and patient comments and it has been banned in the UK ... !!!

I googled to verify what I had read and apparently that link I put up earlier where that reporter did that investigation into it was successful in having it banned over there!

Good for him! ... I hope we get somebody here to do the exact same thing.

Be well ...

[emilyx]

Originally Posted by Pfrog

Hey, emilyx ... UPDATE: Was just reading another link

ive heard of this antibiotic i think once my doctor mentioned it
im glad it was banned i wish more antibiotics were banned