Metronidazole for Diverticulitis User Reviews (Page 4)

• Sad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2017

"I began taking Flagyl on Saturday night to treat diverticulitis. I could not sleep at all that night or the following three nights. I lay in bed wide awake, with my leg muscles randomly fasciculating. I had a headache and neck ache from not being able to sleep. Occasionally, my entire body would suddenly jerk while I was lying in bed. I could not concentrate at work, and even though I am a pharmacist, I kept forgetting the names of medications that I had been taking and the names of the medical conditions with which I had been diagnosed. I had been taking ibuprofen for a few days the prior week, and I had stopped taking ibuprofen due to heartburn. Even though I was on Protonix to treat my heartburn, Flagyl significantly worsened my pre-existing heartburn to the point where I had to stand erect throughout the day and night, moaning with pain. My epigastric pain would begin about an hour after taking Flagyl and be at its worst four hours later. I also felt as if I constantly had to urinate, but only a small amount of urine would come out each time. My mouth was extremely dry with a metallic taste and a furry looking tongue. I ended up in the ER the following Wednesday writhing in epigastric pain which was a “10” on the 1-10 pain scale. I literally thought that I was going to die, and I spoke with loved ones by phone to say my good-byes. My blood pressure was moderately elevated and my ECG, which had always been normal, was now “borderline with atrial enlargement.” My ER doc switched me to Augmentin, and my Flagyl-related adverse reactions rapidly subsided. Flagyl significantly helped my diverticulitis, but at a horrible cost in terms of lost sleep, lost work, poor work, personal and family anxieties, and time spent at the ER. If your doctor prescribes Flagyl, my advice is to ask him/her if there is an alternative antibiotic, especially if you have any pre-existing gastroesophageal problems. All of my adverse events appear in the Flagyl labeling: epigastric distress, abdominal cramping, incoordination, confusion, insomnia, a sharp, unpleasant metallic taste, dryness of the mouth, furry tongue, glossitis, stomatitis, flattening of the T-wave in electrocardiographic tracings, polyuria, a sense of pelvic pressure, convulsive seizures."

• Anonymous
• July 29, 2018

Metronidazole "Took Cipro and Flagyl for a diverticulitis flare-up. I paid extra for the name brand of Cipro. The generic brand gave me all the nasty side effects people are sharing. I also found that eating something before taking either med made a huge difference. I have had minimal side effects from either eating first, plus I drink a bottle of water with every pill. This was the worst flare-up I've experienced. Hopefully, with some lifestyle changes, it will be my last."

• San...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2018

"These drugs are a nightmare. Until I read everyone else's comments, I felt like I was not getting better but worse. Now I am feeling better because I know I am not alone. I wish doctors would tell you how awful you are going to feel. Most meds make you feel better, and as each day goes by, you improve, but not with this combo. You will feel like death warmed over, but if getting rid of the diverticulitis is the result, I will definitely hang in there. Just know you are not alone with all, and there are so many people out there with the side effects."

• Jos...
• October 6, 2013

Metronidazole "Don't drink alcohol while on this. I had 1 light beer (approx. 0.9 standard drinks) and felt completely ill. Also ironic that you should take this pill after eating, though with acute diverticulitis you shouldn't eat at all. I found drinks like Up & Go (breakfast drink) were a good option. Medication does work, but tastes horrible."

• fee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2016

Metronidazole "I went to the ER and was told I had diverticulitis. I stayed in the hospital for 3 days. I started taking Cipro and Flagyl. Only side effect is diarrhea, hard to manage when you work full time. Medication does work. On meds for 1 week."

• Anonymous
• September 6, 2015

Metronidazole "I have been on Flagyl a few times, and it works very well. But, why can't they put it in a gelcap? It is so hard for me to take because of the taste. I take it with cranberry juice, which helps. But, really, it is nasty tasting."

• Bru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2014

"While they do the job as intended, the Flagyl makes you sick and nauseous. Food and drink lose their taste, and you can gag from just trying to swallow the pill. I was diagnosed with diverticulitis last year and spent 12 days in the hospital with a perforated colon. Luckily, the meds did the job and kept me from having to get surgery, which would have resulted in a colostomy bag for 4-6 months. This year, I had some symptoms again and went to the doctor right away. I got the meds again (Flagyl and Cipro 500 mg each twice a day). 48 hours in, I am feeling better from the disease but not so much from the meds. To get past the taste of the pills on the way down, I started taking it with a spoonful of honey."

• gut...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2015

Metronidazole "The side effects of taking Flagyl are not pleasant, but they're worth it, as this antibiotic certainly seems effective in relieving sporadic attacks of diverticulitis. I have been prescribed it along with Cephalexin for maximum efficacy. As stated elsewhere, do not go near alcohol during medication, i.e., consider yourself on the wagon for the duration of treatment! Finding the right diet (which for me includes no wheat) seems critical in controlling the disease."

• Map...
• January 30, 2017

"I was diagnosed with diverticulosis 9 years ago and have managed my diet and avoided an attack. Until now... Interestingly, following a heart attack recently, it appears that the body stress triggered an acute diverticulitis attack and I ended up in the ER... again. By the way, the heart is okay! After 2 days in the hospital on Cipro and Flagyl, I was released and instructed to take them for 8 more days. (Cipro 2x and Flagyl 3x). I agree with so many reviews that these meds work, but wow, what side effects, and mine was mostly a dizzy/woozy feeling and just a general feeling lousy, not some of the more severe effects that others had. Tomorrow is my last day on these meds and hope to feel better after another 3 days when they are out of my system!"

• Lin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2016

"I was put on Flagyl and Cipro for the next ten days. I have been on it for 2 days now and already feel a lot better - just tired. I felt as if I was run over by a truck before I started taking the medication. My pain felt more like contractions! The pain has subsided quite a bit. Hopefully, by the end of ten days, I will be as good as new! Good luck to everyone."

• Gre...
• September 25, 2020

Metronidazole "A little early to give a thorough report on Flagyl for diverticulitis. But I have to admit it has helped so far. I have a light case of diverticulitis. Saturday night at midnight, I drove myself to the ER. I was in extreme pain from a hole in my colon. It is small, so it is only leaking gas into my abdomen. I was on Flagyl IV from Sunday a.m. till Wednesday a.m. When I ate even Jell-O, the gas pains would come back. Twenty-four hours after taking the 2x a day 500 mg, the gas pain was gone while/after eating. No bad taste. No elevated BP. If this keeps me from needing surgery, I would take it for months. I am on 2x a day for 7 days. Drugs work differently on people. So far, this is a miracle drug for me. On another good note, I have been a heavy drinker for years. You can’t drink alcohol while taking it. Flagyl could have possibly saved my life in two aspects."

• abe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2016

Metronidazole "Was hospitalized with my first case of diverticulitis in March of this year and was given Flagyl 3x daily for 3-4 weeks. Vomited violently in the hospital within 10 minutes after taking it each time until they started giving me something to coat my stomach a little beforehand. The entire time I had to take it, I felt like my stomach was being eaten from the inside. My taste buds changed totally while I was on it, and nothing tasted normal. I agree, Flagyl is the worst medicine ever! I will suffer the pain from diverticulitis before taking it again!"

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 23, 2015

"I just had my 1st bout of diverticulitis and am now being treated with Cipro and Flagyl. I was in ER for a few hours with IV antibiotics, then sent home. This was Wednesday night, and I started treatment Thursday. The pain has eased up, but I feel tired a lot, feel depressed and spaced out, and went from being constipated to diarrhea. My urine looks dark like beer, a bitter taste in my mouth, gas and burbling noises...not fun. But considering how sick I was before treatment (fever, abdominal pain, terrible diarrhea...thought it was the gastro), this isn't so bad. Every day it seems to improve...I hope this clears up, and I will do my utmost to make sure I never have another flare-up again."

• sis...
• September 15, 2018

Metronidazole "I went to the ER with acute diverticulitis and was prescribed Metronidazole along with Cipro and pain pills. I was administered a couple of pain shots and thought I could go home and take these meds and get better. Three days later, I was back in the ER and let them admit me this time. The terrible headaches, horrific taste in my mouth, nausea, and vomiting were about more than I could bear. I have had sleeve surgery, and so my stomach is small, but this gave me such bad heartburn and indigestion, I could not imagine a medicine making a person this sick. I also had diarrhea with every bathroom trip and very dark urine. I couldn't even stand the taste of water, or the food I ate tasted horrible, along with a lack of appetite, lethargy, and lightheadedness. I finished my prescription of ten days, but I hope I never have to take this horrible drug again. One good thing about it is my diverticulitis pain is gone, and I pray it will never return."

• Ang...
• February 17, 2014

"First time I had diverticulitis, I was prescribed metronidazole and Cipro. The metronidazole was so horrible tasting it would make me gag and throw up. I got some double zero gelation capsules and put the pill inside the capsule. It worked like a charm, no more gagging. It works for bad tasting pills as well as chalky pills that get stuck in your throat. Good luck!"

• Mim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 12, 2020

"While this is the nastiest tasting drug on earth, I will say putting it in a teaspoon of apple sauce does the trick, then a few more bites of apple sauce. No aftertaste! Goes right down without the stuck in your esophagus feeling."

• tin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 23, 2014

"This is my first time with a Flagyl and Cipro combination. It's been 3 days, and I am so nauseous, and the lethargy is awful. I'm not sure I can continue the combination, but I will be calling the doctor Monday morning. And I do have Zofran. These side effects are terrible."

• bee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 24, 2016

Metronidazole "Oh, man, am I ever sick.... Yes, the lower abd pain is getting better, but! I am on methotrexate and am having blood in my stools... I didn't see anyone else mention that.... So, tomorrow is Thanksgiving, but I guess I'll try to contact my doc and see what he says... I'm on day three almost... If I take it tonight???!! I was prescribed Cipro and Flagyl in the ER for acute diverticulitis."

• Dam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 29, 2016

"I was diagnosed for the 1st time at the ER after a CT scan. Cipro 2x and Flagyl 3x per day were prescribed. I can't feel any pain b/c I'm too focused on the nausea, dizziness, bloating, gas, and diarrhea. Day 2 - I had an important meeting to attend (that I could not miss), the metallic taste was awful, and the smells when I walked in the room made the nausea unbearable. Out of desperation, I popped 2 pieces of mentos spearmint gum in my mouth and sucked on them, and within minutes felt so much better. The mint soothed my stomach and I was functioning. I went on to another meeting thereafter and did just fine. Thereafter, I tried peppermint candy but it didn't have the same effect. I'm on a clear liquid diet too, which doesn't help."

• Im ...
• December 7, 2014

"I find my experience to be the exact opposite of those I've read here! I had a terrible reaction to Cipro last year... vomiting, diarrhea, severe abdominal pain. Refused it this week when I developed diverticulitis. I'm taking Flagyl and clindamycin combination with absolutely zero side effects. I plan to start yogurt tomorrow as diet progresses."

• Sea...
• December 18, 2017

Metronidazole "WOW, Cipro and Flagyl drain your entire body. I have fought with diverticulitis off and on since age 37, and I am now age 45. I have gone 2 years since my last bout with diverticulitis. At first, I hated the drugs and quit after 2-3 days - only for the pain to come back within a month. So I quickly learned to stay the course with the drugs, then I learned to monitor my diet better because my eating habits were the culprit. When I was 43, I had a flare-up from diverticulitis. Since I was used to the symptoms, I drank a lot of water and tried to get by the pain, not a good idea. Man, that diverticulitis spread through my urinary tract, then to my liver... all because I didn’t want to take the medication... probably the worst episode."

• Cur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2016

"I took it along with Cipro for diverticulitis. There was not a lot of effect for the first 2 days, but after that, the drugs started to work, and I started feeling better. After a full 7 days, I'm glad to be finished. I had taken Cipro on its own before with minimal side effects. With the combo, I found that there were quite a lot. I was quite listless and almost depressed and tired, plus my joints are very sore. There is a nasty taste in my mouth, and my tongue is sore and very grayish. I was very moody for a few days, but this seems to have stopped. Since the diverticulitis makes me feel really awful, I was grateful for the antibiotics, and they worked. Many people have reported diarrhea, but I did not, pee certainly turned a dark orange."

• Lai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 31, 2013

"34 yr old female, 500 mg-3 x 10 days. I do think it's healing me, but I started having side effects from this from the first day I took it. Severe anxiety, dizziness, insomnia, lethargy, diarrhea, ringing in ears, hands shaking, night sweats, metal taste in mouth, couldn't focus, and was overall very irritated. By day 3 & 4, I started having severe depression and uncontrollable crying, flu-like symptoms, and by day five, I felt homicidal!! I'm currently on day 6, and luckily I missed my last dose, or else who knows what could've happened! I am going to finish out my script, but I may cut it back to just 2 a day. I'll be so glad when this is over with!"

• Mis...
• April 12, 2013

"Personally, after reading these stories and not knowing if everyone (besides those who stated) was taking Metronidazole with something else. I have had a few flare-ups, and I cannot take a combination of Cipro/Metronidazole as this causes the weird feelings and extreme lethargy. Metronidazole alone (besides the bad taste when you pop it), no problems. Occasionally slight nausea and bloating, but nothing else. I just don't take the combination anymore, which was horrible. Straight Metronidazole now, 500 mg, 3 times a day, 10 days...done."

• tee...
• May 7, 2016

"I was put on this medication for diverticulitis, along with Cipro. I have been taking it for 7 days. I feel like I have been hit by a truck! No energy, sick to my stomach, diarrhea, along with a feeling of never being able to get comfortable. I have 7 more days, 3 times a day, to go! I don't think I can do it! I feel absolutely miserable. Just left a message with the Dr to see what they say about stopping it."