Can strong antibiotics cause stomach problems after you're off it?

Question

I've been off of an antibiotic (I took for pneumonia) for over a week and I always feel a bit bloaty and my upper stomach always hurts a bit (b/c of bloatyness I think). It feels like my digestion is messed up. Can an antibiotic (Levequin) do this? Also my period is late...is that related?

Thank you for your responses. I am already on Prevacid. And I take acidopholus regularly already. Yes I know Levaquin is pretty potent and read all about its side effects. And I did have trouble sleeping. But its been over a week. Still problems.

Answer 1

absolutely. go to your best health/vitamin store and get some probiotics. when you take an antibiotic it kills not only the infection but also some helpful bacteria. thats why women get yeast infections sometimes after antibiotic use. everything gets out of whack. taking the probiotics will restore your health. research it.

Answer 2

I f that's the only bad thing Levaquin left you with, consider yourself lucky! Yes any antibiotic can leave you feeling like that. It should subside within a few days. I took Levaquin and had terrible adverse effects from it. Do your feet, and or calves, hands, hurt? Did it give you insomnia? If you look it up, you will find all kinds for sites about people who have had serious problems from Levaquin. I will never take that drug again.

Answer 3

They have a tendancy to eat away at the lining in your stomach.It may get better in time.Maybe the Dr. can give you Prilosec or another med to help untill you see if it gets better.The funny thing is when you do have severe stomach problems they give you antibiotics to cure it,so in your case the cause may end up being the cure.I know from experiencing it a few times myself.

Answer 4

Ofcourse yes...

http://www.drugs.com/Levaquin/index.html

Answer 5

Antibiotics do affect the flora (normal stomach bacteria) and will cause distress. Often your physician will suggest yoghurt to help re-establish those bacteria....if not, do it anyways...it tastes good, is harmless, and it will solve your problem.....I am a physician and I often suggest this.

Answer 6

take acidoplius pills as the antibitiocs ate up all your good intestinal flora so its raw now in there and yeast is in there to rec havoc. yogurt is not strong enuf contrary to belief and milk products make things worse. anitbiotics are live organsms so yea ya can get bloated..