Do antibiotics make you tired?

Antibiotics are antibiotics that are used to treat bacterial infections. Despite their ability to treat potentially severe illnesses, antibiotics can cause unpleasant side effects such as indigestion, nausea, and vomiting in some people. Some antibiotics, albeit less common, can make you feel sleepy or weak.

Continue reading to find out more about antibiotics and how they can cause fatigue.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are medications that are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. They either reduce or eliminate dangerous microorganisms. They’re used to treat infections of the respiratory tract (whooping cough, pneumonia), sepsis, and skin infections, among other things. They’re also used to treat bacterial illnesses like urinary tract infections (UTIs), strep throat, and other infections.

It’s crucial to remember that, while antibiotics can help with a variety of life-threatening conditions, they can’t help with viruses. Antibiotics, for example, do not treat COVID-19 or upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), such as the common cold or flu. To identify the right treatment, you must first evaluate whether the infection is bacterial or viral. Antibiotics can help cure the bacterial infection but not the coronavirus if someone has a coronavirus and also develops a bacterial infection as a consequence.

Antibiotics are sometimes used to prevent rather than treat infections. They can be consumed in a number of ways, including:

• Using your mouth (via liquids, tablets, sprays, drops, or capsules)
• Through injection (intravenously or intramuscular)
• Topically (through the skin by way of a cream or ointment)

Antibiotics and How They Work

Antibiotics work by inhibiting or eliminating dangerous germs in our systems. A certain level of bacteria is to be expected. Our immune systems normally kick in to fight and kill bacteria as they multiply. White blood cells go to war with bacteria’s increasing army, and they typically prevail.

However, there are occasions when the number of germs outnumbers our immune system’s ability to fight them. Antibiotics can help in this situation. Antibiotics function in humans and animals by killing bacteria or making it impossible for them to grow and reproduce.

Types of Antibiotics

Antibiotics have only been around for a few decades. Penicillin was the first natural antibiotic, discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming of England in 1928. And it was entirely by chance that the discovery was made.

Antibiotics are frequently divided into categories.

The following are a few of the most common:

Tetracyclines

Tetracyclines are commonly used for acne, skin infections, tick-borne illnesses, respiratory infections, and other ailments.

Cephalosporin

Cephalosporin antibiotics are used to treat a variety of illnesses such as ear infections, pneumonia, and meningitis.

Macrolides

These antibiotics are used to treat some types of pneumonia, STDs, and other infections in persons who are allergic to penicillin. Macrolide antibiotics include clindamycin and azithromycin.

Fluoroquinolone

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, are used to treat a wide range of infections in the skin, sinuses, joints, and urinary tract. Fluoroquinolones, on the other hand, can interact with a wide range of drugs and have substantial side effects.

Penicillin and penicillin-like antibiotics

These antibiotics are among the oldest and are used to treat a variety of illnesses, including respiratory tract infections. A penicillin-based antibiotic such as amoxicillin is an example.

Sulfonamides

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, also known as Bactrim or Septra, is the most commonly prescribed sulfonamide. Sulfonamides are commonly used to treat UTIs and skin infections because they halt or limit the growth of germs.

Side Effects of Antibiotics

Antibiotics, like many other drugs, can have unpleasant side effects.

The following are the most prevalent antibiotic adverse effects:

• Appetite loss.
• Vomiting and nausea
• Rash
• Dizziness
• Infections caused by yeast
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Indigestion

These side effects are usually minor and go away once you finish your treatment.

Do antibiotics make you tired?

Fatigue, or a general feeling of exhaustion or weakness, is a rare adverse effect of antibiotic use. When taking antibiotics, you may experience fatigue. Some commonly administered antibiotics have this unusual but possibly dangerous side effect.

The actual reason why certain people experience weariness is still unknown today. Some suggest that it is due to a change in nutrient absorption or dehydration that occurs when the biome of the digestive system is altered.

The body may become weary as a result of the loss of beneficial microbes. Antibiotics, on the other hand, do not all produce weariness.

These three antibiotics, in particular, may make you tired:

Amoxicillin

Amoxicillin, often known as Amoxil or Moxatag, is a very efficient penicillin antibiotic. Among other things, it’s used to treat bronchitis, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections (UTI). If you get abnormally weary or weak after taking amoxicillin, see your doctor right away.

It’s possible that it harmed your nervous system. When taking this drug, it’s normal to feel weary, but be cautious if you’re feeling weak or faint, or if you’re having trouble staying awake. Sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) may be a good substitute for Amoxicillin.

Azithromycin

Azithromycin, also known as Z-Pak, Zithromax, and Zmax, is a common antibiotic that causes excessive weariness as a side effect. It’s used to treat bacterial infections like those in the lungs, skin, ears, and eyes. Some sexually transmitted infections are also treated with it.

If azithromycin makes you tired, talk to your doctor about switching to clarithromycin (Biaxin).

Ciprofloxacin

This is one of many fluoroquinolone antibiotics that can make you feel tired. Ciprofloxacin, also known as Cipro or Proquin, is used to treat infections of the skin, prostate, and bone, among other things. Ciprofloxacin was first developed as a treatment for anthrax poisoning. Dizziness, drowsiness, and a general lack of alertness are all possible side effects.

Vibramycin (doxycycline), a tetracycline antibiotic, is another alternative to Cipro. This is a fantastic option, especially if you have a penicillin allergy.

What Should You Do If Antibiotics Make You Tired and Sleepy?

Consult your doctor if you believe an antibiotic is causing you to feel sleepy or tired. They can assist you in switching to a medicine that does not have this undesired side effect.

• Do not drive or engage in any activity that need your undivided concentration. You run the risk of hurting yourself or others. These foods should be avoided until you know how the antibiotics are affecting you.
• If you’re taking metronidazole (Flagyl) or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, don’t drink alcohol (Bactrim). There will be a slew of other undesirable side effects as a result of the combination.
• Other sleep-inducing substances should be avoided.
• Make certain you’re getting adequate rest.

The one thing you shouldn’t do is immediately stop the medication if you realize it’s making you tired or sleepy. This may allow the infection to worsen and can also lead to antibiotic resistance.

Summary

Antibiotic use can cause tiredness or weariness, which is not a common adverse effect. Amoxicillin, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin are the antibiotics that are most likely to cause weariness as a side effect.