Can antibiotics make you tired? Yes. If you’re taking prescription antibiotics, you may experience tiredness and fatigue. This might also be a symptom of the infection being treated via the antibiotics, or it may be a serious, but rare, side effect of the antibiotic. Learn more about antibiotics in this article and try to avoid their side effects.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are a class of powerful specifics that eradicate bacteria or slow their growth, which can cure infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotics should only be used to treat certain bacterial infections, and they aren’t effective against viral infections.
How Antibiotics Work
Antibiotics work by destroying bacteria or making it delicate for them to grow and reproduce in humans or animals.
They can be taken in a variety of forms, including:
Orally( via liquids, tablets, sprays, drops, or capsules)
Topically( through the skin by way of a cream or ointment)
Via injection( intravenously or intramuscular)
Types Of Antibiotics
Antibiotics are frequently classified into groups. Here are some of the most common:
Penicillins and penicillin-grounded These are among the oldest antibiotics and are the first-line treatment for numerous conditions, including respiratory tract infections. Amoxicillin is an illustration of a penicillin-based antibiotic.
Tetracyclines are frequently specified for common conditions like acne, skin infections, tick-borne illnesses, respiratory infections, and more.
Cephalosporins These antibiotics treat a wide range of infections, including ear infections, pneumonia, and meningitis.
Macrolides A common alternative for people who are apathetic to penicillin, these antibiotics are used to treat some types of pneumonia, STDs, and other infections. Clindamycin and azithromycin are examples of macrolide antibiotics.
Fluoroquinolones These versatile antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, are used to treat a variety of skin, sinus, joint, and urinary infections. Still, fluoroquinolones can interact with numerous common specifics and may have some serious side effects.
The most generally specified sulfonamide is trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, vended under the name Bactrim or Septra. Sulfonamides work by stopping or decelerating the growth of bacteria and are frequently used for UTIs and skin infections.
Side Effects Of Antibiotics
People are generally most familiar with the bothersome effects that antibiotics can have on the digestive system. For illustration, azithromycin( vended under the brand names Z-Pak, Zithromax, and Zmax) most constantly causes a worried stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting. But, a lower given side effect of azithromycin and other common antibiotics, such as amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin( Cipro), is serious fatigue.
While the exact reason for this side effect isn’t completely understood, it could have a commodity to do with how antibiotics alter the balance of microbes in our bodies. These specifics frequently alter or kill off good bacteria in the body along with the bad.
Not only can this change in microbiome increase an older adult’s threat of C. diff infection, but it can also affect nutrient absorption or lead to dehydration, which can contribute to fatigue and lethargy.
Do Antibiotics Make You Tired
“Does taking antibiotics make you tired?” is actually not a question with a straightforward answer. Science isn’t actually sure whether it’s the antibiotics making you tired or your body feels fatigued because it’s fighting an infection. It’s also possible that since the antibiotics kill some good bacteria along with the bad, you could feel some fatigue as the body balances itself back out, so to speak.
Although it’s rare, there are many antibiotics that can beget serious fatigue, the kind that makes it delicate to complete diurnal life conditioning. Seniors are more susceptible to this fatigue side effect. The antibiotics to watch out for are:
Amoxicillin( Amoxil, Moxatag)
Azithromycin( Z-pak, Zithromax, and Zmax)
Ciprofloxacin( Cipro, Proquin)
Any tiredness or weakness you feel while taking antibiotics could also be related to another side effect caused by antibiotics. One of the more common side effects of antibiotics is nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. As mentioned over, antibiotics occasionally kill the good bacteria in the body along with the bad, leading to stomach issues and conceivably dehumidification. So in this case antibiotics can make you feel sick and tired.
Some other implicit side effects of antibiotics include headaches, photosensitivity, and an antipathetic response like a rash or hives. And flashback , while managing these side effects, your body is also still fighting the infection that transferred you to the doctor for antibiotics in the first place, so some frazzle is to be anticipated.
If you’re still feeling tired after a course of antibiotics it may be time to consult your doctor. You may need a different treatment, or have a commodity differently going on that your doctor can help with. The same is true if you experience extreme fatigue that makes it delicate to continue with everyday life.
What To Do If Antibiotics Make You Tired
Still, consider if you start any new drug that makes you drowsy.
Agitating volition specifics or tablets with your doctor
Avoiding Conditioning like driving that bear you to be alert until you completely understand how the drug affects you
Avoiding over-the-counter specifics that list dizziness as a side effect
Avoiding alcohol and other substances that can make you tired
Keeping healthy sleep habits and making sure you get a full night’s rest
Still, or if it gets worse, within many days of starting an antibiotic, If the fatigue doesn’t get better.
Your doctor may want you to come in for a follow-up to make sure the antibiotic is applicable for you or to determine if you’re passing one of the more serious side effects.
