Antibiotics and big run coming up?
Question:
My doctor has put me on Augmentin for severe sinusitis and I need to run a 50km ultra in 3 days time…. but I have been told by other experienced runners that I am going to have the worst run of my life and my body will be completely at its lowest because of these antibiotics.
Untrue. There’s nothing wrong or worrisome with having antibiotics in your system. Some can have side effects that make it tough to run, however. Augmentin is a doozy, with a very bad record for diarrhea. That could make it tough to run a 50 K. But if you’re not suffering it, then best of luck. And in general, there is no reason to expect an impact on athletic performance when taking antibiotics. — Josh Steinberg MD
Response:
Only certain ones sensitize the skin. Tetracycline and its relatives (vibramycin, minocycline, minacin) do this. I can think of no others.
Quinolones (cipro, floxin, levaquin) cause photosensitivty. Sulfonamides, trimethoprim, and the azalides (azithromycin) cause photosensitivity.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My doctor has put me on Augmentin for severe sinusitis and I need to run a 50km ultra in 3 days time…. but I have been told by other experienced runners that I am going to have the worst run of my life and my body will be completely at its lowest because of these antibiotics. Untrue. There’s nothing wrong or worrisome with having antibiotics in your system. Some can have side effects that make it tough to run, however. Augmentin is a doozy, with a very bad record for diarrhea. That could make it tough to run a 50 K. But if you’re not suffering it, then best of luck. And in general, there is no reason to expect an impact on athletic performance when taking antibiotics. — Josh Steinberg MD
Just for the record I ran the ultra today and I managed to finish I don’t know how. I have never had such a bad run in my life after 20km I wanted to bail. My muscles in my legs were burning like never before and I was going real slowly
Response:
Eat lots of yougurt to replace the beneficial bacteria that the antibiotics are also killing off. -ssloth
Response:
Augmentin is a good antibiotic for sinusitis. It will, likely, eliminate the pathogens causing your infection… though it, too, will eliminate most of the "good" bacteria in your bowels and likely predispose you to gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea. You might be able to avoid G.I. side effects by using acidophilus (a.k.a. lactobacillus). Acidophilus is a non-pathogenic bacteria that normally lives in our "gut". Too, we use it to make milk into yogurt. By ingesting acidophilus, while on the Augmentin, you might avoid problems. Eat some "live" (living acidophilus culture) yogurt daily… or better yet, get some lactobacillus pills. They’re non-prescription, are available in most pharmacies (one brand I see a lot is called Lactinex), and they taste like malted milk balls!!! Eat two or three pills four times each day while on the Augmentin. Take the Augmentin with food… as it can cause cramps when taken on an empty stomach. Best wishes… have a good run!!! Let us know how you do!!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -My doctor has put me on Augmentin I have been told by other experienced runners that I am going to have the worst run of my life and my body will be completely at its lowest because of these antibiotics.
Response:
Also put on the highest sunscreen that works. Antibiotics increase skin sun sensitivity.
Even though sunscreens protect from radiation, they also decrease performace – there have been several studies that showed that sunscreens messes with perspiration "cooling" mechanisms, therefore leading to "overheating" effects. — Oleg
Response:
Even though sunscreens protect from radiation, they also decrease performace – there have been several studies that showed that sunscreens messes with perspiration "cooling" mechanisms, therefore leading to "overheating" effects.
Even the alcohol-based ones like Bullfrog? The cheap oil-based stuff might do so. Before you buy.
Response:
No, that’s incorrect. Only certain ones sensitize the skin. Tetracycline and its relatives (vibramycin, minocycline, minacin) do this. I can think of no others. Wear skin protection so I don’t have to do more skin biopsies in 20 years! — Josh Steinberg MD – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Also put on the highest sunscreen that works. Antibiotics increase skin sun sensitivity. Before you buy.
Response:
Being conservative, I would recommend getting healthy first. Although the symptoms may be gone, the bacteria could still be present and you could relapse which is one reason docs tell patients to take all the medication and not quit when feeling better.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi My doctor has put me on Augmentin for severe sinusitis and I need to run a 50km ultra in 3 days time. I am starting to feel better already but I have been told by other experienced runners that I am going to have the worst run of my life and my body will be completely at its lowest because of these antibiotics. Is there anything I can do to counteract this? Ric
Response:
Also put on the highest sunscreen that works. Antibiotics increase skin sun sensitivity. Before you buy.
Response:
Hi My doctor has put me on Augmentin for severe sinusitis and I need to run a 50km ultra in 3 days time. I am starting to feel better already but I have been told by other experienced runners that I am going to have the worst run of my life and my body will be completely at its lowest because of these antibiotics. Is there anything I can do to counteract this? Ric
Response:
I’ve been on antibiotics for a week now to treat a gum infection. Since I’m ramping my training up for an early summer 100 miler I was worried what effect they might have. As far as I can tell, other than a feeling of being constipated most of the time, they haven’t had a negative impact. I did a 28 miler Saturday and a 22 miler Sunday and was fine. I did monitor my fluid/calorie consumption a little more carefully than usual and also made a real conscious effort to start out easy. For a 50K, the antibiotics probably won’t have much affect but if they haven’t attacked the sinusitis you could have a problem with that. If so just take it easy, be sure to stay hydrated/fueled and enjoy the day. Good luck. Hi My doctor has put me on Augmentin for severe sinusitis and I need to run a 50km ultra in 3 days time. I am starting to feel better already but I have been told by other experienced runners that I am going to have the worst run of my life and my body will be completely at its lowest because of these antibiotics. Is there anything I can do to counteract this? Ric
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Response:
Filed under: Sinusitis Symptoms
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