AboutDr Alan Galbraith Expertise I can answer most questions on most drugs. Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.
Experience I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease.
Organizations Institute of Biology, London.
Publications Author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" 5th Edition published in November 2007 by Pearson Education, Australia.
I had all my wisdom teeth extracted on 15/04 and was prescribed Clindamycin Hydrochloride 150mg four times a day for 5 days. I have also been taking ibuprofen 400mg four times a day, and paracetamol with codeine four times a day since the operation (I developed a dry socket and have needed lots of pain relief).
I experienced a small amount of diarrhoea on 18/04 but this was immediately followed by normal stools. My next bowel movement on 19/04 was fairly solid but contained some mucus (which I often get when constipated). I have experienced no more diarrhoea or mucus but today 21/04 I have some lower abdominal pain and a slightly swollen tummy.
My oral surgeon has also given me a further 5 day course of Clindamycin 150mg as the dry socket is still a problem.
Should I be concerned about the abdominal pain/bloating and is it a good idea to take a further course of the clindamycin?
Answer Dear Rebecca
Your symptoms sound as if they could be caused by the clindamycin although severe diarrhoea would be of more concern. The ibuprofen could also be the cause but less unlikely. I would check with your oral surgeon before taking anymore of the clindamycin. I would say that in the absence of severe diarrhoea I probably would not be concerned but it is still worth checking, as I cannot say whether the second course of antibiotic is essential or not.
There is always the possibility that there is another cause which may need further investigation.
