PSA

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I am not going into details, but I was prescribed Flagyl for 7 days. They stressed the importance of not having any alcohol. I don't drink. I can't tolerate most cold medicines, so that is not an issue. I also have had a sleeve gastrectomy so I am pretty vigilant about what I eat and what meds I take.

I started Friday. Worked Sat, Sun, and Wed. Noticed by Wed night, when I got home that I did not feel well. Thursday, to nauseated to eat or drink. Friday, very worried as I have not eaten or drunk hardly anything for about 3 days.

I call WLS office and my OB/Gyn (prescriber). They are concerned and send me to the ED. Bolus of fluids and lots of imaging to make sure no ileus, nothing with my stomach (sx 2 years ago) and gallbladder. Found nothing. My last dose had been that morning.

What they figured out was that me working 3 days while on the Flagyl and using hand sanitizer as much as we do, I had absorbed enough for it to react with the Flagyl.

Who'd have thunk that?

Thank goodness am feeling better but that was weird. Anyone have anything similar happen?

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Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.

I had never heard that before! That is good information, thank you.

I have heard that the use of alcohol based hand sanitizers is a big no no when someone was taking Antabuse. One of my instructors told us a story about a patient who was on Antabuse, and nearly died because of the hand sanitizer. And no, he wasn't drinking it. He was just using it.

Good thing I can't use hand sanitizer (i have to wash my hands).

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Wow, that's crazy! I even warn my patients to stay away from mouthwash with alcohol when they're on Flagyl, but hand sanitizer never occurred to me. Glad they figured it out!

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OMG that is insane! I'll definitely remember that, wow!!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Holy canoli!

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Great information, thank you!! :)

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Thanks for the news we can use. :x3:

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

Maybe that's why I felt so sick when I was on Flagyl. I mean super sick to my stomach. I just thought it was the Flagyl for some weird reason. I was going to make an appointment to see my OBGYN but he was on call so the office had me go to the ER. I'm not working but I was sick so I was using a lot of hand sanitizer. Huh, who would e thunk it! Thank you!

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

Just think of how often we have our patients use hand sanitizer in the hospital...

I leaned any ther "quirky" med "reaction" (not that the OPs was quirky, but it did make me think of it).

The other night one of the nurses touched a scopolamine patch without gloves and I'm guessing inadvertently touched their eye...her pupil dilated...at first we thought it was from her headache because I know of another nurse that this actually happens to when she gets headaches. (Only one pupil on the same side of the pain dilates)

So apparently if you touch a scop patch and touch your eye, your pupil may dilate for up to 24 hours after. Whoda thunk...

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

Well I don't use hand sanitizer ever - I just wash my hands a lot - so I am not really worried but thanks for the heads up.

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