Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Amoxicillin and the Insanity


So we've been giving Khai his Amoxicillin exactly as prescribed for his ear infection. Once in the morning, once in the evening, both with full meals. Its his first time taking antibiotics of any kind and generally its the first go to kind for something like an ear infection. They say it works within the first few days and I believe that to be true as I don't see that Khai has had any issues with his ear since the first day he complained about it - prior to me taking him in for his checkup. However I never thought about the fact that something that is supposed to help him out, could bring out such the beast in the boy. Never in a million years would I have thought that, until my mom mentioned something last night. And I'm not sure why I didn't think of it - plenty enough i've taken medication and reacted badly to it. But for some reason, I just didn't think that this could be the cause of his beastly behavior.
Now when I say beast, I mean BEAST. It goes beyond his normal tantrums and outbursts. It goes as far as hours of screaming and crying and throwing himself here and there, pushing us away only to want us to hold him. Most of the time its over the smallest thing. Example - the step stool was turned upside down. The door was shut. His truck was on the bed. I touched the remote. I looked at him. John carried him up the stairs, and he went willingly then decided he wanted to walk up himself and threw an all out anger filled fit as he went down the stairs and proceded to try and lock us out. I could go on and on.
Anyone reading this no doubt would say it sounds like a typical toddler tantrum, but I assure you it is anything but. The blood murder tyraid is beyond anything normal. Its crazy. Its full of anger and frustration. These long outbursts started shortly after he started the Amoxicillin. Again, I didn't put this all together until my mom mentioned the possibility last night, which prompted me to do some research today - turns out, we aren't the only ones. There is nothing that says Yes, Antibiotics makes your toddler crazed - but certainly as someone who is around him all the time and knows him well, I know my kid and I know this isn't his normal way of being.
I can't say that the antibiotics did it but I sure believe so. We only have a few days left. We are going to stick it out. Maybe thats not a good idea. .. I'm not sure. I'm going to book his follow up appointment and mention the behavior to the doctor to put it in his record. I think next time, if there is one (and likely there will be), I will request something other than the pink stuff and see if we get the same reaction. If so, we'll determine at that point what the next course of action should be. Hopefully Khai won't be anything like me though, a sickly child constantly guzzling antibiotics.

1 comment:

Donna said...

Oh wow...I didn't know that at all!!! Poor Khai and poor Mommy!!! You know I understand what it's like to have a little monster like that sometimes. :( I hope he's feeling better soon and you won't have to deal with that anymore!!!! :(