Penicillin - ok to at same time as Raid Pyreneen?

bahzob

Just prior to leaving for Raid Pryeneen this Thursday had pain in tooth. Went to dentist pronto as did not want to try to find one half way up a mountain and he found some infection inside an old filling which he's sorted out.

He's proscribed some penicillin just in case. Anyone with any experience of using anti-biotics at the same time as doing a ride like the Raid?

sylvanus

Personally I wouldn't take them unless you feel pain / fever. They blow your physical abilities to smithereens. Not recommended unless you really, really need them in which case they may be the "least worst" option in which case take it very gently on the Raid and back off and climb in the car if you're struggling.

http://www.powerbar.com/NutritionResour ... c=0&num=02[/url]

johncp

More likely the infection that scews up performance, common sense answer is, if you have an active infection, don't take vigorous exercise. If you don't have an infection you don't need the antibiotics. So as long as the tooth is sorted, you should be fine

greg roche

Anti biotics will affect your performance. And they'll affect your recovery, but if you need them you need them. Best advice would be - you can do the ride but don't push mega hard (after all, you're trying to recover from an infection if you're on anti bios) and don't be disappointed by a less than sparkling performance.

Once you've finished your course of anti bios, eat loads of yogurt... helps you build healthy bacteria up. Works for Oscar Freire.

stevec205gti

Alternatively - you could consult your doctor, who one presumes will have a better idea on how the drugs will affect your physical ability over a group of random strangers on the internet with no medical back ground whatsoever :?

sylvanus

You have a very optimistic view of the knowledge of your average GP! I've never met one who has the slightest idea about exercise and sport!

To be fair they are there to look after very ill people not to optimise the performance of cyclists.....

Perhaps he should have gone to a sports dentist?! I wonder if Michele Ferrari does teeth?

gkerr4

so what are the opinions of anti-biotics on recovery / performance.

I have just spend a week on amoxycilian for a chest infection - took my last capsule this morning. I haven't cycled for a fortnight due to the infection, but although it feels as though it has cleard up I still feel completely drained! - I wonder how much is actually due to my system swilling about with amoxy?

any ideas?

i'm dying to get back out on the bike by the way - all this 'rest' is killing me

bahzob

Thanks for advice. Touch wood tooth is sorted and infection there wasn't causing any problems to cycling (other than keeping me awake at night) so I will hold off taking the penicillin unless it flares up to same extent again.

Dont want to bother my GP with this but out of interest have posted enquiry to NHS direct. Will update when get a reply,,,

bahzob

Well got a very quick reply: Unfortunately none the wiser. Think I will play safe and keep of the penicillin unless in extremis

Thank you for your enquiry. For your information we have supplied references to penicillins and their possible side effects which we hope you will find helpful. However after an extensive search of accredited Internet sites, databases, books and journals, we are unable to locate an appropriate reference in response to your enquiry concerning penicillin and cycling. If you are able to supply the name of the penicillin medication you have been prescribed that would better inform research, please resubmit your enquiry. We would be happy to carry out further research on your behalf. Please also note that this service is unable to provide advice on the use of over-the-counter or prescribed medicines. We suggest that you seek the advice of your GP who will be able to advise you based on your own individual medical history. You may also wish to contact your local pharmacist for general information and advice. If you wish to discuss this matter with a nurse, please call NHS Direct on 0845 4647. For patients’ safety, all calls are recorded. NHS Direct is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40025098/ http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100004451.html

johncp

stevec205gti wrote:

Alternatively - you could consult your doctor, who one presumes will have a better idea on how the drugs will affect your physical ability over a group of random strangers on the internet with no medical back ground whatsoever :?

- maybe some of those random strangers have a relevant background and that's why they chose to reply to a post
Cheers
John,

Jajacp

Credentials up front - Consultant Medical Microbiologist, MB BS, MSc, MRCPath

It is difficult to generalise about the effects of antibiotics and infection on athletic performance. If you have a localised infection such as an infected cut this in its self may not affect performance that much, and the effects of the anitiobitics you were given might be more significant. However if you have something like a chest infection then the infection is more likely to have an effect than any antibiotics you are given to treat it.

Different antibiotics have different side effects. Penicillin is generally well tolerated however, except in the small percetage of people who are genuinely allergic. The most likely side effect would be diarrhorea, which of course can have an effect on athletic performance and complicates maintaining adequate hydration.

In your case I presume the dentist has given you the antibiotic in case there was any small residual pocket of infection that he had failed to clear. If you don't take the antibiotic there is the possibility that the infection may recur. Once a tooth absess is established antibiotics alone may not deal with the problem. It is of course unfortunately impossible for your dentist to give you any kind of sensible likelyhood of this occuring, as he would usually give antibiotics in these circumstances.

So its a choice between possibilty of side effects affecting performance, vs toothache reccuring.

Good luck with the Raid. A bloke at work did it last week - I was very envious.