ANY strong antibiotic is toxic to the central nervous system. I have been hit twice and am suffering now. In 2000 I had two dental absesses. I was given a course of Amoxicillin followed by Metranidazole (Flagyl) I did not know this combination was pure poison, as is ANY strong antibiotic. Three days after completing the final round of pills I woke up with strange numbness and tingling in my hands. This is Peripheral neuropathy, or parasthesia. My shoulders were completely numb and my forearms tingled. I felt like I had no strength in my hands, when doing buttons, typing etc. I tried to put it down to sleeping awkwardly but I knew something was badly wrong. I worried about MS, or other neuro disease. I then started to get 'tics' or muscle jumps, and sudden involuntary jerking. Then I got these odd brain zaps - like an electric shock in the middle of my head. This always happened on the point of sleep. Then the gastrointestinal problems. Gas and severe central chest pain. Then the insomnia - I mean I just could not sleep. I would have panic attacks, which I now know were actually toxic psychosis - episodes of extreme chemical imbalance in the brain. I would pace the room for about two hours, with a terrible sense of panic and impending doom, like I was going to die. This was no ordinary panic attack. Then parts of my body would fall asleep - suddenly, out of the blue. I had not been sitting awkwardly on my foot, I would just be standing and some part of me would go numb, fall asleep and I would get pins and needles. Then the cardiac palpitations started. This was pure hell and I can't even write about it - I had an eight year old son and sometimes I thought I would die in the night and he would find me. No doctor believed me, until I presented at the ER and had an abnormal ECG. To cut a long story short I had four months of total hell and I nearly died. I was told I was to have a pacemaker fitted. No one could tell me what had happened to me or what brought it on. I never saw a neurologist because they told me it was all cardiac...no matter how many time I told them of my symptoms. They told me I was imagining things. But this was a progressive poisoning that attacks healthy cells and nerves and kills them over a matter of months. The symptoms cycle, and wax and wane. you think you are over them then bam, they are back. Thank God, I eventually recovered and did not need the pacemaker. FAST FORWARD TO 2009...and guess what. I have to take more Amoxicillin for another abcess. A day after I took the first pill I felt the tingling hands and I thought Oh my God, not again. I put two and two together and came on the internet....now I know what it was that poisoned me all those years a go and is poisoning me again now. I stopped the pills. This time I am armed. I am taking calcium magnesium and potassium. I am taking electrolyte drinks when I get the panic attacks. I am taking Propranolol for the arrythmia. I don't think I have it so bad this time - maybe a mild reaction. Why the hell are we not told that anti biotics in all forms are poison? if anyone wants to email me please do, on vashti998@live.co.uk. Dont touch this stuff it could kill you!!!