Complete list of Meds MG'rs should NOT take
 

Looking for a list of meds, vitamins, foods and anything MG'rs should avoid. Anyone know where I can get this info?

DJ
This is the link I found for you, quite a list !


www.mgnj.org/mginformation/drugs/drugs.html

Good find, Mary.

Well, they missed a biggie on the antibiotic list: Telithromycin, otherwise known as Ketek. It has a black box warning, in large part due to Dr. James Howard of UNC working with the FDA, that NO ONE with MG should take it. That includes those with CMS (congenital myasthenic syndrome) or LEMS (Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome).

In that same "family" of antibiotics, which is technically macrolides, are Z-Pak (azithromycin) and Biaxin (Clarithromycin). I have no problem with either of these two but some people do.

Calcium channel blockers can also be contraindicated in MG. And ACE Inhibitors (both cardiac drugs).

And the eye drops that ophthalmologist and optometrists use that contain Atropine.

Iodine is not included on the list either. And stay away from tonic water, which has quinine (muscle relaxant) in it.

https://www.caremark.com/wps/portal/...=mgcontradrugs

And I'll be darned if I can find on the MGFA site where it has the list of contraindicated drugs.

As far as foods go, relatively contraindicated because they can increase actetylcholine, are the nightshade family (tomato, potato, nicotine, pepper, eggplant). Caffeine can do the same thing. And stay the heck away from organophosphates (weed killers), which increase aceylcholine and permanently destroy the neuromuscular junction. And bug spray, like Permethrin and DEET. Or those new clothes which have Permethrin and Resmethrin (bug repellants) actually IN the fabric! :eek:

There really is not a complete list, at least that I've been able to find. Someone should compile one and put it in the Useful Sites section.

When in doubt, ask your pharmacy, neurologist or primary doctor. And there are foods contraindicated in some drugs, as well as drugs that shouldn't be taken together! I know the prescribing information sheets are the tiniest print ever and quite overwhelming, but read them anyway BEFORE you begin a drug!

Annie

And I think a list of what MGers should "avoid" should include: Heat, stress, infections, surgery (well, you often can't do that), lack of sleep, etc.

I can't remember where I got this for sure - but I think it was from the mg.org physician's reference. Much of this Annie already had in her post - - but forgive, I'm just retyping from my notes. Will try to find 'directions' to where I got this on the web and post later!

Under 'relatively contraindicated' it listed:
Procaine, erythromycin, gentamycin, neomycin, polymyxin, bacitracin clindamycin streptomycin. All but streptomycin 'may potentiate myasthenic weakness'.

Avoid iodinated contrast, magnesium salts (laxatives/antacids, calcium channel blockers, and neuromuscular blocking agents).

Then use with caution: lidocaine, mepivacaine, bupivacaine, prilocaine, morphine and derivatives, barbituates, metrondazole, tetracycline, vancomycin, and all the quinolones, Cipro - and all other floxacins.

Here's a scary thing - went to my dentist this week. Told him to update my chart with MG. He looked perplexed and I said my neuro said he should know cuz there were some --....'caines I could and could not have. He said he'd do some reading - never run into it before. Hey, at least he was honest!!

Sue

Here's a link to my local MG website, just click on the Drugs that may aggrevate MG

http://www.myastheniawa.info/

hope it helps
Kate

Sorry, I'm not very good with this tech stuff, so I hope the link worked.

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http://www.myastheniagravis.org/interactions.htm
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Heres a list someone posted not too long ago with additional meds that may not be on the above list. They may not be spelled correctly, but that's easy enough to find, even for me.:rolleyes:

Macrolides
Fluroquiendone
Ciproflxin
Norfloxcicin
Ofloxacin
Z-Pack
Azithromycin
Telethromycin
Aminoglycosides
Gentamycin
Tolramycin
Neomycin

Hope this helps.
Pat

Ohhh KETEK is really BAD, they gave that to me and it almost killed me, it was horrible! Always make sure your Dr knows about it. I told my Dr. I had MG and he had to be real careful of what to give me and he swore Ketek was safe.. he was so wrong.

Great sites & info on the drugs !

I know what you mean about the eye drops Lizzy. I don't feel well besides not seeing right after my appts with the neuro op.
Hugs,
Pat

Thanks so much for these posts to this subject. I read them a few days ago. Anyway I went to the doctor today with flu symptoms. I had to see a CNRP as my doc was gone. I tested neg for the flu but i have a severe sore throat....she wanted to give me something in the tetracyline family.....I couldn't believe it. I remembered seeing that on here and I mentioned to her that I didn't think I could take that as it might make my MG worse....she then gave me Levaquin. This is all so confusing. I really wish I could find a good primary care phys that treats ME and knows my situation instead of just prescribing whatever for me.

Thanks for the valuable info....it helped.

JCPA
My neuro had told me Cipro, & levaquin are the friendliest to people with MG. I just tried the cipro & had good luck with it. I was given a tetracyclin before from my gyn, I took 1 pill, the next morning I woke up, so weak I couldn't keep my eyes open, needless to say I didn't take another one, & my surgery had to be canceled.
Good catch !
Mary

I was just prescribed Erythromycin for a pertussis infection and after 4 days feel worse than I started. I kept feeling very tired, my ptosis was very bad yesterday, and my arms and legs feel kind of tingly-heavy. I had no idea that all that was caused by the antibiotic until I forgot to take it this morning. Felt fine, until I remembered to take it and within an hour bam, felt bad again. Now I know what it feels like to have full blown MG, instead of only ocular symptoms. I looked it up online to find out that it does interact with MG even though I was told that it wouldn't by the dr. :mad:

I have a call into them to hopefully get something else, but I am worried they may not be able to offer an alternative that works either because the medicines used to treat it are also interactive with MG. My neuro is out until Tuesday, I already tried calling there to see if she would recommend a certain antibiotic to treat it.

AMG
For an antibiotic I have had good luck with Cipro, & another some people have had is Levaquin. My Neuro had recommended both of these to try, so maybe you can mention these two & see if they could try one of them.
Good luck
Mary