MrsD: Antibiotics to avoid?
 

MrsD --

I'm wracked with a nasty chest/upper respiratory 'thing' which is just too grusome. I know that you have, many times, commented on the drugs with are a no go for causing flares.

Sorry for asking, but last year at this time I had almost the same thing going on, and after a cycle of antibiotics is when all hell broke loose. I'm going to see my primary doctor tomorrow, who is up to speed with all that has transpired over the course of the spiral down into a full body spread of PN during the subequent year with me, and I'll make sure to stay away from whatever it was I took last year, but could you, in that fountain of knowledge way of yours, bring me up to speed on everything to avoid, as you certainly will know more than my doc will.

Thanks.

-- Dennis.

choices...
 

If your doctor thinks you have community acquired pneumonia,
Levaquin will be first line. This is a difficult drug for PNers.

If you only have a bronchitis... Zithromax 500mg 1 a day for 3 days often works. Sometimes a second course is needed.


I had a very bad lung thing in Jan...and I took guaifenesin and DM for it. No antibiotics. It was nasty, but never got infected.
Lots of water and guaifenesin often moves the mucous out before it can get worse.

This is one of those times when you may HAVE to go with the fluoroquinolone. But explain that you have PN and fluoroquinolones make them worse or may CAUSE them.

Good luck!

Flagyl
 

Dont take it under any circumstance! It is a nuero-toxin and killed my sensory nerves completely after having mild PN... your being wise checking first!

Feel better....

(last time I had respiratory infection that was bad - I didnt take anti-b's either - the doc gave me a couple different inhalers - I think one was albuterol and the other some kind of steroid that people take for asthma - and also just took OTC cough syrup - cleared it up after about 5 days and I was pretty sick to start)

Flagyl
 

Flagyl is not typically used for respiratory/lung infections.
It is for anaerobic bacteria which do not typically colonize
the lungs. (those would be air seeking--aerobic instead).
Some dramatic lung problems like collapsed lung which has an abscess might qualify.
But for bronchitis type things, Flagyl is not a typical choice.

Flagyl is used for infected jaw/tooth sockets, for some
hidden sinus ones (when sinuses are blocked no air gets in)
and some prostate problems, and some GI infections.

The fluoroquinolones however, are often commonly chosen, esp Levaquin. I'd ask for something else in this case.
Cipro and Avelox also belong to this family.

The higher dose Zithromax at 500mg a day is often used for bronchitis and especially for the somewhat resistant forms.

(do not use Dextromethophan products (DM) if you are on SSRIs or Cymbalta. You can use plain guaifenesin (Robitussin) or Mucinex safely however).

Flagyl is very bad for PN...but in a life threatening situation, there are not many antibiotics for anaerobic infections. So keep that in mind. In that event it would be a very tough decision.

Flagyl
 

Yes, I was given flagyl as treatment for intestinal infection I GOT from taking Cipro yeras ago - and have never recovered from its affects.... there are alternative drugs if you are prescribed this drug - like vacoymycin - they are much more expensive so flagyl often prescribed first, but arent nuero-toxins - although do pack a powerful punch and it takes a long time to shake the effects if you have severe infection - but at least wont do further nerve destruction! (I'm speaking from first hand experience - just finished four months of vancomycin and its going to be a long road back to where I was with the PN - but at least I havent lost any more nerve function in my arms or legs - just the guts we were treating took very hard hit).....

oops. thought this was an MS forum. sorry.