Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
I was recently told by my pharmacist not to take Diflucan and Biaxin together. He said it can cause a very serious heart problem and even death!
I have taken these together before because I did not know. I did recently see a cardiologist due to some heart-related problems. This was before I knew about the interaction of these meds. I am wondering if my problems were from taking these meds together. Time will tell.
I Googled these meds on a couple of different drug interaction websites. One listed it as a serious interaction and one listed it as minor! My doctor agreed with the pharmacist.
I wanted to let others know because these two meds are often prescribed for Lyme patients.
Moderators do you think this should be added to the "Important Information" thread?
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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lax mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38743
posted
I knew Diflucan and Zith were bad together but never knew about Biaxin.
Thanks for the info. I agree it's important life saving information.
posted
This could have been what happened to me. I got really bad chest pains and squeezing that i had NEVER had before. I know i was taking diflucan and i had tried biaxin once. Hmmm
Posts: 66 | From Memphis | Registered: Feb 2013
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
iluvrain, I had squeezing chest pain too and it went down my left arm. I took these meds together. Now that I know this, I believe this is why I had the squeezing pain.
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Hope you are feeling better now Sammi.
I'm so sorry you had to go through a cardiac scare to learn that these meds are contraindicated. Your Lyme doc is usually a stickler about NEVER prescribing them together.
Macrolides, Quinolones, and Diflucan can all interact when taken together. So you don't want to take combos of Levaquin and Zith or Levaquin and Diflucan either.
When you combine these meds you can cause prolonged QT interval (irregular heart rate).
Symptoms may only be mild like palpitations, irregular (fast & erratic) heartbeat, fatigue, fainting. These irregular heartbeats can also be so severe that they can even cause sudden death.
Some people are more prone to having prolonged QT interval so for them to take one med can put them at greater risk of symptoms.
It's a good idea to run all of your meds through a drug interaction checker like Sammi did. The one at drugs.com allows you to save your list so that when you are prescribed something new all you have to do is go and revise you list then check for new interactions. So easy!
posted
That's scary. My previous Lyme doc had me taking Biaxin for a long time. I also took diflucan 2-3 days per week at the same time. Nice!
-------------------- "The simple things can get you through the hardest times." Posts: 628 | From Connecticut | Registered: Sep 2010
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MichaelTampa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24868
posted
Goodness, I took biaxin for a month and may have been taking diflucan back then, don't remember...(I know I took it for quite a period roughly that number of years ago)
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
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MichaelTampa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24868
posted
there are other -mycin abx as well, for example, telithromycin (ketek), if zithromycin (zithromax) and clarithromycin (biaxin) are known fo rthis problem, perhaps other -mycin's as well?
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
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nonna05
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33557
posted
can it help if you seperate the time you take it?
Like ABX's early.........mid-late and diflucan at bed time?
That's of course if you aren't trying to get in probiotics or CSM or whatever else..Then if you add Rifampin does that lower the odds of a problem?
Posts: 2563 | From Denver,CO | Registered: Aug 2011
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
nonna05, you cannot take them together regardless of the timing.
If you are taking Biaxin (or the others listed here) you cannot take Diflucan. If you are taking Difulucan, you cannot take these antibiotics for 72 hours (according to the pharmacist).
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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philly78
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31069
posted
This is interesting. I see this combination of drugs prescribed together all the time....often with HIV patients. I was under the impression it increased serum levels of the biaxin and that was it. Erythromycin, OTOH I know should be avoided as it can lead to torsades. Learn something new everyday! I'll have to look into this more because like I said....we see it all the time! Good to know.
-------------------- When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal. Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011
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posted
Wow. I took Zithromax for almost two months and took Diflucan several times. What about Nystatin? I have both prescriptions. I take Nystaten daily, but when yeast gets bad, I will quit the Nystaten and begin taking Diflucan for awhile, thenwhen it is better, I will go back to the Nystaten.
Posts: 213 | From Tennessee | Registered: Jan 2013
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
fluconazole ↔ azithromycin Applies to: Diflucan (fluconazole), Zithromax (azithromycin)
MONITOR: Theoretically, concurrent use of two or more drugs that can cause QT interval prolongation may result in additive effects and increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias including torsade de pointes and sudden death.
The risk of an individual agent or a combination of these agents causing ventricular arrhythmia in association with QT prolongation is largely unpredictable but may be increased by certain underlying risk factors such as congenital long QT syndrome, cardiac disease, and electrolyte disturbances (e.g., hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia). In addition, the extent of drug-induced QT prolongation is dependent on the particular drug(s) involved and dosage(s) of the drug(s).
MANAGEMENT: Caution and clinical monitoring are recommended if multiple agents associated with QT interval prolongation are prescribed together.
Patients should be advised to seek prompt medical attention if they experience symptoms that could indicate the occurrence of torsade de pointes such as dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, palpitation, irregular heart rhythm, shortness of breath, or syncope.
My pharmacist actually called me and told me this could be deadly, so I advise not taking Diflucan when on Biaxin or Zithromax.
Nystatin should be safe, but always check to be sure.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Just found out about this topic via a link when doing some research about something else while here on Lymenet. I'm kind of perturbed that these interactions are nowhere to be found on the drug interaction section of the pharmacy printouts for the Zithromax and Diflucan, and also that I wasn't informed about this from the doctor's office.
I'm currently taking Zithromax in a pulsed regimen with a couple of other abx a few times a week, and my Dr. prescribed the Diflucan to be taken once a week to help prevent yeast buildup.
If these two drugs are wrong together, then no wonder I've been experiencing what seems to be some heart beat irregularities!
I think that I will mention this concern the next time I see my doctor. More and more I'm thinking that I'd like to stop antibiotics for a while and do a mainly alternative protocol, anyway.
Posts: 35 | From Eastern U.S.A. | Registered: Feb 2015
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posted
So does this cause a problem just if were on the meds currently. Like if someone used to take zith and diflucan together but stopped could it have caused a permanent problem?
Posts: 908 | From Albany | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
My doc had me do a 3 day wash out of Biaxin or Zythro before taking Diflucan. You should have been informed!
Posts: 151 | From North East | Registered: May 2011
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