posted
Wondering if any of you here have experience with Flagyl for treating gut issues. I was previously on Ceftin and Biaxin and I was supposed to trade off with a week of Flagyl, but my gut issues were so bad I had to stop all the ABX. It has now been a month off of ABX and I still have a lot of gut trouble.
Went to a gastro doc and he suspects C. Diff and I will be testing for that. First line treatment is Flagyl (1500mg a day for 10 days), but to be honest my experience with Biaxin was so horrible for my stomach that I'm quite apprehensive to try another strong ABX!
Any input? Am I at risk for making things worse with the Flagyl, or do most people experience better gut behavior from it?
Afraid of having the herx from hell while having gut issues!
But I've heard Flagyl is used for Gastroparesis and parasites?
Posts: 922 | From Philadelphia | Registered: Sep 2012
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
I have experience with flagyl for treating gut issues.
On Sept. 25, I was diagnosed with C diff and was given the 7 day high-dose treatment. (I got rid of lyme over 7 years ago. I got the C diff from long-term antibiotic treatment for a severe sinus infection.)
The first 3 days, I wished I was dead. I couldn't bring myself to eat a spoonful of food and had to force myself to drink even one swallow of anything.
The gastro's office said this was normal and it would get a little better each day, which it did. But, it got better very slowly.
Also, many, many years ago when I was in Africa, I got traveler's diarrhea. The doc there said it was parasites in my intestines from the local water and gave me flagyl. It worked quickly and wonderfully.
When I returned to the states, I went to a U.S. gastro to get checked. He said the African doc was ahead of us here, using flagyl for intestinal parasites. So, I know personally that flagyl kills many, many things.
My lyme doctor says it not only kills lyme in the cyst form but also parasites and many other things.
That explains why people without lyme who are given flagyl for intestinal ailments like diverticulitis get so ill on it.
But, you will live through it and you will have killed a lot of things by taking it. Do a lot of detox (Alka Seltzer Gold with lemon, lots of water, etc.) and stay on a strict anti-yeast diet including for at least a week after you finish the flagyl.
If you see the white tongue (yeast), use Oil of Oregano a couple times per day (a few drops in one ounce of water, swish in the mouth and then swallow) to get rid of it. YOu have to brush your teeth after each use of the oregano oil. It works.
Be sure not to use mouthwash with alcohol in it or even skin products (aftershave, etc.) with alcohol in them while taking flagyl. You can get a severe antabuse reaction if you do. Read about it in Burrascano Guidelines, page 15.
Unfortunately, the flagyl did not get rid of my C diff, so I am now on my second course of vancomycin. I think I may have it beat this time.
Wish you the best. You really have to get rid of the C diff if you have it. All antibiotic treatment has to come to a stop until you get rid of that bacteria. My lyme doc suggests taking Florastor and a good probiotic for at least 6 weeks after getting rid the the C diff. I am also taking these things during treatment--2 Florastor per day, plus kefir, probiotics, etc.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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lululymemom
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Member # 26405
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My daughter was on the same 3 abx as you.. Adding the flagyl was a life saver for her. It allowed her to turn the corner in her treatment. That and treating parasites. C-Diff can be extremely serious and should be treated promptly. Try and eat a serving of sauerkraut or kimchi daily if possible.
Bartonella henselae 1:100 Posts: 2027 | From British Columbia | Registered: Jun 2010
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Razzle
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Member # 30398
posted
Flagyl settles my gut down...love the stuff...if I don't take too much at a time (herxing can get a bit much - for me, that means fatigue, joint pain, stuff like that).
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4166 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
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posted
My concern is that C. diff fouls up the colon, so I am worried about severe Lyme and co. die-off becoming very toxic. If the effects were to become intolerable, and I have to stop the Flagyl the C. diff could become resistant.
If I am positive for C. diff I am considering Vancomycin instead. It's action is limited to the digestive tract, and therefore the effects may be more tolerable.
Posts: 922 | From Philadelphia | Registered: Sep 2012
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TF
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Member # 14183
posted
You are way ahead of yourself and worrying too much. Many people (with diverticulitis, etc.) have to stop the flagyl because it makes them too sick. That is no big deal.
They will then give you vanco. The C diff is not going to become resistant to flagyl if you don't take it the full 10 days.
You will only be placed on flagyl once if you have C diff. If it comes back after the flagyl, they give you vanco next. No more flagyl.
So, really, you don't have anything to worry about. If you can't tolerate the flagyl, they will switch you to vanco. End of story.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Vanco is a med of last resort, so it is not given out freely.
As we get more and more superbugs, we have had to develop super meds. Vanco is classified as a super med.
Also, it is extremely expensive. So, if you pay a significant copay for prescriptions, you may be interested in the price.
At the beginning of Oct, my pharmacy listed the retail price of a 10-day supply as $1206. At the end of Oct when I got my second round of 10 days, the retail price was shown as $1509.
Fortunately for me, I am into my catastrophic protection, so I am paying no copays for anything right now. With my typical copay, I would be facing about a $300 copay for the last course of vanco.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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