This is topic Clindamycin - I'm scared. Input, please :-( in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by Nula (Member # 38409) on :
 
Hi everyone,

My LLMD wants to put me on Clindamycin (since I'm currently plateauing on Minocycline, Azithromycin and Rifampin).

He's not giving me many other options (which I find odd and frustrating, since I know there are tons of other antibiotic combos I haven't tried yet ...).

He tells me not to worry about C. diff since I'm on high-dose probiotics. I'm scared, though.

I'm currently dealing with abdominal pain(candida issues, which I'm treating), and I have soft stools (i.e. almost diarrhea). I think it would be a mistake to start Clindamycin at this point in the game. Got a very bad gut feeling (literally!).

Any input/your experiences with Clindamycinwould be appreciated.

[ 02-27-2013, 12:41 PM: Message edited by: Nula ]
 
Posted by baileypup (Member # 22824) on :
 
The best drug I've taken....love it, however I take it in IV form. It's helped the most with lyme, babesia and joint pain.

I tried oral Clindamycin and wasn't able to tolerate it, as I got the usual symptoms (not c-diff). The c-diff Clindamycin issue is overrated. You may get diarrhea, or you may not be able to tolerate the drug, but you won't get c-diff in a few days.
 
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
What is your dosage of probiotics?? Brand?

Are you taking s.boulardii?
 
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
 
Been on IV Clindamycin for 7 months with no c-Diff issues but I take lots of probiotics. AND I am getting better!!!

Hubby is on it too with no issues but we are both taking IV Clindy plus orals.

By the way, the zith caused so much diarrhea I had to stop it. That will go away when you start Clindy as they are in the same family.
 
Posted by Nula (Member # 38409) on :
 
Thank you all for your quick and helpful responses :-)

Lymetoo, I'm on "Ultimate Flora Critical Care" (50 billion), which was my own decision, since my LLMD suggested a much lower dosed German brand.

I'm actually thinking of upping the dosage since most ILADS doctors seem to lean toward 200 billion.

I'm NOT taking s. boulardii! I want to, but my LLMD tells me it's "not necessary at this point", says I'm protected using regular probiotics. It feels like a I've watched a million and one ILADS lectures online, yet my LLMD (who is an ILADS member!) seems to take the opposite approach.

He keeps telling me I shouldn't worry. Of course, I am worried.

Baileypup & faithful, seems like you're making great strides - congrats! Sounds exciting. May I ask which probiotics (brand/dosage) you are on?

I don't think I can go the IV route. Got very, very bad veins (too small). Drawing blood causes problems on a regular basis.

Baileypup, what were your side effects on oral Clindamycin?
 
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
 
I take theralac, vsl#3 which is a prescription probiotic and saccromyces bouliardi. I frequently toss in another one to the mix.

You can go IV by doing a central line in the chest, port, groshong or hickman. My veins would never support a picc line but I have had a port in for a year now without any problems. My husband has a port too.
 
Posted by baileypup (Member # 22824) on :
 
I take VSL#3 probiotics with 220 billion good bacteria. I've also taken Theralac. S. Boulardi doesn't sit well with me so I don't take it.

Oral Clindamycin side effects were cramps in stomach and diarrhea.
 
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
Yes, I would take a minimum of 100 billion CFU's per day, Nula!
 
Posted by beths (Member # 18864) on :
 
I am on IV clindy- no problems so far. I had a lot of GI problems trying to take it orally.

I take theralac or Klaire probiotics with a swig of kefir

Clindy has really helped me
 
Posted by Sammi (Member # 110) on :
 
Nula, I agree with the other posters about taking more probiotics. I also use VSL#3 Double-Strength.

Clindamycin was one of the best meds I ever took, though I did herx pretty intensely initially. I never had any yeast issues from taking it.
 
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
 
Each of us is totally different in how we respond to meds - our genetic make-up, which infections and which strains we have, etc.

For me, oral clindamycin was IT! It stopped all my fibro and joint pain within one week of my starting to take it around the clock, 150mg every 6 hours, simply because that's what I'd been asked to do more briefly for a prior finger infection.

I herxed in a month's time, then dropped back to 150mg 2x/day. It worked for 5 years, then stopped working, probably because the bacteria mutated, would be my guess.

I never got C diff, and I think that report is highly overrated. I did get C diff from taking erythromycin once for an ear infection. So go figure.

With anything, I say go very slowly, try a small amount to see how you tolerate it, and go up in dose if you're doing ok.

And of course, take probiotics.
 


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