posted
I took oral clindamycin for 5 years and never had C-diff. I took probiotics off and on.
I got C-diff once, I think from erythromycin, which I was taking for an ear infection, and had to do the whole ER thing.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i got mine from biaxin and flagyl...
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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Summer3
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35286
posted
I took it and never had any problems with C. Diff. I was probably just lucky because I didn't take any of the better brands of probiotics. I take Renew Life 50 billion and separate S. Boulardii.
posted
Pseudomembranous colitis is the name for the inflammatory bowel condition that overgrowth of C. difficile causes.
C. diff is a naturally occurring organism in our gut, and it is only problematic if a proliferation of overgrowth occurs as a result of the loss of too much of the "good" bacteria. Thus, anything we do to help keep our normal gut flora in balance is helpful in staving off C diff overgrowth and the resultant pseudomembranous colitis.
Clindamycin is the antibiotic most often associated with colitis caused by C diff. I know of some people who have taken diflucan for 30 days prior to starting clindy to lower the risk of developing colitis. Adherence to a candida diet and lots of probiotics are very helpful.
Canefan, to answer your question, clindamycin carries the highest risk Other antibiotics that also increase risk of developing colitis include:
The beta-lactam antibiotics: this includes all the penicillins and abx chemically similar to them.
Also all the cephalosporins, all four generations. You can usually recognize the cephalosporins by looking at their generic names: all begin with "cef." One example is ceftriaxone. It is a third generation cephalosporin, more commonly known by its brand name, Rocephin.
Having a history of previous bouts of pseudomembranous colitis during antibiotic therapy also increases your risk of developing this condition again.
If colitis does develop, first-line treatment is Flagyl. I know many (most?) people on antibiotic treatment for Lyme routinely add Flagyl, often as a pulse therapy.
I wonder, is there anyone whose doctor has discussed with them pulsing with Flagyl to lower the risk of C diff overgrowth? In addition to its role as a Bb cyst-buster, maybe its use could also be prophylactic--through prevention of colitis caused by C diff?
Any thoughts?
Posts: 962 | From Charleston | Registered: Jan 2002
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canefan17
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 22149
posted
Thanks
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
I have taken Clindamycin for a long time. I use VSL #3 Double-Strength packets and Nystatin tablets daily. I have never had any problems.
Clindamycin has been one of the best meds for me.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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blinkie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14470
posted
Just be sure to take lots of florastor or sacchromyces boulardii.
I had C diff and to keep it away and be on abx at the same time here is what I have to do.
Before starting abx, I do a round of flagyl to kill any c diff that may be there. During the same time, I take 2 sacc boulardii caps twice daily 30 mins before my abx. If I was taking abx more often, I would take the sacc boulardii before those doses too.
If I do this, I have no c diff symptoms. If I veer from this at all, I get a relapse. It's a pain in the ass...literally and figuratively, but, I need the abx, so I do what works.
Posts: 1104 | From N.California | Registered: Jan 2008
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blinkie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14470
posted
I forgot to add that I can stop the flagyl after 2 weeks, as long as I'm on the sacc boulardii regimen consistantly.
Posts: 1104 | From N.California | Registered: Jan 2008
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posted
I did 10 day alternating pulses of clindamycin and flagyl (with others in each pulse). I also doubled my probiotics AND was 100% sugar and yeast free. This meant watching all fruits, etc.
I tend to be about 95% sugar free other times (I eat more fruits and potatoes).
I am also 100% gluten free, all the time.
Posts: 447 | From Vermont | Registered: Jan 2011
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philly78
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31069
posted
Eat some cultured veggies with every meal and drink some kefir too. If you do that plus take probiotics I would think you would be good.
-------------------- 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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