HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

antibiotics

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/19/2010 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all! So I have some questions. Hopefully someone can provide me with some insight.

I submitted a urine sample on Thursday and the doctor called me this morning to tell me I have a bladder infection (which apparently is common when you're on Remicade)! Ugh... Anyhow, he prescribed Cipro and I have to take 500mg twice a day for 3 days and then resubmit a urine sample next week to ensure the infection is gone. He had originally prescribed it for 7 days (which is the prescription I picked up from my pharmacy) but the nurse called me back after I had already grabbed the prescription and said a 3 day course would be suffice.

So here are my worries – the last time I took Cipro I had the diarrhea so bad the doctor tested me for C Diff (which came back negative). I don’t want to end up like that again. Is there anything I can do to prevent that from happening? I don't want it to flare my crohn's up.

I’m not currently taking any probiotics (had a bad stint after testing one out) but am thinking that I should perhaps start taking one to help re-plenish my good bacteria. I think I should stick with the strains that I currently eat in my Liberte yogurt. Can I take a probiotics while on antibiotics and have it be effective?

Thanks all!
Posted 4/19/2010 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
There are some strains of probiotic that can cause D, maybe that's why you had issues when you tried them (google to find more info) but you are really better off taking a good probiotic daily and indefinitely (research has found that taking the correct strains for IBD can certainly help with symptoms) and especially while on antibiotics, just be sure to take your probiotic at least 2 hours after you're done taking your antibiotics for the day or the antis will just kill off the pros.
Posted 4/19/2010 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for the response pb.

It's getting extremely expensive testing all of the different probiotics. I haven't really found one that has agreed with me either. I'm thinking I may stick with a brand that has only two strains rather than a multi strain.

Man, I really hope that I don't get bad D, I have a long trip tomorrow to see my surgeon to schedule my surgery.

Is it best to start off with smaller doses?
Posted 4/19/2010 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
For the time that you are taking the cipro why don't you stick with the Liberte yogurt. The important thing is not to take the antibiotics when you eat the yogurt. Leave a few hours in between otherwise they counteract each other. Once you are done with the infection and antibiotics you can start trying out the various probiotics to see which agree with you.
Posted 4/19/2010 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
Well I went and purchased a brand that I had taken years ago - I never thought it did much good on its own (but I'm on Remicade now) to help with D. One thing I do know is it didn't cause D and I am able to start off with a lower dose and work up to a higher one.

I will take the advice of waiting at least 2 hours before consuming after my antibiotics. Hopefully, this will help prevent the antibiotic associated D I get with Cipro.
Posted 4/20/2010 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

My husband is a pharmacist who has studied probiotics extensively on his own. He suggests that you take a yeast-based probiotic such as Florastor during your antibiotic course to help fight diarrhea. He says it must be yeast-based for the antibiotic not to kill it and to help with the D. Afterwards he suggests switching to a bacteria-based probiotic like a lactobacillus strain to help replenish the natural flora in your gut.

I will say that my acupuncturist tested me during a recent flare and found that I had zero growth of lactobacillus bacteria in my gut. Another Crohn's patient of hers and a UC patient also lacked growth of the lactobacillus strain. Since I started on a vegetarian lactobacillus along with acupuncture and Chinese herbs, all of my symptoms have subsided. Curious, isn't it? I will ALWAYS turn to probiotics during a flare and take one regularly, but especially after any antibiotics.

Good luck.
Posted 4/20/2010 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your input. With regards to the yeast based probiotic florastore - this probiotic is actually REALLY bad for people who are on Remicade as it can cause Fungemia. My pharmacist originally recommended this to me as well and then when she continued to read about S. Boulardii in Florastor she immediately called me and told me not to take it. If you read the wikipedia entry for this bacteria it specifically states that anyone who is immunocompromised should not take anything with this bacteria in it.

I have decided to continue with the probiotics I have and then hope that the 3 day course doesn't kill me :)
Posted 4/20/2010 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
Note that cipro should not be taken with dairy products
Posted 4/21/2010 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Ahhh, I didn't mention to him that you were on Remicade. Best of luck.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply