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antibiotics for UC?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/21/2008 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
So, my GI prescribed me Rifaximin. Do GI's ever prescribe antibiotics specifically for UC? He said that in clinical trials, 50% of UC patients had improvement and the other 50% did not. The information that came w/ the it said "It works by stopping growth of bacteria." But it also said "Rifaximin should not be used if you have a fever or bloody diarrhea." Well, I'm not really having diarrhea--I have urgency in the morning but the stools aren't that loose and they sometimes have blood.

I was so excited that I didn't have to take prednisone, but now I'm a bit worried about the antibiotics.

Posted 5/21/2008 7:40 PM (GMT 0)

ComedyDork said...
So, my GI prescribed me Rifaximin. Do GI's ever prescribe antibiotics specifically for UC? He said that in clinical trials, 50% of UC patients had improvement and the other 50% did not. The information that came w/ the it said "It works by stopping growth of bacteria." But it also said "Rifaximin should not be used if you have a fever or bloody diarrhea." Well, I'm not really having diarrhea--I have urgency in the morning but the stools aren't that loose and they sometimes have blood.

I was so excited that I didn't have to take prednisone, but now I'm a bit worried about the antibiotics.

Rifaximin has got me out of a flare twice in the past and I was having bloody diarreah. It seems to really help some people and not others.

Your luck to have a Dr. that will prescribe it. I had to go to great lengths to obtain my supply.

PF

Posted 5/21/2008 8:17 PM (GMT 0)

That's awesome PumpFast! Now I'm excited again!  :-)

Did you take extra probiotics when you were on Rifaximin? My GI said I didn't have to take any, but I was thinking of switching from Digestive Advantage to a "regular" probiotic anyway. On another note, what exactly is the Ulcerin I & II you're taking/what is it supposed to do?

I googled "Rifaximin + ulcerative colitis" and I found a couple reports. I just skimmed through them, but I'll post the links in case anyone wants to look at them. (the second one is mostly about bacteria in our colon and probiotics)

http://www.europeanreview.org/articolo.php?id=219

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:z_WatoAi7YkJ:www.horizonpress.com/ciim/v/v4/02.pdf+rifaximin+%2B+ulcerative+colitis&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=16&gl=us

Posted 5/21/2008 9:19 PM (GMT 0)

ComedyDork said...

That's awesome PumpFast! Now I'm excited again!  :-)

Did you take extra probiotics when you were on Rifaximin? My GI said I didn't have to take any, but I was thinking of switching from Digestive Advantage to a "regular" probiotic anyway. On another note, what exactly is the Ulcerin I & II you're taking/what is it supposed to do?

I googled "Rifaximin + ulcerative colitis" and I found a couple reports. I just skimmed through them, but I'll post the links in case anyone wants to look at them. (the second one is mostly about bacteria in our colon and probiotics)

http://www.europeanreview.org/articolo.php?id=219

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:z_WatoAi7YkJ:www.horizonpress.com/ciim/v/v4/02.pdf+rifaximin+%2B+ulcerative+colitis&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=16&gl=us

The probitics that I was taking at the time while using Rifaximin are VSL#3 and Florastor (Saccharomyces boulardii), also eating a lot of the stoneyfield brand yogurt. I think it is important to repopulate the gut with these "good bacteria" to avoid a relapse.

The ulcerin I and II compund is an herbal based forumla sold by a Dr. in India that claims to have success in treating UC with it. The formula contains a blend of herbs including boswellia which has shown to be effecetive in a small study. It is just one of many supplements that I take.

PF


Posted 5/21/2008 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Flagyl is commonly used for IBD as well...re: antibiotics and probiotics, be sure to take you probiotics at least 2 hours AFTER you're finished taking your antibiotics for the day or the antis will just eat up the pros.

:)
Posted 5/22/2008 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
Flagyl got me out of a bad flare once. Never had anyone prescribe it for me since.
Posted 5/22/2008 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&p=1&m=643365

Thought you would like to see this.

Posted 5/22/2008 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
I've had more bleeding today than in the last few days. Should I be worried? Should I take 3 Digestive Advantage pills instead of 2? I ordered Primodiphlis reuteri (sp?) but it won't arrive until next Thursday.
Posted 5/23/2008 6:04 AM (GMT 0)
You might have luck with Florastor or something equivalent and you don't have to worry about when you take it because it is not affect by antibiotics (it is a probiotic yeast, not a bacteria). I also had increased bleeding with antibiotics (not the type you were taking, but one of the -cilins), but after finishing them in a week and being diligent with the probiotics (I was taking a variety), I noticed an improvement. It is worth watching your symptoms carefully, especially if it gets worse, and checking with you doc when it seems right.
Posted 5/28/2008 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
PumpFast, did you have any setbacks when you first started with Rifaximin? I've had increased urgency most days after I started and sometimes a lot of blood, other times just a little, and a couple times no blood. On Sunday, I only had to run to the bathroom 5 times and I had NO blood whatsoever. That all changed Monday...Yesterday, I had to use the bathroom 11 times and had a lot of blood. I don't understand!
Posted 5/28/2008 6:11 PM (GMT 0)

ComedyDork said...
PumpFast, did you have any setbacks when you first started with Rifaximin? I've had increased urgency most days after I started and sometimes a lot of blood, other times just a little, and a couple times no blood. On Sunday, I only had to run to the bathroom 5 times and I had NO blood whatsoever. That all changed Monday...Yesterday, I had to use the bathroom 11 times and had a lot of blood. I don't understand!

Both time that I have taken Rifaximin, I have had very fast recovery. The blood was gone within a matter of days. No setbacks.

I am sure that Rifaximin does not work the same for everyone. The other meds and supplements that I have been taken at the same time of Rifaximin(in my signature) could have an impact.

PF

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