Zithromax?

I took it in December it did not cause anything major..stools may have been a touch looser thats all ..but nothing very noticable..i just analyze everything i think.
This is one of the safer antibiotics for us UCers I was told.

Supa:

Over the years I havd flares comes out of nowhere, whether if was something I ate or a medication I took or just a seasonal change who knows.  It's well known that antibiotics can and will change one's GI flora.  I have taken a Z-pack here and there and have had flares so it's definitely possible.  As a standard rule if I take an antibiotic I will take probiotics like VSL-3 during the course to help regulate.

 

I can't take zithromax, but that's because I'm one of the "lucky" ones who gets diarrhea within a hour of taking it. It doesn't have anything to do with killing off the good gut flora, but I don't remember what it is that causes it....

I used to take it all the time for strep and sinus infections. I've always found it really tolerable.

Thanks again all-I took it at 4pm and so far no issues, so I guess I am not one to have D right after taking it!

Q-I am on it for the regular 5 day dose-2 today, then one a day for the next 4. I just took my probiotic (the Ultimate Flora Critical Care-just one-do you think I should take more than one?) with my PM pills, and it has been about 4 hours since I took the zithromax. The package said not to take it with other things, so I made sure to take it earlier today.

Hopefully this will be enough to knock it out. I just boiled my nasal syringe, so I will get back to using that religiously, and I have a grapefruit seed extract nasal spray I usually use for sinuses that I have been lax about, so I will get back to using that religiously as well.

Thank you!

Hi Heather-man-it sounds like you are absolutely MISERABLE. I know you are going to the doctor tomorrow, but I am not sure how you are managing to wait until then. My goodness! It sounds like you are getting worse, not better. I really hope the doctor can give you something tomorrow to offer you some relief. You need to get over this. I'm definitely hoping and praying you start getting better soon and can finally put this thing to rest.

The only other probiotic I have is the VSL#3, which I was hesitant to add back it since it is a lot stronger. So I will double up with the critical care. Do you think I should take one at bedtime and then another mid-morning or something, or just double up the dose at bedtime? Do you think that matters?

I am feeling better today. I used my nasal syringe and spray at bedtime and again this morning-I am hoping the combo of those with the z-pak will be enough. But I slept better last night, and am coughing less this morning. I just hope the z-pak is enough so that it doesn't end up coming back. Oh, and so far no issues with my bowels-things are actually continuing to improve on that front *so far*. I went once yesterday and had a pretty normal looking movement this morning with no visible blood-so hopefully that will continue.

I am worried about you. Please let me know how you are doing and what your doc says when you see her.

It is one antibiotic that is referred to by different names. Z-pak is a brand name for it, I believe, because mine is azithromycin and says sub for z-pak. The z-pak is generally called zithromax, but it is also azithromycin, does that make sense? I think zithromax is brand name. I think there are a couple of different options with it, the one I am on is a 5 day pack. You take 2 pills the first day, then one pill for the next 4 days. The medicine is supposed to stay in your system for up to 10 days though.

It is used for a wide range of infections-I have taken it a few times for sinuses, but it is also used for ears, strep, pneumonia, etc. But it is on the milder side-I think if the infection is pretty severe, z-paks might not be enough.

But so far so good! I am hoping that it doesn't end up upsetting the apple cart, but it does seem to be going well, at least after the first dose. It is good to know that there is SOMETHING to take when you need it!!! (as long as it keeps working-I try hard not to get on antibiotics because I don't want the few I *can* take to stop being effective!)

You know, I think it is in the same family of drugs, and in fact I think I read that if you are allergic to erythromycin, you should not take it. That is too bad.

It looks like I spoke too soon for myself-I have had a lot of gas today and had to go to the bathroom and passed mucus. Boo. :( Thankfully NO blood, just some mucus, but still. I hate seeing anything like that. I took another probiotic between breakfast and lunch, so hopefully that will help and hopefully I won't have any other worsening symptoms because it is helping me feel better otherwise.

It is always something, isn't it???

Yeap, azithromycin is the drug name, and zithromax is the brand name. It is related to erythromycin, though I've found erythromycin is much rougher on the gut than zithro.

I have drug allergies myself and they are a beyotch to deal with. I've literally had an orthopedist afraid to prescribe me something for a cellulitis infection because I was allergic to all the go-tos. My ped ended up giving me (guess what?) azithromycin.

Hi Laura...yippee you're feeling somewhat better today! I hope it isn't one like I and many I know have. Sounds as though you're doing the right things...just crappy to deal with.

I didn't realise you have the VSL3....I'd probably use that if it didn't bother you. The extra mucus is probably a combo of having the cold and just the stress of it. Good idea to take the extra probiotic. Maybe do the CC during the day and the VSL at night...or whatever works for you.

I take the probiotics at bedtime because during the day, I wouldn't remember to take them, plus to wait...yadda, yadda...lol..I get gas from them.....easier before bedtime because I have no other "commitments"..hahah. My daily schedule isn't one I could follow any other timings of meds/supplements. For antibiotics once a day or twice a day I can swing for a short while. Yes, lazy.

I hope the doc will be empathetic to me tomorrow.

Thank you for the well wishes...it's very much appreciated!! I'm frustrated because being sick can change the equation of things that have been OK regarding my asthma. I have a few more variables to add to the mix now, just questioning possible changes and to make sure I have the all clear with how to deal in the future. There's a fine line between tolerance and desperateness...I just need options and I'll be OK when my questions are answered.

Hope each day has you feeling better, but don't get too paniced with the setbacks that can happen with a cold unless they're continual.

Look for the deals on toilet paper and tissue...lol.

quincy

quincy said...
Hi Laura...yippee you're feeling somewhat better today! I hope it isn't one like I and many I know have. Sounds as though you're doing the right things...just crappy to deal with.

I didn't realise you have the VSL3....I'd probably use that if it didn't bother you. The extra mucus is probably a combo of having the cold and just the stress of it. Good idea to take the extra probiotic. Maybe do the CC during the day and the VSL at night...or whatever works for you.

I take the probiotics at bedtime because during the day, I wouldn't remember to take them, plus to wait...yadda, yadda...lol..I get gas from them.....easier before bedtime because I have no other "commitments"..hahah. My daily schedule isn't one I could follow any other timings of meds/supplements. For antibiotics once a day or twice a day I can swing for a short while. Yes, lazy.

I hope the doc will be empathetic to me tomorrow.

Thank you for the well wishes...it's very much appreciated!! I'm frustrated because being sick can change the equation of things that have been OK regarding my asthma. I have a few more variables to add to the mix now, just questioning possible changes and to make sure I have the all clear with how to deal in the future. There's a fine line between tolerance and desperateness...I just need options and I'll be OK when my questions are answered.

Hope each day has you feeling better, but don't get too paniced with the setbacks that can happen with a cold unless they're continual.

Look for the deals on toilet paper and tissue...lol.

quincy

You know, I hate having to time stuff too. It is such a pain. I give my girls probiotics too and I have been having a hard time finding a time to give them because they aren't supposed to have eaten. So I end up giving them with food anyway because I figure it is better than not at all-I should switch them to bedtime too, but then they eat fairly close to bedtime. But I digress.

The doc had better be empathetic to you!! And I will be anxious to hear what she says when you get back. You have every right to be frustrated-this has been ongoing for you for quite some time. I am frustrated with my own, and I don't have asthma as a complication to deal with, nor has it been hanging around with me as long!

Anyway, you are very right and I will not panic. The extra gas is likely also because of the probiotic since I haven't been taken that for a while. At least I am on the mend-and hopefully will continue on that path.

Let us know about your appt tomorrow when you have a chance.

hi there,
Quincy- thanks for the info on the other drugs.

You know, I used to be allergic to penicillan AND eurythromycin but during pregnancy i had a penicillan allergy test just to see for sure in case i need it during delivery and it came back 98% positive that I WAS NOT allerhic. The only way to know for 100% the dr. said was to actually sit in his office and take the drug and see what happened! Needless to say, I ddecided not to do that. So I am just saying that I have one drug allergy to eurythro. at lease that gives me the penicillan family of drugs :)