demeclocycline for colitis???

I just found out, to my extreme disapointment and anger, that the doctor at the rehabilitation center my Dad is at has been prescribing him an antibiotic in the tetracycline family called demeclocycline for his colitis since Feb. 3rd without telling us. I was told it was for his low blood sodium and to kill the bad bacteria in his gut. She did this without consulting with is gastro doc. If you read the side effects of this antibiotic, it lists diarrhea, colitis and c-diff!!!

Is there anything out there that demeclocycline is effective for colitis?

Yes, his diarrhea is getting a little worse. His stools were semi formed and now they are watery and runny again. I found out today that this antibiotic is strickly for his low sodium in his blood. It is what it is mainly prescribed for. His gastro doc is worried it will make his colitis worse and is not to happy about it being prescribed. I was told he is near the end of his course and they will stop it in the next few days. I just pray his colitis doesn't get any worse and he doesn't contact c-diff.

runcycle said...
Minocycline, another tetracycline antibiotic, has the ability to kill many Mycobacterial strains. Maybe demeclocycline has the same effect?

Has your father noticed a difference while taking this?

The doctor said that it was found to raise sodium levels in people who use it so now it is sometimes used to treat Hyponatremia (low blood sodium). I think it is dangerous to treat someone with colitis with this. His gastro doc said it was but one of the other partners in the gastro practice feels it's OK. So were are getting mixed messages on this from his gastro docs as well as how to switch him to entocort.

ElephantPipe said...
How does an antibiotic help sodium?