Do antibiotics worsen a flare?

Yes, abx can exacerbate flare or cause C diff infection. I avoid them, unless of course in a serious condition that would necessitate treatment regardless. Maybe you can try a sterile sinus irrigation, but check with your doc. Best wishes to you.

My family and I have recently had this. It is very nasty and doesn't go away easy. I couldn't afford to be sick and not be able to talk for 2-3 weeks so I got on a zpack. Any antibiotics is usually a mistake so I was very surprised to find out that they didn't seem to effect my UC this time. I think it is a nasty virus that does not respond to antibiotics but seems to always bring on a sinus infection at the same time, which does respond to antibiotics. So, I basically got the virus but not the sinus infection that goes along with it, which only gave me one or two bad days and about a week of very mild disease. I always up my probiotics and other UC meds any time I take antibiotics.

If you are going to take an antibiotic for your cold i only recommend this : Tavanic [ Levofloxacin ] 500mg once every 24 hours (5 pills in the box for a 5 day course) but as always check first with your Dr.

According to my GI it is the least offensive to the UC, also meanwhile make sure you are taking a lot of probiotics and while on antibiotic you need a lot of rest and good food.

kazbern said...
Dreadsteel, I am going to pick an argument with you. Why should anyone take an antibiotic for a cold?

no problem, Complications that's why

i.e www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-sinusitis/basics/complications/con-20022039

and

www.medicinenet.com/chronic_bronchitis/page7.htm

Better be safe than sorry.

I have to say I don't think I would risk taking antibiotics for this, not unless I felt I was literally on deaths door, only you know how bad you feel...so you now have lots of different opinions..good luck!

I know what the OP was talking about as this virus has been in my area. It is very nasty and it is NOT a cold. It is however, a virus which will not respond to antibiotics BUT every person who has had this that I have seen has developed a bacterial infection on top of the virus, which is why I took the antibiotic because the antibiotic will help with that. My wife and one kid and others have been left unable to talk well for weeks with severe and uncontrollable caughing and crackling voice. My wife's brother had this bacterial infection for 3 weeks. I jumped on antibiotics right away due to the bacterial infection which accompanies this virus and it only bother me for a day or two.

Since my UC dx I haven't had any problems with flaring on antibiotics, but I don't take them unless I feel I can't get better without them. Sometimes they are necessary. I always get nervous when I take them so I make sure to take lots of probiotics while on them. My GP knows to prescribe ones that are not harsh on the digestive track. A few weeks ago, I had this nasty virus that is going around. It was much worse than a cold even though I initially thought it was a cold. I gave it a week to resolve itself and it didn't. It wasn't going away so I went to my GP. I was put on the ZPAK abx b/c my GP felt that because it had not resolved it turned into a bacterial upper respiratory infection. Might it have resolved on its own? Maybe eventually, but it wasn't getting any better up to that point.

So, you may have to take your chances if the dr thinks you need to be on abx. If you're not getting better I suggest going to the dr. Take your probiotics & explain you are in a mild flare so they can prescribe ones that will be less harsh on you.

I fully support your resistance to abx. If you regress and develop fever again, then you should talk to your GP and get abx at that point. But keep up the fluids (use hot ones too, the chicken soup cure is not a myth).

Trust

Well I'm still ill :( Dreadsteal I like you also never got I'll with flu or cold before. But been on imuran for almost four months and I can not shake this bloody cold. I am going to speak with my GI today.

Happychick said...
Well I'm still ill :( Dreadsteal I like you also never got I'll with flu or cold before. But been on imuran for almost four months and I can not shake this bloody cold. I am going to speak with my GI today.

I am so sorry, seems like everyone against antibiotics never been on immunomodulators.....

These are the things i could recommend that are not antibiotics ( or natural antibiotics ) :

- Chicken soup drink a lot of it www.unmc.edu/publicrelations/media/press-kits/chicken-soup/index.html

- make a hot Anise tea and add to it : honey instead of sugar, a squeeze of a lemon, and a cinnamon stick

- fresh lime juice with honey

- ginger and cinnamon tea, [ though i am too afraid to try that spicy drink after UC ]

- probiotics and fermented foods

- otrivin nasal spray decongestant

- Strepsils lozenges for the throat ( sugar free or honey version )

- Vitamin C supplements

- some people use Echinacea supplements, but i didn't try them myself
- stay away from sweets/artifical/refined sugars

- Oil of Oregano,Thyme and cinnamon

- lots of rest and sleep

Herbs with antibiotic properties : [ many of these could irritate the colon so be careful ]

Allspice
Thyme
Mints
Basil
Cinnamon
Sage
Chervil
Rosemary
Lemon balm
Oregano
Cumin
Tarragon
Cloves
Bay leaf
Chili peppers
Marjoram
Caraway seed
Coriander
Dill
Nutmeg
Cardamom
Pepper
Ginger
Anise
Fennel
Mustard
Parsley