No Probiotics while taking Vancomycin?

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ll100
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No Probiotics while taking Vancomycin?

Postby ll100 » Fri Jan 10, 2014 3:21 pm

Hi folks - My GI Dr told me not to start my probiotics until after I'm finished with the Vancomycin. Has anyone else been told this and do you know why? I asked him why and he said that this is the procedure he follows, but didn't give me another reason. He wants me to go on Saccharomyces boulardii once I finish the Vanco. I know that Vanco won't kill this particular probiotic so it kind of leaves me scratching my head as to why I should wait. I should have pressed him while I was in the office, but with all my questions, I didn't circle back around.

Thanks for any help!

getwellsoon
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Re: No Probiotics while taking Vancomycin?

Postby getwellsoon » Fri Jan 10, 2014 3:31 pm

I was told the opposite by my GI, just to space the probiotics 2 hrs after the ATX. The Sacc. Bou. you can take at any time because its a yeast. Drs. differ on their opinions in regard to probiotics so I guess it will be up to you to decide to take them or not. No real proof that they help but some people definitely feel better on them and some can't tolerate them. Its a personal thing. Hope this helps. Carol
CAROL

saraht
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Re: No Probiotics while taking Vancomycin?

Postby saraht » Fri Jan 10, 2014 7:42 pm

It's all in personal opinion. The only thing about probiotics is if its a bacteria, taking it around the same time of vanco will kill the bacteria so there is not point. But the s. bourlardii can be taken anytime while on vanco because its a yeast. Some drs don't recommend probiotics at all, some do. One will push one brand, one another. Some people prefer one kind, some another. Some help people, and not others. A lot of people on here take s. bourlardii because studies have shown it can help not to fall into a relapse. I will point out that s. boulardii has been known to cause some GI upsets in people. I myself cannot take it because it causes terrible IBS episodes. But that is with any probiotic. Don't let that scare you from taking it though because it could help. It's all trial and error.
Hope things get better for you.

-sarah

AllisS
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Re: No Probiotics while taking Vancomycin?

Postby AllisS » Fri Jan 10, 2014 9:09 pm

If it were me, I'd wait until finishing the Vanco because if the probiotic does happen to cause GI symptoms it could become hard to separate them from the symptoms of the c. difficile infection you're trying to cure with the Vanco and/or from any possible side-effects from the Vanco.
If your illness was preceded by use of a medication, e.g., an antibiotic, please fill out an FDA Adverse Event Report at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm

Bobbie
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Re: No Probiotics while taking Vancomycin?

Postby Bobbie » Sat Jan 11, 2014 1:43 am

saraht,
You "nailed it." Probiotics are an iffy thing. Some docs. tell you to take them - but as far apart from meds. as possible. Some tell you to wait until you are off meds. to take them. Some tell you they don't work period! Some tell you to take during/before/after FMT's. Some say, "No, not at all." I was on S. boulardii (Florastor) as a blind study and then on compassionate usage. It never helped or harmed me. It doesn't have to be spaced far apart from C. diff. meds. because it is a yeast. I tried innumerable probiotics. Twice I survived a Z-pak without C. diff. I took VSL3 at the time. Was it the VSL3? Who knows?

To those of you who are new posters: I will send you an intro. letter tomorrow. Just got back from the best movie: "Saving Mr. Banks." Recommend it as therapy for C. diff. It is about the creator of Mary Poppins - fanciful, true, sad, funny - a 3 Kleenix movie. Takes you out of your own small world and into another. Try to put C. diff. in "a box" and create a life around it -- unless you are so ill it becomes your whole world - which it does to many - and to me several times.

Best to all.

Bobbie
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Re: No Probiotics while taking Vancomycin?

Postby Bobbie » Sat Jan 11, 2014 2:56 pm

ll100,
STANDARD INTRODUCTION: Welcome to the site. Read the first forum “All Users Read This First” and subtopics “Please Read before You Post” and “Guidelines for Posting to our Discussion Boards.” (Note limits on posting.) They will guide you in using the site and answer some frequent questions. Read Dr. Borody's article and topics in “CDI” including “Hygiene” “Nutrition,” “Testing,” and “The C. diff. Bible.”

“Doctors” lists doctors our posters have recommended and also a list of C. diff. specialists throughout the world. (Many perform FMT's.) Contact info. is provided.
The majority (about 80%) recover with one to two rounds of Flagyl or Vancocin. An unfortunate small percentage doesn’t and can suffer for months. Most recover unless there are factors such as advanced age or other severe health problems. New treatments include FMT's, which have a high cure rate, and Dificid. Other drugs and treatments are in the pipeline, and there is increased recognition of C. diff.

If antibiotics contributed to your C. diff, be careful about taking them again. (“CDI – Antibiotics”). Some people tolerate them; some develop C. diff again. (“Dr. Borody's article). Don’t take medications for C. diff. unless you are tested. (“CDI – Tests.”) The best protection (for you and others) is thorough hand washing and good hygiene.

For further information see http://www.peggymemorial.org, several other support groups on Facebook, the “Mayo Clinic” and “Web MD" web sites, and the FMT Foundation.

This is a support site not a medical site. We can’t give you medical advice but can tell you what worked for us and offer support. No one will understand what you are going through except someone who has/had this unpredictable disease. All of our moderators and frequent posters had/have C. diff. (or a loved one with it) and know how physically, mentally, and financially disabling it can be.

Again, welcome. Remember, the odds are in your favor. (END)

I heard from specialist again but he still didn't answer your questions about probiotics and FMTs. Have one other source I'll ask.

ll100
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Re: No Probiotics while taking Vancomycin?

Postby ll100 » Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:05 am

Thanks for all your responses. I'm staying off the probiotics until the antibiotics are finished.

Snow75
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Re: No Probiotics while taking Vancomycin?

Postby Snow75 » Wed Nov 26, 2014 8:57 pm

I know this is an old discussion, but did it work to not take probiotics while taking Vancomycin? I ask because I started Vanco today for what is likely a relapse 3 days after being off Flagyl. But....I also upped my Florastor to the recommended 2 pills 2x a day for the past few days, and now I'm wondering if that's part of the issue. I guess I'll have to cut that out and see what happens.

beth22
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Re: No Probiotics while taking Vancomycin?

Postby beth22 » Thu Nov 27, 2014 2:04 am

Florastor gave me a ton of gas and also looser stools, even though it is not supposed to give D. I also got a rash from it. Since you are on vanco, you can stop the Florastor for a couple of days to see if that is what is causing you issues. If it is, there are other probiotics. I can take some VSL#3, but not much. I had to try several different kinds before I found one that halfway agreed with me. Culturelle and Align did not.

Snow75
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Re: No Probiotics while taking Vancomycin?

Postby Snow75 » Thu Nov 27, 2014 11:01 am

Thanks, beth22. I've always had good luck with Culturelle, and I think that's what helped keep my initial bout of c diff from being much worse during the week of not really knowing if it was c diff or not because I wasn't having textbook symptoms. I then added the Florastor toward the end of the flagyl and then upped it when I finished flagyl after reading about that probiotic. I stopped the Florastor this morning to see what happens.

roy
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Re: No Probiotics while taking Vancomycin?

Postby roy » Thu Nov 27, 2014 1:35 pm

Florestor is the probiotic most recommend by c.diff experts as the only one that has shown any proof of being any use in helping D.
Its not killed by vanco, most others are!
If you cut out the Florastor now you will not know if its that causing symptoms or if the vanco is working!

Snow75
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Re: No Probiotics while taking Vancomycin?

Postby Snow75 » Fri Nov 28, 2014 9:40 am

Good point, roy, and that's exactly where I find myself this morning. I started Vanco on wed afternoon, stopped Florastor yesterday morning, and haven't had to use the bathroom since about 3pm yesterday. I don't know if Vanco works that fast, but that's the way I'm leaning right now. Can't be sure though.


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