flagyl 10 day vs 14 day course

Treatments, possible treatments, unsubstantiated/unproven treatments. Consult your doctor first.
mandy
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flagyl 10 day vs 14 day course

Postby mandy » Tue Aug 19, 2014 11:41 am

I am on a 14 day course of Flagyl for a first time c diff infection. The side effects have been terrible, seems like I've gotten every one in the book...I've forced myself to continue the med since I'm scared of c diff more. I've read the guidelines of the American College of Gastroenterology that a ten day course is the recommended length of flagyl treatment for a first occurrence of mild to moderate c diff.
I've put a call in to my GI doc, just wondering if anyone on here has experience with a ten day course vs a 14 day couse of flagyl. Have never felt so horrible, would love to stop, but don't want to compromise my c diff recovery. Thanks for reading

RNBSNCDIFF
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Re: flagyl 10 day vs 14 day course

Postby RNBSNCDIFF » Tue Aug 19, 2014 12:58 pm

Hello Mandy,

Are you still having symptoms even in the slightest?

seekingcure
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Re: flagyl 10 day vs 14 day course

Postby seekingcure » Wed Aug 20, 2014 1:03 pm

STANDARD INTRODUCTION:
Welcome to the site. Read the first forum “All Users Read This First” and subtopics “Site History” and “Information and Guidelines for Posting to our Discussion Boards.” (Note limits on posting.) This will guide you in using the site and answer some of your questions. Read Dr. Borody's articles. Also see the topics under “CDI” – particularly Recent CDC Report, The C. diff. Bible, Tests, Antibiotics, Hygiene, and Nutrition.

“Doctors” lists physicians our posters recommended and also a list of C. diff. specialists throughout the world with contact information. (Many perform FMT's.) See the new forum “FMT’s and FE’s” or “Media Reports” for new information on C. diff.

The majority of patients (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. You can help by educating your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Help us make others aware of C. difficle – which will lead to further advances in treating and/or preventing the infection. If antibiotics contributed to your C. diff, be careful about taking them again. Some people tolerate them; some develop C. diff again. Don’t take medications for C. diff. unless you are tested.

If a medication contributed to your case, please fill out an Adverse Event Report online at: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm. Under "Resources for You," in left-hand column, click on "Report a Serious Medical Product Problem Online." (Allison provided this information.)

The best protection for you and others is thorough hand washing and good hygiene. (See Dr. Borody’s articles and “CDI.”) For more information, see other support groups on Facebook, including http://www.peggyfoundation.org, the Mayo Clinic and Web MD web sites, and “The FMT Foundation” under “Links” on the homepage.

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, emotionally, and financially disabling it can be.
Again, welcome. Remember, the odds are in your favor. (End of letter.)

Hi Mandy,
Sorry to hear you are having trouble with c-diff and Flagyl is causing side effects. I also had a hard time taking Flagyl even though I was on the lesser dose of 250 mg. four times a day, but I made it through a fourteen-day course. Unfortunately, I relapsed after coming off Flagyl and ended up on a long course of Vanco. My situation was complicated, though, by the fact that I had to take antibiotics for recurrent UTI's both during treatment with Flagyl and treatment with Vanco. Without these other antibiotics, I might have recovered with just the one course of Flagyl. Many on site have found Flagyl to be a very hard drug to take. Vanco was way easier on my system and I really didn't have any side effects with it other than looser stools.

It's good you are calling your doctor about your side effects so he can make the decision about the risks vs benefits of continuing Flagyl. If you are close to the end of the ten days, he might have you to stop it and see how things go. If you are still in the first few days of treatment, he may switch you to another antibiotic, like Vanco or Dificid. Let us know what you find out and how you do.
Bea

mandy
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Re: flagyl 10 day vs 14 day course

Postby mandy » Wed Aug 20, 2014 11:53 pm

Thank you for your replies..my c diff seemed better after about 2-3 days after starting flagyl. Formed Bms since then, less frequent than usual, but I'm not eating a lot. I actually had an unexplained bruise on my leg this evening which freaked me out ( low platelets is a rare side effect apparently, and I'm getting every one.) The doc on call said he doesn't think it's related, but to stop the flagyl (hallelujia), that I've had enough...time will tell...I'll update whether i relapse or not, crossing my fingers.
Anyone with bruising on flagyl? I feel cursed by this med!

beth22
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Re: flagyl 10 day vs 14 day course

Postby beth22 » Thu Aug 21, 2014 1:44 am

Lots of medications cause bruising. I just looked them up because I have tiny capillary bruising all over my lower legs. Antibiotics, NSAIDs, lots of them. You can do a search for "medications causing low platelets" and you will see the list. With me, assuming it is not some disease, it could be the Pepto Bismol that I have been on for a long time. If you are worried, get a CBC and see what your platelet count is.

mandy
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Re: flagyl 10 day vs 14 day course

Postby mandy » Thu Aug 21, 2014 10:37 pm

I will do that if i notice any more, thank you, better safe than sorry. Hopefully, now that I'm off the Flagyl, it won't be an issue.

kelseym
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Re: flagyl 10 day vs 14 day course

Postby kelseym » Wed Oct 29, 2014 6:36 pm

Hey Mandy, how are you doing now? Did the Vanco get rid of it and how long and what dosage were you on? I finished a 14 day 500 mg 3x's a day Flagyl last Thursday and lo and behold I think it's back. I also did not tolerate the Flagyl real well and am scared about another antibiotic.

Bobbie
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Re: flagyl 10 day vs 14 day course

Postby Bobbie » Wed Oct 29, 2014 11:02 pm

Mandy, many have side effects on Flagyl -- even after being off it for awhile. If your symptoms reoccur, ask your doctor about Vanco or Dificid -- or an FMT.

Best wishes.

mandy
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Re: flagyl 10 day vs 14 day course

Postby mandy » Mon Nov 03, 2014 9:19 pm

Kelseym, I stopped my Flagyl course (500 mg, three times a day) after 12 1/2 days due to the side effects, truly felt like I was being poisoned! But I have to say that it did work against the C Diff, didn't have to move on to Vanco, and no recurrance as of now, (even with a course of Macrobid taken for a UTI a few weeks later.)
If you do end up taking the Vanco, I've read here that it's side effects are nothing like Flagyl's, much easier to take. Good luck to you! I hope it isn't back for you after all.

Bobbie, yes, even though it did work for the C Diff, I really don't think I could take it again. The worst part was the way it made me feel so hopeless and lethargic. I wish my doctor had warned me of this known side effect, I thought I was losing it!

Michelle7198
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Re: flagyl 10 day vs 14 day course

Postby Michelle7198 » Mon Jan 05, 2015 9:59 pm

I had a massive bruise on my leg during the flagyl! It came out of no where! So could be a side effect.

mtga37
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Re: flagyl 10 day vs 14 day course

Postby mtga37 » Tue Jan 23, 2018 10:13 am

I know this is a really, really old post but has anyone had success with stopping Flagyl after 10 days (500mg, 3 times per day) and not getting C-Diff back? My GI told me to stop my 14 day dose because of the terrible side effects it was giving me and to see what happens. Nevertheless, I am TERRIFIED to "see what happens."

My stool was formed after day 2, then I had a Barium Swallow for a throat issue on day 10 (which has now caused my stool to still be formed just "less" formed) and made it to day 11. I cannot take Flagyl ever again...the side effects...cringe!!

Lisa33
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Re: flagyl 10 day vs 14 day course

Postby Lisa33 » Tue Jan 23, 2018 11:46 am

I relapsed two weeks after a 10 day course of Flagyl. I'm sure that there are many who were cured though. It sounds like you are doing well. However, if things take a turn for the worse, definitely push for vanco or dificid. I couldn't tolerate the flagyl at all. It made me sicker than the c-diff. I pushed for vanco, and that is what ultimately cured me. After you finish meds is a crucial time to restore good gut bacteria to keep the c-diff bacteria in check. Many of us believe in probiotics, especially sacchromyces boulardii (Florastor) or live bacteria probiotics such as VSL-3. Eating fermented foods, yogurts with live cultures and drinking Kefir or all other options as well to help to replenish the good gut bacteria.

Hopefully, you won't have to deal with c-diff again. Good luck.
Lisa


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