Re: Does anyone have experience with Flagyl?

[Guest guest]

My son, 15, has been on flagyl twice this year for clostridium difficile

(C-Diff).

- It took us about 4 months to get this diagnosed. His symptoms were vague at

first. Cognitively he got very off, his NK cells dropped, so Dr. G suspected

some sort of viral activity going on. Then another month passed and he began to

run a fever that began high (103-104) then would drop to normal, then would run

99-102 for 2 weeks. He had no other symptoms with the fever. Another 2 weeks

passed and he developed a rash while in the mountains for spring break. No

other symptoms. It went away after a week ( we tested for rocky mtn spotted

fever which was neg). Another week or so went by and he began to vomit,

followed by explosive diarrhea. I asked the Dr. to test for intestinal

parasites since he had been in the water in the mtns. To my surprise, it came

back positive for Clostridium difficile. He had 1 10-day round of flagyl, then

had to have another 10 day round because it recurred 3 weeks after the first

treatment. C- Diff is very difficult to get rid of. He ended up on oral

vancomycin after it recurred a third time. As soon as he began each of these

treatments, his diarrhea subsided and cognitively he brightened. I could tell

when it was coming back before the fever and diarrhea began because he would

regress in behavior and focus.

That's our experience with flagyl.

HTH,

Ellen

Does anyone have experience with Flagyl?

When my son was 2, he was tested for celiac. The G/I doc said all

testing was negative but he did have a " negative overgrowth " and

prescribed Flagyl. This was a long time ago, but I do remember the

Flagyl helping alot. I asked how this came about and was told

sometimes antibiotic use can do this.

So I have my own sinus issues. After long treatment with Augmentin

(which did not clear my sinus BTW) I got another infection (female-

related) and the doc prescribed Flagyl....7 days. After just 2-3

days I remember thinking that my sinuses were clearing. After 7

days well I can tell you they are much better and I have not been

this clear all year. I think the 2 or 3 frosts we have had here

helped too.

So here my son is (6) and he has had his share of sinus problems and

antibiotics (Including augmentin), and now has VERY similar symptoms

to what I was having before Flagyl...lots of post nasal drip, and a

feeling of not being able to clear the base of your nose. I once

asked Dr G about prescribibg Flagyl for my son (for his GI issues)

and he said he did not like to hit things with a sledge hammer if he

didn't have to.

I understand Flagyl is a differnet type of antibiotic, working on

anaerobic bacteria, but understand nothing more. I want to ask Dr G

about this too.

Thanks for any info/experiences anyone can share.

[Guest guest]

Yes - our son used it several years ago for Giardia - another parasite.

Quick, safe and effective.

--- ellie <ejordan1@...> wrote:

> My son, 15, has been on flagyl twice this year for clostridium

> difficile (C-Diff).

> - It took us about 4 months to get this diagnosed. His symptoms

> were vague at first. Cognitively he got very off, his NK cells

> dropped, so Dr. G suspected some sort of viral activity going on.

> Then another month passed and he began to run a fever that began

> high (103-104) then would drop to normal, then would run 99-102 for

> 2 weeks. He had no other symptoms with the fever. Another 2 weeks

> passed and he developed a rash while in the mountains for spring

> break. No other symptoms. It went away after a week ( we tested

> for rocky mtn spotted fever which was neg). Another week or so went

> by and he began to vomit, followed by explosive diarrhea. I asked

> the Dr. to test for intestinal parasites since he had been in the

> water in the mtns. To my surprise, it came back positive for

> Clostridium difficile. He had 1 10-day round of flagyl, then had to

> have another 10 day round because it recurred 3 weeks after the

> first treatment. C- Diff is very difficult to get rid of. He ended

> up on oral vancomycin after it recurred a third time. As soon as he

> began each of these treatments, his diarrhea subsided and

> cognitively he brightened. I could tell when it was coming back

> before the fever and diarrhea began because he would regress in

> behavior and focus.

> That's our experience with flagyl.

> HTH,

> Ellen

> Does anyone have experience with Flagyl?

>

>

> When my son was 2, he was tested for celiac. The G/I doc said all

>

> testing was negative but he did have a " negative overgrowth " and

> prescribed Flagyl. This was a long time ago, but I do remember the

>

> Flagyl helping alot. I asked how this came about and was told

> sometimes antibiotic use can do this.

>

> So I have my own sinus issues. After long treatment with Augmentin

>

> (which did not clear my sinus BTW) I got another infection

> (female-

> related) and the doc prescribed Flagyl....7 days. After just 2-3

> days I remember thinking that my sinuses were clearing. After 7

> days well I can tell you they are much better and I have not been

>

> this clear all year. I think the 2 or 3 frosts we have had here

> helped too.

>

> So here my son is (6) and he has had his share of sinus problems

> and

> antibiotics (Including augmentin), and now has VERY similar

> symptoms

> to what I was having before Flagyl...lots of post nasal drip, and

> a

> feeling of not being able to clear the base of your nose. I once

> asked Dr G about prescribibg Flagyl for my son (for his GI issues)

>

> and he said he did not like to hit things with a sledge hammer if

> he

> didn't have to.

>

> I understand Flagyl is a differnet type of antibiotic, working on

>

> anaerobic bacteria, but understand nothing more. I want to ask Dr

> G

> about this too.

> Thanks for any info/experiences anyone can share.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ellen: Was the C-Diff diagnosed through stool analysis or blood sample?

Can it show up in blood test even when stool is clear?

Re: Does anyone have experience with Flagyl?

My son, 15, has been on flagyl twice this year for clostridium difficile

(C-Diff).

- It took us about 4 months to get this diagnosed. His symptoms were

vague at first. Cognitively he got very off, his NK cells dropped, so

Dr. G suspected some sort of viral activity going on. Then another month

passed and he began to run a fever that began high (103-104) then would

drop to normal, then would run 99-102 for 2 weeks. He had no other

symptoms with the fever. Another 2 weeks passed and he developed a rash

while in the mountains for spring break. No other symptoms. It went away

after a week ( we tested for rocky mtn spotted fever which was neg).

Another week or so went by and he began to vomit, followed by explosive

diarrhea. I asked the Dr. to test for intestinal parasites since he had

been in the water in the mtns. To my surprise, it came back positive for

Clostridium difficile. He had 1 10-day round of flagyl, then had to have

another 10 day round because it recurred 3 weeks after the first

treatment. C- Diff is very difficult to get rid of. He end! ed up on

oral vancomycin after it recurred a third time. As soon as he began each

of these treatments, his diarrhea subsided and cognitively he

brightened. I could tell when it was coming back before the fever and

diarrhea began because he would regress in behavior and focus.

That's our experience with flagyl.

HTH,

Ellen

Does anyone have experience with Flagyl?

When my son was 2, he was tested for celiac. The G/I doc said all

testing was negative but he did have a " negative overgrowth " and

prescribed Flagyl. This was a long time ago, but I do remember the

Flagyl helping alot. I asked how this came about and was told

sometimes antibiotic use can do this.

So I have my own sinus issues. After long treatment with Augmentin

(which did not clear my sinus BTW) I got another infection (female-

related) and the doc prescribed Flagyl....7 days. After just 2-3

days I remember thinking that my sinuses were clearing. After 7

days well I can tell you they are much better and I have not been

this clear all year. I think the 2 or 3 frosts we have had here

helped too.

So here my son is (6) and he has had his share of sinus problems and

antibiotics (Including augmentin), and now has VERY similar symptoms

to what I was having before Flagyl...lots of post nasal drip, and a

feeling of not being able to clear the base of your nose. I once

asked Dr G about prescribibg Flagyl for my son (for his GI issues)

and he said he did not like to hit things with a sledge hammer if he

didn't have to.

I understand Flagyl is a differnet type of antibiotic, working on

anaerobic bacteria, but understand nothing more. I want to ask Dr G

about this too.

Thanks for any info/experiences anyone can share.

[Guest guest]

,

My son's C-Diff was diagnosed from a stool sample. Evidently, if it shows up

there, it's a pretty significant infection. I don't think there is any blood

test that can test for it. Interestingly, when his symptoms returned in 3 weeks

after the second round of flagyl, the stool came back negative. I have

researched a lot on this and once it is treated,(and often before) you get a lot

of false negatives in stool samples. There are support groups on the net

because it can drag out a long time in some people. The GI specialist at

Children's, Cincinnati, says he will have to " scope " him, do stomach scrapings

and look for immune abnormalities as to why it keeps coming back. HELLO!!!!!!

We already know he is immune deficient! I asked what the treatment would be

after that and he said IVIG! Wait till Dr. G hears this. Hopefully, we have

conquered it. C-Diff produces spores(it is a strange bug, not a bacterium, not

a yeast, somewhere between. It is an anaerobe, I believe) that stay dormant

until conditions are right, which is why it is so tough to get rid of. This

worries me. It still doesn't take much for my son's ship to tip over.

If anyone knows a more sensitive test we can do for this, please speak up.

Thanks,

Ellen

Does anyone have experience with Flagyl?

When my son was 2, he was tested for celiac. The G/I doc said all

testing was negative but he did have a " negative overgrowth " and

prescribed Flagyl. This was a long time ago, but I do remember the

Flagyl helping alot. I asked how this came about and was told

sometimes antibiotic use can do this.

So I have my own sinus issues. After long treatment with Augmentin

(which did not clear my sinus BTW) I got another infection (female-

related) and the doc prescribed Flagyl....7 days. After just 2-3

days I remember thinking that my sinuses were clearing. After 7

days well I can tell you they are much better and I have not been

this clear all year. I think the 2 or 3 frosts we have had here

helped too.

So here my son is (6) and he has had his share of sinus problems and

antibiotics (Including augmentin), and now has VERY similar symptoms

to what I was having before Flagyl...lots of post nasal drip, and a

feeling of not being able to clear the base of your nose. I once

asked Dr G about prescribibg Flagyl for my son (for his GI issues)

and he said he did not like to hit things with a sledge hammer if he

didn't have to.

I understand Flagyl is a differnet type of antibiotic, working on

anaerobic bacteria, but understand nothing more. I want to ask Dr G

about this too.

Thanks for any info/experiences anyone can share.

[Guest guest]

I am sure you have probably already seen/heard about this study, but

just in case you hadn't I thought you would find this interesting.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/IDSAMeeting/msnbc/4279

IDSA: Vancomycin Outdoes Flagyl in Severe C. difficile Diarrhea

By , Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today

Reviewed by <http://www.medpagetoday.com/reviewer.cfm?reviewerid=30>

Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor at the University of Pennsylvania

School of Medicine.

October 13, 2006

<http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/IDSAMeeting/> Additional

IDSA Coverage

Melinda , M.D.

University of Illinois

TORONTO, Oct. 13 -- For severe cases of diarrhea associated with

Clostridium difficile infection, vancomycin should be the first line of

treatment, researchers said here.

Action Points

* Note that this randomized controlled trial found

that for severe cases of diarrhea associated with Clostridium difficile

infection, vancomycin, not Flagyl (metronidazole), had a higher cure

rate.

* Advise patients who ask that new strains of C.

difficile have recently been identified that cause more aggressive and

dangerous disease.

* This study was published as an abstract and

presented orally at a conference. These data and conclusions should be

considered to be preliminary as they have not yet been reviewed and

published in a peer-reviewed publication.

In a randomized, double-blind, head-to-head trial against Flagyl

(metronidazole) -- the typical first-line therapy -- vancomycin did

significantly better in severe cases, Melinda , M.D., of the

University of Illinois at Chicago reported at the Infectious Diseases

Society of America meeting.

" If they were considered severe, there was a much higher cure rate with

vancomycin, " Dr. said, but when the cases were classified as mild,

the two drugs were equivalent.

In the prospective placebo-controlled trial, 172 patients were

randomized to 125 mg of liquid vancomycin and a placebo tablet or a 250

mg tablet of Flagyl and placebo liquid. Patients received the medication

daily for 10 days. The placebos were given for blinding purposes.

Of the 172 patients enrolled, 22 did not complete the trial for various

reasons, including non-compliance and loss to follow-up. Also, eight

patients died before three days of therapy had been completed.

Of the 150 patients who completed the trial, Dr. said, 81 were

classed as mild and 69 as having severe diarrhea. Patients were put in

the severe category if they had pseudomembranous colitis, were in the

intensive care unit because of the diarrhea, or if they had any two of

fever, a high white blood cell count, age more than 60, or low albumin.

The study found that in severe cases, the cure rate for vancomycin was

97%, while Flagyl cured only 76%. The difference was statistically

significant at P=0.02. Relapse was seen in 3/30 (10%) with vancomycin

and six of 29 (21%) with Flagyl (P=0.30).

Of 81 with mild disease, the cure rates were 39 of 40 (98%) with

vancomycin and 37 of 41 (90%) with Flagyl (P=0.36). There were relapses

for two of 39 (5%) with vancomycin and three of 37 (8%) with Flagyl

(P=0.67).

A cure was defined as resolution of the diarrhea within six days and

sustained through day 10 of treatment, Dr. said.

The study was carried out between 1994 and 2002, Dr. said, before

the recent emergence of highly aggressive and virulent strains of C.

difficile. " The new strains do cause more severe disease, " she said,

which would suggest than vancomycin might be indicated.

The value of the study is that it is a randomized controlled trial that

supports a growing consensus about what medications to use in the

increasing number of severe C. difficile cases, commented L. Clifford

Mc, M.D., a CDC medical in Atlanta.

" There haven't been enough randomized controlled trials in this area, "

Dr. Mc said in an interview. " We need more of them. "

In fact, only two earlier prospective trials of Flagyl versus vancomycin

have been carried out, Dr. said, and neither was blinded nor

stratified patients by severity of C. difficile-associated diarrhea.

Dr. Mc added the study " is probably validation of something that

becoming recognized -- in severe disease, go with vancomycin. "

Re: Does anyone have experience with Flagyl?

,

My son's C-Diff was diagnosed from a stool sample. Evidently, if it

shows up there, it's a pretty significant infection. I don't think there

is any blood test that can test for it. Interestingly, when his symptoms

returned in 3 weeks after the second round of flagyl, the stool came

back negative. I have researched a lot on this and once it is

treated,(and often before) you get a lot of false negatives in stool

samples. There are support groups on the net because it can drag out a

long time in some people. The GI specialist at Children's, Cincinnati,

says he will have to " scope " him, do stomach scrapings and look for

immune abnormalities as to why it keeps coming back. HELLO!!!!!! We

already know he is immune deficient! I asked what the treatment would be

after that and he said IVIG! Wait till Dr. G hears this. Hopefully, we

have conquered it. C-Diff produces spores(it is a strange bug, not a

bacterium, not a yeast, somewhere between. It is an anaerobe,! I

believe) that stay dormant until conditions are right, which is why it

is so tough to get rid of. This worries me. It still doesn't take much

for my son's ship to tip over.

If anyone knows a more sensitive test we can do for this, please speak

up.

Thanks,

Ellen

Does anyone have experience with Flagyl?

When my son was 2, he was tested for celiac. The G/I doc said all

testing was negative but he did have a " negative overgrowth " and

prescribed Flagyl. This was a long time ago, but I do remember the

Flagyl helping alot. I asked how this came about and was told

sometimes antibiotic use can do this.

So I have my own sinus issues. After long treatment with Augmentin

(which did not clear my sinus BTW) I got another infection (female-

related) and the doc prescribed Flagyl....7 days. After just 2-3

days I remember thinking that my sinuses were clearing. After 7

days well I can tell you they are much better and I have not been

this clear all year. I think the 2 or 3 frosts we have had here

helped too.

So here my son is (6) and he has had his share of sinus problems and

antibiotics (Including augmentin), and now has VERY similar symptoms

to what I was having before Flagyl...lots of post nasal drip, and a

feeling of not being able to clear the base of your nose. I once

asked Dr G about prescribibg Flagyl for my son (for his GI issues)

and he said he did not like to hit things with a sledge hammer if he

didn't have to.

I understand Flagyl is a differnet type of antibiotic, working on

anaerobic bacteria, but understand nothing more. I want to ask Dr G

about this too.

Thanks for any info/experiences anyone can share.