Re: How long can one take an antibiotic?

[Guest guest]

I have taken a high dose of Zithromax for over three years. The only effect

has been that the mycoplasma is reduced and everything else is healing. I

don't get yeast infections anymore and never have digestive problems except

for two cases of what I think was food poisoning over 3 years. The doctors

continue to be surprised, no amazed, that I am doing so well with no side

effects. I do have liver function tests run about every 4 months, but so

far my live works better than it did before I started the Zithro. This is

just one story but Nicolson assures me he has heard this same story from

other patients. The mycoplasma is really damaging to the immune system, so

the antibiotic is generally the lesser of two evils by far.

a Carnes

> From: MHOLMES@... (HOLMES, MARK T.)

>

> Does anyone know what the long term effects of dosing oneself with minocin

> for let's say 5+ years on a daily basis is? Can one take an antibiotic

> forever without causing problems? We read so much about the dangers of

> taking antibiotics frivolously (making oneself susceptible to superbugs

for

> instance) I just wondered. Any studies done on this? I know we all say

it

> is safer than other more toxic drugs, but is it in truth totally safe or

are

> there concerns for long term usage?

> Curious.

>

> Mark

>

>

> Re: rheumatic importance of early treatment

>

>

> > From: Babs56p@...

> >

> > Hi - Just wanted to tell you that Dr. Trentham also is an advocate for

the

> > 200 mg. daily (vs. MWF) dosing schedule (Minocin). He said that is the

> > optimal dosage he prefers, and he also prefers to get pts. up to that as

> soon

> > as they can tolerate it. I went from 50 mg. twice daily to 100 mg.

twice

> > daily in three weeks. That was a couple of weeks ago and I'm doing well

> on

> > it so far....

> >

> > Babs

> >

> > >

>

>

[Guest guest]

" HOLMES, MARK T. " wrote:

>

> From: MHOLMES@... (HOLMES, MARK T.)

>

> Does anyone know what the long term effects of dosing oneself with minocin

> for let's say 5+ years on a daily basis is? Can one take an antibiotic

> forever without causing problems?

Dr. Brown felt that if a patient needed to stay on an antibiotic for a

number of years, then it was important to change the antibiotic at least

every 5 or 6 years before it lost its effectiveness. After a few years,

the patient could return to the original antibiotic.

One of the main reasons Dr. Brown used the M-W-F dosage was to prevent

the patient from developing a sensitivity to the drug since they would

no doubt need to be on it for a very long time.

These organisms we are dealing with divide slowly - between 24 and 48

hours, so in most cases he used the M-W-F dosage schedule. If the

patient had a flare, he would often up the dose to daily for a while.

Ethel

[Guest guest]

I'm not so sure I'm so worried about developing a sensitivity to the drug,

as much as I might be worried about overusing a drug to the extent that when

I come down with other infections that antibiotics might not be effective.

Isn't that what all the concern is with docs using too many antibiotics?

Mark

> From: Snooks <emsnooks@...>

>

>

>

> " HOLMES, MARK T. " wrote:

> >

> > From: MHOLMES@... (HOLMES, MARK T.)

> >

> > Does anyone know what the long term effects of dosing oneself with

minocin

> > for let's say 5+ years on a daily basis is? Can one take an antibiotic

> > forever without causing problems?

>

> Dr. Brown felt that if a patient needed to stay on an antibiotic for a

> number of years, then it was important to change the antibiotic at least

> every 5 or 6 years before it lost its effectiveness. After a few years,

> the patient could return to the original antibiotic.

>

> One of the main reasons Dr. Brown used the M-W-F dosage was to prevent

> the patient from developing a sensitivity to the drug since they would

> no doubt need to be on it for a very long time.

>

> These organisms we are dealing with divide slowly - between 24 and 48

> hours, so in most cases he used the M-W-F dosage schedule. If the

> patient had a flare, he would often up the dose to daily for a while.

>

> Ethel

>

> >

[Guest guest]

Yes, this is a concern. And this is the reason you don't want to switch

around more than necessary. If you can use one or two antibiotics for 2 or

3 years there will still be many others to use should you come down with

some other infection.

a C.

> From: MHOLMES@... (HOLMES, MARK T.)

>

> I'm not so sure I'm so worried about developing a sensitivity to the drug,

> as much as I might be worried about overusing a drug to the extent that

when

> I come down with other infections that antibiotics might not be effective.

> Isn't that what all the concern is with docs using too many antibiotics?

>

> Mark

>

>

> > From: Snooks <emsnooks@...>

> >

> >

> >

> > " HOLMES, MARK T. " wrote:

> > >

> > > From: MHOLMES@... (HOLMES, MARK T.)

> > >

> > > Does anyone know what the long term effects of dosing oneself with

> minocin

> > > for let's say 5+ years on a daily basis is? Can one take an

antibiotic

> > > forever without causing problems?

> >

> > Dr. Brown felt that if a patient needed to stay on an antibiotic for a

> > number of years, then it was important to change the antibiotic at least

> > every 5 or 6 years before it lost its effectiveness. After a few years,

> > the patient could return to the original antibiotic.

> >

> > One of the main reasons Dr. Brown used the M-W-F dosage was to prevent

> > the patient from developing a sensitivity to the drug since they would

> > no doubt need to be on it for a very long time.

> >

> > These organisms we are dealing with divide slowly - between 24 and 48

> > hours, so in most cases he used the M-W-F dosage schedule. If the

> > patient had a flare, he would often up the dose to daily for a while.

> >

> > Ethel

> >

> > >

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ette,

I also have been on the same antibiotic for over 3 yrs and my doctors say

the same thing - do not change unless it stops working. I did try a few

others for a few weeks to see if my symptoms would clear further. I still

am not 100% well, but the other antibiotics didn't work better or even as

well.

Didn't Dr. Chiu write something recently about not staying on the same

antibiotic over 4 or 5 years????? I know I am not remembering it correctly.

Perhaps someone could find this and resend it . I cannot find it. Sorry.

> a,

>

> I have been taking Minocin for over 7 years. I take it only 2 x a week now

as a

> maintenance dose. Why do people feel that the antibiotic should be

changed? Is

> there a reason why it would stop working? My rheumatologist feels I

should stay

> on it indefinitely even though my symptoms are just about gone. Would I

still

> be better off switching to something else?

>

> ette

>

> a Carnes wrote:

>

> > From: a Carnes <paulajeanne@...>

> >

> > Yes, this is a concern. And this is the reason you don't want to switch

> > around more than necessary. If you can use one or two antibiotics for 2

or

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In article <004801bf45c2$271c47c0$065262d8@oemcomputer>, HOLMES, MARK T.

<MHOLMES@...> writes

>I'm not so sure I'm so worried about developing a sensitivity to the drug,

>as much as I might be worried about overusing a drug to the extent that when

>I come down with other infections that antibiotics might not be effective.

>Isn't that what all the concern is with docs using too many antibiotics?

Since most infections are acquired from outside sources, I don't think

that this concern is a major one.

-------

Regards, Dr Graham Chiu

[Guest guest]

Hi Mark,

We know of people who have been taking minocycline or doxycycline for over 25

years with no ill-effects. I guess regardless of the dose initially used, after

remission has been established, then the intermittent dose is better for the

long haul. Many people find that their symptoms slowly return if they

discontinue the antibiotic altogether. However, there are also people who have

recovered and then discontinued the antibiotic and remained symptom-free. Hard

to get those last little organisms

I guess you would also take care of the gut long-term, stick to that healthy

diet and continue to take plenty of acidophilus.

Chris.

Does anyone know what the long term effects of dosing oneself with minocin

for let's say 5+ years on a daily basis is? Can one take an antibiotic

forever without causing problems? We read so much about the dangers of

taking antibiotics frivolously (making oneself susceptible to superbugs for

instance) I just wondered. Any studies done on this? I know we all say it

is safer than other more toxic drugs, but is it in truth totally safe or are

there concerns for long term usage?

Curious.

Mark

Re: rheumatic importance of early treatment

> From: Babs56p@...

>

> Hi - Just wanted to tell you that Dr. Trentham also is an advocate for the

> 200 mg. daily (vs. MWF) dosing schedule (Minocin). He said that is the

> optimal dosage he prefers, and he also prefers to get pts. up to that as

soon

> as they can tolerate it. I went from 50 mg. twice daily to 100 mg. twice

> daily in three weeks. That was a couple of weeks ago and I'm doing well

on

> it so far....

>

> Babs

>

> >