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Q. Your column contained a question regarding diarrhea from the antibiotic clindamycin. You advised the writer to see a gastroenterologist.
My family suggests that, in addition, he needs to see an infectious disease doctor to get the proper antibiotics in the dosage needed to control C diff.
We buried our beloved mother on June 24. She contracted severe C diff as a result of a short round of clindamycin. The infection ravaged her body and she died as a consequence. She was 79. Prior to the infection she had been taking only a multivitamin.
A. We are so sorry for your loss. C diff (Clostridium difficile) can cause a dangerous gastrointestinal infection that can be very hard to treat. It is sometimes acquired in the course of a hospital stay.
A black-box warning in the prescribing information alerts physicians that clindamycin, like certain other antibiotics, may disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in the gut and allow C diff to take over and cause potentially fatal diarrhea. The toxins the bacteria produce can make people very sick. That is why we suggest immediate evaluation of diarrhea following clindamycin treatment.
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What about taking a probiotic an hour or so before or after ANY antibiotic ? This, at least, gives intestinal flora SOME extra chance of surviving doesn' it ?
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: AN HOUR BEFORE OR TWO HOURS AFTER, TO GIVE THE BODY TIME TO ABSORB THE ANTIBIOTIC. THIS DOES SEEM LIKE A SIMPLE STEP THAT MIGHT HELP.
After surgery my doctors prescribed CIPRO for my stomach pain as they decided I had an infection. I cannot tell you how sick I got. After only two doses,the stomach pains felt like there was a living creature in there eating me from the inside out. My hair also began falling out by the handful. We were on a trip and didn't know what to do but it was clear I could not continue this way.
So I stopped the CIPRO and drank lots of water and just rested while my husband went about his business. Over a period of a few days the pain subsided but the hair continued to fall out.
Later I was told by my pharmacist that the CIPRO had turned on my body and that she would make a file notation saying NO CIPRO. I reported the issue to my physician and his response was to put " CIPRO causes upset tummy. " This was NO upset tummy... this was unlike anything I have ever experienced.
How do you make a doctor hear your words and not dismiss severe pain with an upset tummy?
My partner, a man in his sixties, with ED began taking Cialis on a daily basis which did improve his problem. A while after, he began experiencing diarrhea of an uncontrolled nature; often he didn't make it to the bathroom in time.
Needless to say, he was overwhelmed by this problem and started on the medical journey to nowhere. His primary DR recommended a gastro who set him through a maze of tests: all the usual from colonoscopy, endo (through the mouth), blood tests for parasites and other arcane problems, a scan for ulcers, Crohn's, etc, etc.
Everything, absolutely everything proved negative. Seemingly he was a healthy man suffering a severe and chronic diarrhea that caused him to lose 30 pounds. He changed his eating habits, trying gluten free, lactose free, etc and nothing mattered. The quantity of medications he was taking to stop each of the symptoms was impressive and impossible to do: his life was changed and he was severely depressed.
Finally he looked up Cialis since it was the only new medication added that coincided with the onset of his diarrhea for side effects and noticed that it mentioned "stomach upsets" which didn't exactly describe the tsunami that his problems presented. He decided to quit taking his beloved Cialis. Lo, lo! His stomach improved; No more Questron, no more Reglan, Librax, etc.
My question is this: to whom should we notify of the possible side effects of a medicine? He is reluctant to do this thinking that it won't matter, but I think that it's the only responsible thing to do.
Marcia
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE:
Marcia, we would encourage you to submit a report to the FDA through their MedWatch program. Just use Google to find the FDA home page. Then search for MedWatch. There is a fairly simple way to submit an adverse reaction report. Other men may thank you for this effort.
I had taken Keflex (cephalosporin (sp)) after oral surgery with no problem for years. About 6 years ago, 2 days into a round of this antibiotic, I had severe lower abdominal pain and severe diarrhea and then started bleeding from my rectum. Got myself to the ER, had lost 1 pint of blood and was hospitalized for 6 days before being released.
Anytime someone develops extremely severe side effects from antibiotics (or any other medication) you need to see a doctor right away. I saved my own life and needless to say, have this drug listed in my "drug allergy" profiles at my pharmacy, Dr.s offices and dentist's office.