Hi Everybody,

I've had my jpouch for about 5 year now and this year, I had a really bad episode of pouchitis. My doctor proscribed to me a ****tail of metronidazole and levaquin 500 for a month with Flora Q, which alleviated most of my symptoms associated with pouchitis expect the bleeding. It's been a month since my acute episode and now the bleeding is increasing in volume(still bright red) but no other symptoms are present. My doctor's prescribed me another ****tail of drugs metronidazole and ciproflaxin 1000mg per day but for 60 days!!! I'm worried this is WAYY too much and I'm afraid to even take so much of an antibiotic unless it's absolutely necessary. What should I do?

Cuffitis is almost always associated with bleeding, not pouchitis, and it is possible that you had both pouchitis and cuffitis. The treatment for cuffitis is mesalamine or hydrocortisone suppositories, not antibiotics.

Jan

I think Jan is probably right. I never had any bleeding with the pouchitis. As far as your concern about antibiotic dosage, I have taken doses of 1000 mg cipro and 500 mg flagyl daily for the better part of the last 10 years, with no side effects except increased sensitivity to sunlight, and also that the drugs become ineffective over time and I have to be rotated onto something else, which right now is Augmentin.

I wonder are you supposed to feel nausious after 1000mg of cipro and flagyl? This morning i was very nausious and was still bleeding...I'm not going to get a chance to get the doctor for some time, I'm worried that maybe I have cuffitis and antibiotics aren't really helping at all...although the bleeding fluctuates. Maybe I should just have 500mg of the cipro if I feel my body can handle that?

I'd pick up the phone and call. The doc needs to know that the increased dose is not doing what you want and is making you sick, rather than adjusting the dose yourself. Otherwise, he thinks everything is fine. Ask about the possibility of cuffitis and perhaps getting mesalamine or hydrocortisone suppositories. He should be able to send in an order for you. All assessments do not need to be done in person.

Jan

Whirlpool,

I have been on that dosage of Cipro and Flagyl and never felt sick, but I always take it with a bit of food. Are you taking these medications on an empty stomach? Make sure you read the directions carefully.

I agree with the post of Jan Dollar above, you should be talking to your specialist about any reactions you feel you have to the meds.