I'm on Flagyl for pouchitis, recently a substitute surgeon (my orig is out on maternity leave) told me to take Ibuprofen to treat an ongoing rectal pain. I questioned this b/c of pouchitis but she blew it off. I started on the Ibuprofen and within a week was in miserable pain. She then told me to up my Flagyl dose from 3 pills per day to 4 pills per day. This did help and even seemed to have a positive effect on my other rectal pain. While it wasn't gone, it was reduced.

The problem is that on that higher dose of Flagyl I started having shooting pains accross my stomach. I then read on the internet that Flagyl is found to have a carcinogenic effect in the stomach of lab mice and it really got me worried. I lowered the dose back down and the pouchitis is gone but the rectal pain is back full blast. I'm thinking of upping the dose again to see if it will help but I'm afraid.

Has anyone else had this? Could it have been something else causing the stomach pains? Should I be worried about taking Flagyl in general? I'm really miserable with this pain and I have a HUGE meeting next week for work. I really need to try to feel better.

Thank you!
Erin

Erin, I had problems taking Flagyl but only long term. It doesn't seem to matter, for me anyway, what the dosage is, it matters how long I've been on it. My problems were tingling and numbness in my feet. I actually still can't feel a little in my feet from taking it too long. I would talk to the doc about the stomach pain. If you are having a reaction I don't think you should ignore it or wait too long to talk to someone...as I did

I would not worry about the carcinogenic thing. Those studies are done with super high doses, not anything close to what you are taking when you consider mg per pound. However, the primary issue with Flagyl is peripheral neuropathy, which is definitely dose dependent.

This neuropathy is usually experienced in the hands and/or feet, but I suppose it is possible to occur anywhere. But if your pain was inside your stomach, as opposed to across your abdomen, then that would be different. But it still could be due to Flagyl. This would not be a neuropathy, but more likely a gastritis type reaction to the antibiotic, again, probably dose dependent.

It also could have just been coincidence. I think it would be safe to try it again. If the same thing happens, you know for sure and need to reduce the dose.

Also, stay away from ibuprofen if it causes unwanted side effects.

Jan