Replace Levaquin with Cipro? Or stop altogether?

[Gloria]

I've been slowly getting better and Norman has been a pretty regular visitor, though in a square or flattened shape. I've also been slowly tapering Entocort to two pills for two days, then 3 pills for one day.

I've been ill for the past four days and went to see my PCP because I was concerned that I was getting pneumonia. He said I had wheezing, but not pneumonia. He told me to use my inhaler (I never use it) and prescribed Levaquin. I tried to talk him into Cipro, but he said Cipro was more localized to the gut and lower part of the body; Levaquin wasn't as localized.

I've taken a 500 mg pill for the past two days and Norman has disappeared. The last time I took Levaquin (in combination with Flagyl) for diverticulitis, I had D for 5 weeks. Three months later, I had MC.

This is from Drugs.com:

Pseudomembranous colitis has been reported with most antibacterial agents and may range in severity from mild to life-threatening, with an onset of up to several weeks following cessation of therapy. Antibiotic therapy can alter the normal flora of the colon and permit overgrowth of Clostridium difficile, whose toxin is believed to be a primary cause of antibiotic-associated colitis. The colitis is usually characterized by severe, persistent diarrhea and severe abdominal cramps, and may be associated with the passage of blood and mucus. The most common culprits are clindamycin, lincomycin, the aminopenicillins (amoxicillin, ampicillin), and the cephalosporins. Therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics and other agents with significant antibacterial activity should be administered cautiously in patients with a history of gastrointestinal diseases, particularly colitis. There is some evidence that pseudomembranous colitis, if it occurs, may run a more severe course in these patients and that it may be associated with flares in their underlying disease activity. The offending antibiotic(s) should be discontinued if significant diarrhea occurs during therapy. Stool cultures for Clostridium difficile and stool assay for C. difficile toxin may be helpful diagnostically. A large bowel endoscopy may be considered to establish a definitive diagnosis in cases of severe diarrhea.

I'm still running a fever and coughing, but I'm feeling a little better. DH is at a clinic right now because he's got different, but also similar symptoms. I know we're not supposed to stop taking an antibiotic, but I've wondered many times if I should have stopped taking Levaquin/Flagyl four years ago when they gave me D.

I don't think I have any bacteria to spare. It's taken a long time to get to this point and I don't want to reverse my progress. I have some Cipro on hand. It's in the same family as Levaquin. I wonder if I should switch midcourse, or just stop taking an antibiotic altogether. I don't know if I have a virus or a bacterial infection.

My DD and granddaughters are still visiting. DD says she and her family had similar symptoms over a month ago. I don't think the stress of having company is affecting my MC. Stress doesn't seem to affect me in that way.

What do you think? Stay the course, discontine all antibiotics, or switch to Cipro?

Gloria

[Ginny]

Gloria, I am so sorry to hear about you being ill. I know how hard and long you have been at trying to get well. Here is my only thought (and mind you this is just a thought)......if YOU BELIEVE you will be better using another prescription or stopping; you probably will. Our mind is a powerful healer and reading your post, I feel a lot of negativity towards Levaquin. Whatever you do, I hope you feel better soon and most importantly go back to normal as normal can be! Ginny

[Polly]

Gloria,

I have taken both and had no problems. In fact, both even seemed to improve MC symptoms, like firming up the BM. Somehow I think that, in my case, these drugs actually kill some of my bad gut bacteria. Of course, we are all different, and you most likely have entirely different bacterial colonization. The major adverse reaction is ruptured tendon.

Although they are in the same drug family, Levaquin is newer and also has more specific activity against the respiratory bugs than does the Cipro, I believe. In my case, my MC developed after taking doxycycline.

I don't think there is any major danger in stopping, if you want a trial off Levaquin to see if it's viral. My preference would be to stop all together rather than going back to Cipro. Let us know what you decide. And FEEL BETTER!!!

Love,

Polly

[tex]

Gloria,

That's a tough situation, especially if you don't know whether you're dealing with a virus, or a bacterium. Of course, if it's a virus, then neither one of the antibiotics is going to do any good. I have to agree with your doctor, though, that ciprofloxacin is a poor choice for dealing with respiratory system infections. It probably wouldn't provide much benefit, if any, so if you should decide to stop taking the Levaquin, I agree with Polly, that there wouldn't be much point in taking Cipro, in place of it.

Theoretically, Levaquin shouldn't be significantly more likely to cause D, than Cipro. In fact, some even recommend it as a treatment for stopping D caused by colitis. (Of course, theory doesn't always make the grade, in the real world).

I don't know what I would do in that situation - it's a tough call.

Tex

[grannyh]

I can only speak for myself.. levaquin is the one I choose when a doctor gives me a choice.. since it doesn't cause me any problems. Sometimes we get whatever "bugs" that are going around.. and they have symptoms that mirror our colitis.. so sometimes we are just plain sick and it isn't really a relapse... This doesn't help you much.. just that I have mistaken.. "just being sick" to a relapse..:)
grannyh

[JLH]

I took an expensive probiotic when a darn dentist gave me clindamycin intervenously while I was under (and out) by an anesthetic. I had told him not to give me that because of C. Diff.

I think Dee was the one to tell about Florastor or something like that.

[Gloria]

Thank you for your comments. Since I think that my gut bacteria is already compromised, I've decided not to continue with Levaquin. I'm still not feeling great, but I am feeling better. DH didn't get an antibiotic for his cough, temp, so it's probably a virus going around.

Gloria

[mbeezie]

Gloria,

Sorry to hear you have been sick - hope it clears soon. Glad to hear you have been able to cut back a bit on the entocort. Keep us posted on your progress.

Mary Beth