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Azithromycin?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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princesa
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Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 2204
Posted 12/16/2010 12:47 PM (GMT -8)
I was given a prescription for azithromycin following a root canal. Is this antibiotic considered "safe" for UCers?
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33484
Posted 12/16/2010 12:49 PM (GMT -8)
It's primo for me...no problems.  How many days are you prescribed?

I do take probiotics (and double them when taking antibiotics), however...at night before bedtime.

The zithromax is taken once a day...so that's a good thing too.

q
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princesa
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Joined : Aug 2007
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Posted 12/16/2010 12:56 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks, Heather. I thought I remembered it being one that was considered fairly safe for us. Will definitely double up on the probiotics for a while.

Not sure. The prescrip says "1 dose pack," but the tech at my dentist's office said something about taking all of the pills.
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quincy
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Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33484
Posted 12/16/2010 1:00 PM (GMT -8)
oh....must look that up then.

REmember that there are some who cannot take zithromax at all....all you can do is try.

q

I see it's a packet to mix with water?

q

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fruitgirl
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Posts : 7164
Posted 12/16/2010 1:14 PM (GMT -8)
Zithromax/azithromycin gives me instantaneous liqui-poopie, just like erythromyicn does. It, however, has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I have UC and it happens FAR too quickly for it to have anything to do with killing off gut flora. It's something else, and my sister (who is a doc) explained why it and e-mycin bother some people, but I can't remember what it is. Anyway, when I took it, my stomach started feeling all gurgly and liquidy, and then I had several bouts of liqui-poopie. I quit taking it and got another antibiotic, because I didn't know if having diarrhea like that would stir up the UC.

And I'm pretty sure they call it a "dose pack" because it comes in a little cardboard pack, with the pills for each day in individual blister pouch thingies. 

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quincy
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Posts : 33484
Posted 12/16/2010 1:19 PM (GMT -8)
But she has a single dose pack...just was wondering and of course clarity for taking the med is important.

Yes, I remember your liquid poopies...

I can't take erythromycin as readily as zithromax...interesting.

q
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fruitgirl
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Posts : 7164
Posted 12/16/2010 1:25 PM (GMT -8)
Yeah, you get a/one dose pack.. Not a meaning there's a single dose in the pack.

A-mycin is formulated differently so that many people who have that reaction with e-mycin can take a-mycin. I'm one of the "lucky" few that are also intolerant to a-mycin.
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quincy
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Posted 12/16/2010 2:06 PM (GMT -8)
ah. Princesa...please call the dentist's office!!! ;-)
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princesa
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Posted 12/16/2010 3:12 PM (GMT -8)
Broke down and called my GI. He gave the thumbs up. Am planning to have my husband fill the prescrip when he gets home. I'm sure it means one pack of several pills. Seems like I've had a "Z pack" before with no bad effects. **fingers crossed**

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fruitgirl
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Posted 12/16/2010 3:30 PM (GMT -8)
I hope you do well on it. I really seem to be the oddball when it comes to a-mycin. I wish I didn't have the reaction to it that I do, since it seems so UC-friendly.
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quincy
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Posted 12/16/2010 4:31 PM (GMT -8)
Good you called. Double your probiotics, and I hope you have no problems.

q
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princesa
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Posted 12/17/2010 6:48 AM (GMT -8)
It turned out to be a one-pill-a-day, three dose pack. Took the first pill last night with dinner. Haven't noticed any obvious side effects.
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Lonie
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Posted 12/17/2010 7:00 AM (GMT -8)
That's usually what I ask for too because I don't have any issues with it and it's quick and dirty; as Quincy said, I also up the probiotics.
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MyUC
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Joined : Mar 2010
Posts : 640
Posted 12/17/2010 7:19 AM (GMT -8)

princesa:

Zithromycin or a Z-pack is a common antibiotic used by us dentists.  You really shouldn't have a problem with it.  I was wondering why your dentist just didn't prescribe amoxicillin or penicillin?  Are you allergic to them?  Anyways it just a 4-5 day course, not too long.  I agree with previous posts, double up on the probiotics.  If you have any specific questions please feel free to post them.

MyUC

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subdued
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Posted 12/17/2010 1:30 PM (GMT -8)
I never took antibiotics for root canals. Are your gums infected?
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Lonie
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Posted 12/17/2010 1:38 PM (GMT -8)
Some people require the use of antibiotics before a dental procedure due to health issues. I'm sure MyUC can better explain it since he's our resident dentist! ;-)

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MyUC
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Joined : Mar 2010
Posts : 640
Posted 12/17/2010 3:38 PM (GMT -8)

Some dentists will prescribe antibiotics before or prior to a root canal to decrease the amount of infection that is there.  Don't forget that a root canal is done to treat an infected tooth.  There is often pus and abscess formation associated with these kinds of situation.  The antibiotics will lessen the pain because it decreases the pressure of the infection which is the cause of the pain in the first place.  Second the effect of the local anesthetics is diminished when there is an active infection.  Hence you will hear of stories of people who were given numerous "shots" of novacaine and it still hurt.  Third, once the root canal is completed often dentists will prescribe antibiotics to get rid of any lingering infection.

Hope that helps.

MyUC

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Old Hat
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Posts : 5815
Posted 12/23/2010 5:33 PM (GMT -8)
Princesa-- how are you doing? Did you have to get a crown atop the root canal tooth? / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
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princesa
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Posts : 2204
Posted 12/28/2010 11:08 AM (GMT -8)
Hi everyone,

Sorry my update took so long... holiday hubbub!

A little background: I had great teeth until I was put on high doses of pred for a long period of time when I was first diagnosed with UC. This caused osteopenia and I also believe it caused my teeth to become less strong and less resistant to decay. I've bounced this idea off my dentist and he said he'd never given it any thought, but it made sense that a drug that has ill effects on bone mass would also affect the teeth.

Maybe a year ago or so, I noticed a rough place with my tongue on a lower molar. I went to the dentist and he said the tooth had cracked clean through along the back. He wanted to know how it happened and said it should have been a noticeable pop. I had no idea how it had happened. I was fitted with a crown. This was my second crown. I also have one on the upper, same side.

Recently, I started noticing more and more sensitivity of that tooth/crown to both hot and cold foods. Went back to the dentist and was informed I needed a root canal. Since I already had a crown, it was a one visit procedure that wasn't any worse than having a tooth filled. The crown was replaced. I was told some of the canals didn't even bleed, indicating they were "dead" and I understand that to mean there was a high possibility of infection, hence the antibiotics.

The tooth was sensitive to pressure for a couple of days and I tried not to chew on it, but the sensitivity to hot and cold was gone.

I did okay on the antibiotics. I didn't have any major symptoms, but I did notice some mild digestive upset. If I ate more than just a light meal or snack, I would feel a little queasy and there was definitely a lot of gut rumbling going on. I was glad to get the three doses done.

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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33484
Posted 12/28/2010 11:59 AM (GMT -8)
Great news! tooth pain is horrible. My husband, who has never been on pred has suffered some problems with his back molars. Constant grinding and clenching seems to be part of the culprit as well.

Hope you have no further problems.

q
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Old Hat
Veteran Member
Joined : Feb 2007
Posts : 5815
Posted 12/28/2010 5:35 PM (GMT -8)
So glad you got thru the Z-pack w/o major gut reaction! Good to hear that you've been able to bounce right back. I had a terrible case of wall-to-wall hives in late 1990s after endodontist Rxed Amoxycillin for me during root canal job on upper premolar. Ugh! I doubt there's any kind of antibiotic that wouldn't mess with my body, alas ... it is very scary! / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
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notsosicklygirl
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Joined : Dec 2008
Posts : 17869
Posted 12/28/2010 5:52 PM (GMT -8)
Wow, that's interesting. I am pretty sure I had a root canal on a molar that had all dead roots. It was a bad tooth that had a big filling in it for years prior. I went in to get a crown but after drilling, the dentist said the tooth was no good and sent me to an endodontist for a root canal. I didn't feel a thing. They didn't give me any antitbiotics. This was shortly before I developed UC. They did give me Darvocet but I barely needed it, as I said, I didn't feel anything. It hurt more having the temp crown pulled off and the new one put on. I have a cracked tooth now that needs a crown but I know if I go for the crown, it will end up needing a root canal. I keep putting it off. I wonder if it's worth jumping up to get the crown and risking needing a root canal if the tooth doesn't bother me? It's been cracked for years and it hasn't changed.
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MyUC
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Joined : Mar 2010
Posts : 640
Posted 12/28/2010 6:09 PM (GMT -8)
princesa:

I am glad the procedure is over and it went well.  I guess you didn't need any of the information that I posted, I was just trying to help. 

Notsosicklygirl:

Antibiotics are sometimes used to treat the infection of the infected tooth that needs a root canal.  The reason I said somestimes is because it depends on the preferance of that particular dentist.  Teeth can be directly dealt with and a manipulation of the pulpal chamber or removal of the infected nerve tissue directly deals with the problem at hand.   This is different from an infection in a close space in the body, i.e. a liver infection.  Some operators will forget the antibiotics all together and just do the root canal and some will combine them. 

In closing you bring up an important point.  I often advise placing a crown on a tooth to avoid a root canal procedure.  If a tooth is deteriorating and is not crowned often the tooth will eventually require both a root canal and a crown or need to be extracted.  If a crown is done early enough and in the right situation a root canal may be avoided.

Welcome back princesa.  If either of you have specific dental questions let me know.

MyUC  Happy New Year

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subdued
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Joined : Dec 2008
Posts : 3231
Posted 12/28/2010 6:15 PM (GMT -8)
I guess I should have been more clear. Antibiotics have been and still are over prescribed whether or not they are truly needed. Sometimes they are routinely prescribed just in case. In other words, they are prescribed purely as a preventive measure.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060828163938AAivSFM

I was not prescribed antibiotics for my root canals. I had two rotten teeth that rotted out, one during each pregnancy. I waited until after having the babies before going to the dentist, because I did not want to take any medications during the pregnancies. Both teeth were severely rotten, and both times I was not given antibiotics. Perhaps they aren't routinely prescribed if one is breastfeeding. I don't know. It was a long time ago.
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MyUC
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Joined : Mar 2010
Posts : 640
Posted 12/28/2010 6:50 PM (GMT -8)

Just to clarify my answer because I believe it to be true.  In my opinion, both as a dentist and a person, I do believe that doctors over prescribe antibiotics which does more harm than good in the short and long run.  No doubt about that from my point of view. 

If patients are in a lot of pain often antibiotics will be prescribed for teeth that need root canals.  This lessens the pain and deals with the problem quickly because the medication is treating a true infection.  If a patient doesn't have that much pain or no pain often we will not prescribe antibiotics.  It's as simple as that.  Yes there are nuances but we don't need to go over that at this point.

MyUC

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