What dosage of azithromycin for recurred bout of cellulitis?
July 3, 2010 by admin
Filed under Infection Male Yeast
I suffer from CFS and a few weeks ago started treating a candida infection of the anus and surrounding tissue (and probably of the rectum and possibly of the intestine) several weeks ago with fluconazole. (I am self treating due to low income and no insurance. I recognized the yeast infection because I had suffered from it several years ago.)
The candida infection resolved, but a secondary cellulitis infection occurred in the same tissue before the tissue had time to heal. I treated that with a standard course of azithromycin (500 mg the first day followed by four days of 250 mg/day). There was significant improvement after only 24 hours, and the skin looked and felt good (not inflamed and not itching anymore) at the end of the treatment.
Unfortunately the cellulitis recurred only two or three days after finishing the course of azithromycin.
Having read the there is a 40% recurrence rate with antibiotic treatment of cellulitis, I had ordered three more z-paks (from India… per pak). So I have 18 more 250 mg tablets.
Obviously I need to treat the infection more aggressively. I found a study that showed a success rate for azithromycin on cellulitis of ~70% for the standard dosing, but only ~50% at a lower dose. So I figure a higher dose will be useful. But I also think the course should be longer.
I intend to stay on fluconazole till the cellulitis is cured. I’m taking Culturelle probiotic daily to keep my gut populated with "good" bacteria.
Are there any MDs, med students, pharmacists, or any other really smart people out there who can help me decide how best to take these 18 tablets? (And I can order more if I need to. They will arrive in about 12 days.)
BTW, I’m a 54 year old male. No other major health issues besides CFS.
P.S. I’m 6′ 2" and weigh 250 lb.
ckm1956:
> That’s the danger of self-treatment.
What’s the danger of self treatment? Re-infection? As I said, about 40% of those treated for cellulitis become re-infected. Re-infection would not be any less likely had a doctor prescribed the antibiotic.
The standard 5-day regimen of azithromycin is commonly prescribed by doctors for those with cellulitis who are allergic to penicillin. So it is an appropriate antibiotic. The only question is whether or not I will need parenteral treatment or not.
Thanks for the advice on local community clinics. I don’t know about where you live, but here it’s not that easy. And you save only on the visit, not the medications, which is where the big bucks go. Also, those doctors typically know nothing about CFS or its complications. I know a lot more than most doctors.
If I go see a doctor, it will be only to get an answer to the question I am asking here. Or to get a parenteral antibiotic if the longer-course azithromycin doesn’t work.
That’s the danger of self-treatment.
Azithro is a poor choice for skin infections.I’d only go to it if the patient was allergic to anything else.
Go to a local community clinic. They charge based on what you can pay. You need a pro to look at the infection and prescribe the appropriate antibiotic.
EDIT – a Z-pack is NOT commonly used for PCN allergic patients in the US. It is actually a poor substitute. It doesn’t hit Staph as well as drugs like Omnicef or Vantin which are safe in the same patients. Besides, there is increasing resistance of bugs to a z-pack because it is over prescribed.
I agree with the answer above it is best for you to the doctor view the infection and prescribe antibiotics according to the severity of infection. Unfortunately, in case od recurrence of infection antibiotics treatment last up to several months (because that it is important that all of this is controlled by a medical adviser).This medicine what you mentioned above is used for milder cases who are also allergic to penicillin.
Also approve treatment at home but only if it is mild cases, not if the infection came back(recurrence is possible up to 50% in some types of cellulitis).
A cure cellulitis treatment with antibiotics is the only way to fight this potentially serious infection. Mild to moderate infection can be treat with the antibiotics taken every 4 to 8 hours orally:
1) penicillins (such are Wycillin, Bicillin, Pen Vee, V-Cillin)
2) Erythromycin (such are E-Mycin, ery-Tab)
3) cephalexin (Keflex are such, Biocef).
4) cloxacillin (such as Tegopen)
These drugs are most commonly used and prescribed by doctors because they are most efficient. Despite all my advice is that, to visit a doctor and you go immediately to the proper treatment (because as I said in repeated cases, treatment lasts much longer).