Tell me about anti-fungals ?

[pixiesmommy]

I'm curious about anti-fungals and why some of you are using them. Interestingly enough, long before I had heard of PANDAS, I was thinking of begging our ped for anti-fungals for Pixie because I had read that they may be helpful in children who had sudden-onset behavioral issues. Also, I'm not sure if it's relevant (because while *I* think it is, no doctor we've spoke with does!) but we both lived in very moldy/mildewy conditions for the first few years of her life. I worry and wonder constantly what impact that had on things.

 

Thoughts?

 

Why do you/don't you use anti-fungals?

Who prescribes them for you and for what reason did they originally prescribe them?

Are there any over-the counter?

What are the risks?

Did you have to ask/Were they recommended?

Do you feel they have helped and why?

Which one(s) do you use and how much?

 

Feel free to answer any questions I HAVEN'T asked too.

[peglem]

Why do you/don't you use anti-fungals?

To keep her from getting yeasty from antibiotic use.

 

Who prescribes them for you and for what reason did they originally prescribe them?

 

Her pediatrician prescribes for the above reason.

 

Are there any over-the counter?

We have bought Kirkman's Yeast Free in the past when we didn't have prescription antifungals. Can't say how well it worked because we didn't give it consistently enough or as many times a day as recommended. But I generally like Kirkman's products. We also get the S. Boulardii from Kirkman's- a gut friendly yeast that is supposed to help not only against candida yeast, but also against clostridia gut bacteria. I see behavior improvements (mostly mood) when she's on that so keep getting more when we run out.

 

What are the risks?

I think they are pretty safe. But you always have the potential of upsetting the microbial flora balance in your intestines.

 

Did you have to ask/Were they recommended?

My daughter's pediatrician always recommends yogurt or probiotics when he prescribes antibiotics. But when the strep came back after her tonsillectomy, along with a pretty nasty vag. yeast infection, he started her on both abx and diflucan (a high dose) right away and kept her on a maintenance dose after that. We switched from a weekly dose of diflucan to multiple daily doses of nystatin when I observed behavior increases on the diflucan dosing day.

 

Do you feel they have helped and why?

Yes, obviously her vag. yeast infection cleared up. We used to have a bit of confusion over what was streppy behavior and what was yeasty behavior. Helps to get that sorted out.

[NancyD]

Anti-fungals for yeast overgrowth. Yeast can grow anywhere in the body, particularly in the gut. There are mild anti-fungals like nystatin and higher potent ant-fungals like diflican. Nystatin can be helpful for some people with very few side effects, but it was rather ineffective for my daughter. She required the more potent anti-fungal, diflucan, but she could only take it for short periods of time as it elevated her liver function. You must check the liver when on the more potent anti-fungals. Our pediatrician, pedi gastro, and DAN doctor all prescribed them.

 

I'm curious about anti-fungals and why some of you are using them. Interestingly enough, long before I had heard of PANDAS, I was thinking of begging our ped for anti-fungals for Pixie because I had read that they may be helpful in children who had sudden-onset behavioral issues. Also, I'm not sure if it's relevant (because while *I* think it is, no doctor we've spoke with does!) but we both lived in very moldy/mildewy conditions for the first few years of her life. I worry and wonder constantly what impact that had on things.

 

Thoughts?

 

Why do you/don't you use anti-fungals?

Who prescribes them for you and for what reason did they originally prescribe them?

Are there any over-the counter?

What are the risks?

Did you have to ask/Were they recommended?

Do you feel they have helped and why?

Which one(s) do you use and how much?

 

Feel free to answer any questions I HAVEN'T asked too.

[Suzan]

We've used them too for yeast/Candida. Our Dan! doc prescribed them. We've used a few, fluconazole (sp?) is the most recent one that my dd is on. We only use them if we think the yeast has gotten so bad that it needs a boost before relying on Threelac and other probiotics. They have helped us a lot but I do think it's not good to stay on them for long periods of time. After dd's recent hospital stay and the massive antibiotics she was on, along with her zith, I think she needed it. I'll do a few weeks and then beef up her probiotics.

 

susan