kcdc3 Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 My doc has agreed to an antibiotic course with my dd. He has offered to put her on any antibiotic that I want to try. We tried Amox several months ago and had a noticeable change in her within 5 days, however, her siblings came down with strep the rest of the 30 days and she went down, also -although did not pick up the strep (she had already had it). My doc at the time would not renew the Amox prescription. Now, we have a different doc who is willing to give whatever we want. Here are my questions.... 1. Is Azith different from a Z pack?? (dd took a prophylactic Z pack when last exposed to strep and we didn't see any changes) 2. Does it matter where you live as to which antibiotics seem to work best? (I've read that somewhere and I live in NC) 3. I've read that Amox does not completely eradicate the strep - any comments on this? (my dd's AntiDNase is still elevated 4 months after strep infection, even with the 30 days of Amox). I guess I'm just confused as to what I want to try because of all the conflicting information out there. Please help!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcmom Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 Hi, I live in Washington DC. My 36lb dd is on 200mg zithromax per day. When she was first diagnosed, she did 20 days of Cephalosporin, and then 20 days of Amoxicillin. This may have stopped her downward spiral, but that is it. New doc switched her to daily zithromax, and after 20 days she had improved about 85%. If you have already done 30 days of amoxicillin, I would consider a trial of zithromax, daily, for at least 30 days.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_Mom Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 Hi...hope I can help. No, there is no difference between a Z-pack and Azith...that is what a Z-pack is. Location can play a role in the effectiveness of Zith...we are in the North East and there have been strains of strep identified up here that are resistant to Zith....Swedo even recommends against using Zith as a prophylaxis if you live in this region. (It failed to eradicate the strep that started this all for us....Chephalexin did the trick ...after Penicillin initially failed, also.) I am sure over time this resistant strain will spread. However, it has done wonders for many......but not all, like us. It is really a try and see......unfortunately there are no straight forward answers for any of us. Amox. can eradicate strep if given in a large enough dose for the right amount of time...my son had a dramatic, first day response (almost 100% cessation of sudden onset multiple motor tics, adhd behavior) on Amox. Like I said....it really depends on sooooo many factors. Personally, if I were dealing with a strep situatuon...I will ask for Augmentin, but, probably Chephalexin because it took care of the nasty strain we had that the others wouldn't. I have read good reports on it. My boys are both only on Pen VK as prophylaxis, and, although there are bumps here and there, (Mild), they are both doing very well on it. (No strep since onset 2 1/2 years ago) However, they were both (well, older son 100% and younger son 95% brought back to baseline and strep was confirmed to be eradicated before they were put on Pen Vk....I wouldn't use it in an active strep infection ) My younger son actually seems to be SLOWLY improving over time, and, I wonder if he will return to 100% also on just the prophylaxis and keeping strep at bay?!) I am starting to question the need for IVIG in him..... Long story short....go with Cehphalexin (Keflex). Just my vote! Kelly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megs_Mom Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 We are NC as well (Charlotte area - lots of us around here!) - so far, we have done very well with Z-pac. I would not hesitate to use Augmentin if needed, but since she has a co-morbid ulcer condition, we have been very comfortable with the way that Z-pac doesn't seem to be adding to the problem. We have not found a probiotic that she'll take yet (can't take pills yet and is very sensitive to tastes). PMom - we head to the NE each year for the holidays, so I will keep that in mind if she catches anything up there, God forbid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_Mom Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 Meg's Mom, Regarding the probiotic...I had the same problem with my boys....couldn't find one they would take. I eventually found one by Pharmax....search Kirkman Labs....we use Pharmax MindLinx or High Potency HLC. They can come in powder form, have a great, slight apricot flavor, and dissolve COMPLETELY in a drink.....(non -carbonated) I dissolve mine in Vitamin water, tea, or juice....my kids have No clue!! It is a bit pricey...but a great, effective probiotic. If you don't want the apricot flavor (it is only in the powder form), get the capsules, open them, and then stir. It vanishes and has NO taste what-so-ever!! kelly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megs_Mom Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 Meg's Mom, Regarding the probiotic...I had the same problem with my boys....couldn't find one they would take. I eventually found one by Pharmax....search Kirkman Labs....we use Pharmax MindLinx or High Potency HLC. They can come in powder form, have a great, slight apricot flavor, and dissolve COMPLETELY in a drink.....(non -carbonated) I dissolve mine in Vitamin water, tea, or juice....my kids have No clue!! It is a bit pricey...but a great, effective probiotic. If you don't want the apricot flavor (it is only in the powder form), get the capsules, open them, and then stir. It vanishes and has NO taste what-so-ever!! kelly I am googling NOW!!! Thanks for both tips today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcmom Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 megs mom- did you ever (I am sure you have...) try opening a capsule of probiotic and putting it in something yummy. Julia likes it in a bite of brownie or a strawberry. I do, however, find she has a limit to how many things I can give her a day (one with each meal is about it...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_Mom Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 Sorry, from above post...I get the Pharmax probiotics from Rockwell nutrition...not Kirkman. Sorry! http://www.rockwellnutrition.com/HLC-Probiotics_c_53.html Wow, they are having a sale.....time to take advantage! They are the best in my opinion! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faith Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 kelly, how long did you try each abx until you felt it was or wasn't working. specifics please... dcmom, when you say after 20 days on the zith, do you mean she's only been on it 20 days, or you saw improvement of 85% 'after' being on it for 29 days? and that has continued? (and the ceph and amoxy didn't show the improvement that you saw with azith?) thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuelforall Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 No, there is no difference between a Z-pack and Azith...that is what a Z-pack is. Location can play a role in the effectiveness of Zith...we are in the North East and there have been strains of strep identified up here that are resistant to Zith....Swedo even recommends against using Zith as a prophylaxis if you live in this region. (It failed to eradicate the strep that started this all for us....Chephalexin did the trick ...after Penicillin initially failed, also.) I am sure over time this resistant strain will spread. However, it has done wonders for many......but not all, like us. It is really a try and see......unfortunately there are no straight forward answers for any of us. Thanks, Kelly, this was an eye opener. Now I'll know if my son's Zith boost doesn't work, it's time to move on to Keflex trial for two weeks. Also, good question from Faith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matis_mom Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 My doc has agreed to an antibiotic course with my dd. He has offered to put her on any antibiotic that I want to try. We tried Amox several months ago and had a noticeable change in her within 5 days, however, her siblings came down with strep the rest of the 30 days and she went down, also -although did not pick up the strep (she had already had it). My doc at the time would not renew the Amox prescription.Now, we have a different doc who is willing to give whatever we want. Here are my questions.... 1. Is Azith different from a Z pack?? (dd took a prophylactic Z pack when last exposed to strep and we didn't see any changes) 2. Does it matter where you live as to which antibiotics seem to work best? (I've read that somewhere and I live in NC) 3. I've read that Amox does not completely eradicate the strep - any comments on this? (my dd's AntiDNase is still elevated 4 months after strep infection, even with the 30 days of Amox). I guess I'm just confused as to what I want to try because of all the conflicting information out there. Please help!! I can vouch that Amoxicilin does not always work, as my daughter tested + two weeks after being treated with it. The Minute Clinic gave her Pen VK after we declined another course of Amox, but then the pediatrician said we'd better switch to Omnicef, and bring everyone back in a couple of weeks to test again. So I would definitely ask for either Augmentin or Keflex or anything other than Amox., and in any case try to get the whole household treated at the same time and go back a couple of weeks after you all finish the abxs to make sure everyone is clear. Also remember to change toothbrushes/toothpaste 24hrs after starting the antibiotics, and do your best do disinfect the house. Isabel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_Mom Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 Faith...we have done Zith, Amox., Keflex, Augmentin, and Penicillin. Honestly, at this point, I have come to the thought that I do not think any of these antibiotics will have an effect on my children EXCEPT to prevent strep...that is why we are on Pen Vk and sticking with it unless they get strep on it. The strep has been fully eradicated from my kids....so, there is no intracellular strep or anything that I believe a different or higher dose antibiotic would do anything about. (we did do high dose Augmentin for a month after an increase of symptoms with a URI... absolutely no difference......maybe I didn't do it long enough.....so, I put them back on Pen Vk and within a week they were back to baseline...I don't think it was the Pen...just time) They are both essentially back to baseline (younger son about 95% plus at this point)...and I think for him a course of steroids would bring him back to 100% like before...however, I am waiting until all the flu stuff is over before doing it. If the steroids don't do it (which I believe it will) then we will do IVIG. They are just both doing well right now....I am not messing with anything until after Christmas! All they take is the Pen Vk, probiotic, mulit, and Cod liver oil (winter, fish oil in summer). They get minor bumps with illness that are viral and it seems we just need to ride it out...if the viral issue caused a big enough of a problem...I would do a course of steroids and up their anitbiotic dose "just in case." Sometimes, upping their antibiotic helps, sometimes it doesn't...maybe that has to do with exposure to strep vs. something viral. Faith...how is your son doing on the Zith???? Sometimes...just sometimes......a certain dose of antibiotic can eradicate the strep...and because the healing process of PANDAS is sooooo slow.....parents can think that the particular antibiotic they were on was not working because their child has not returned to baseline..and then they switch to another...and then after being on that one for a bit...it seems to work, but, in actuality (sometimes) it was really only time that healed thier child...not the particular antibiotic. I only say this is cases where the strep is eradicated....in cases where it is not...yes, a different, stronger antibiotic is needed...and then once the infection is eradicated...your child will SLOWLY improve, with slips and slides on the way....sometimes it is hard to be patient and we want ot keep switching things around and changing diets and supps.....when all they need is time. AGAIN, (so no one flips out ) I KNOW this is NOT the case for everyone....some kids NEED high dose or different antibiotics (Zith, Aug, whatever) to get better. I would do what I needed to do , just like the rest of you! I am just putting this out there for some to consider. Kelly Kelly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuelforall Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 My gut sez my son has strep.... in his gut. Is any one antibiotic more effective at eradicating strep in the gut than another? Probably a stupid question, but thought I'd ask it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuelforall Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 You mentioned Swedo, is there a talk she gave or study she did mentioning Zith and ineffectiveness? Would be good to know, if there is. Or did she just tell you this herself. Thanks, Kelly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_Mom Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 Fuelforall... Here is the link discussing it.....the mention of Azith not be recommended as prophylaxis due to resistance (mentioned as a macrolide) is in the last paragraph of the entire article. Hope this helps. Kelly http://intramural.nimh.nih.gov/pdn/pubs/pub-9.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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