learning about using azithro/pains/reaction

[momoffive]

Hi. My ped wants my son to take 500 mg 1x per week prophylacticly. I know that is likely off, but he says that's the "new recommendation for PANDAS." Anyway, I am doing it for now as it is all I have, but 1. 500 mg really upset my son's stomach [he is about 45 pounds] and 2. that pink color caused big reactions. Any ideas of how I can ease the pain and reactions? Or is it just part of life?

 

Thanks!!

[zazuk2010]

hi, not sure about the dose. my son is about 50 lbs. He is on 240mg of zith a day. Using the pink liquid also. He drinks the probiotic Bio-K in the AM (half a bottle, it does not taste good, but he gets it down and he is somewhat used to it now) then at night we mix FlorStor (not sure of spelling right now) in the capsule. We break the capsule open and mix it with peanut butter and he has no problem taking it. Then we give the zith before bedtime. So far he has been on the zith for several months without any bad reactions. My other son is on daily Augmentum and we do the same routine and we have not had problems there either.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Best, Kari

[dcmom]

Dosage- my girls are on 200mg/day (40lbs) and 250 mg/day (60lbs)

 

They have had no reaction to the red dye- but I think you can ask the pharmacy to make it without

 

We have not had stomach problems due to zith (do give probiotics in the form of culturelle and florastor: regularly, not religiously)

 

Pandas itself caused stomach aches and problems for one of my kids, though

[peglem]

I would think you'd do better giving 250mg 2x a week if your doc is really locked in to that 500 mg/week. The 1/2 life of zith is around 60 hours (68 sticks in my mind, but would have to check to be sure). But here's the thing w/ zith- its taken up by the tissues, so you need a loading dose to saturate the tissues and then its a matter of maintaining saturation. My 115 lb daughter, after taking 500mg for 3 days, maintains on 500mg every other day. I like that, because I can work on the yeast issues in between zith doses.

 

Giving zith just once/week will give you several days each week w/ no coverage. When we saw Dr.L last January, I asked about zith dosage, particularly since it was clearly THE abx that works for my daughter and because her pediatrician had concerns about too much zith causing liver problems. Dr. L said 500mg/day would be safe and is what is administered all the time to pediatric AIDS patients.

 

My daughter takes tablets, though, so I can't speak to the dye issue. Also, we do not have stomach upset w/ it- never have. Aug. and omnicef both cause major tummy problems for her though.

[momoffive]

I would think you'd do better giving 250mg 2x a week if your doc is really locked in to that 500 mg/week. The 1/2 life of zith is around 60 hours (68 sticks in my mind, but would have to check to be sure). But here's the thing w/ zith- its taken up by the tissues, so you need a loading dose to saturate the tissues and then its a matter of maintaining saturation. My 115 lb daughter, after taking 500mg for 3 days, maintains on 500mg every other day. I like that, because I can work on the yeast issues in between zith doses.

 

Giving zith just once/week will give you several days each week w/ no coverage. When we saw Dr.L last January, I asked about zith dosage, particularly since it was clearly THE abx that works for my daughter and because her pediatrician had concerns about too much zith causing liver problems. Dr. L said 500mg/day would be safe and is what is administered all the time to pediatric AIDS patients.

 

My daughter takes tablets, though, so I can't speak to the dye issue. Also, we do not have stomach upset w/ it- never have. Aug. and omnicef both cause major tummy problems for her though.

 

I think I leaned a lesson. they come in 250 mg, so I will give them 2 x per week - spread a part. I wish I did not listen to him. ugh.......

[peglem]

I would think you'd do better giving 250mg 2x a week if your doc is really locked in to that 500 mg/week. The 1/2 life of zith is around 60 hours (68 sticks in my mind, but would have to check to be sure). But here's the thing w/ zith- its taken up by the tissues, so you need a loading dose to saturate the tissues and then its a matter of maintaining saturation. My 115 lb daughter, after taking 500mg for 3 days, maintains on 500mg every other day. I like that, because I can work on the yeast issues in between zith doses.

 

Giving zith just once/week will give you several days each week w/ no coverage. When we saw Dr.L last January, I asked about zith dosage, particularly since it was clearly THE abx that works for my daughter and because her pediatrician had concerns about too much zith causing liver problems. Dr. L said 500mg/day would be safe and is what is administered all the time to pediatric AIDS patients.

 

My daughter takes tablets, though, so I can't speak to the dye issue. Also, we do not have stomach upset w/ it- never have. Aug. and omnicef both cause major tummy problems for her though.

 

I think I leaned a lesson. they come in 250 mg, so I will give them 2 x per week - spread a part. I wish I did not listen to him. ugh.......

 

So, your tablets have red dye? I've never seen that w/ zith tablets.

[EAMom]

Sometimes our Azith. 250mg tablets are white, sometimes they are reddish brown. I guess it just depends on the manufacturer. Maybe you can request the white ones?

 

BTW, we have been on 250mg/day for over 2 years, dd is 10 now/64 pounds, started when she was 42 pounds. Our immunologist told us this dose would be safe for YEARS.

Edited August 11, 2010 by EAMom

[momoffive]

I would think you'd do better giving 250mg 2x a week if your doc is really locked in to that 500 mg/week. The 1/2 life of zith is around 60 hours (68 sticks in my mind, but would have to check to be sure). But here's the thing w/ zith- its taken up by the tissues, so you need a loading dose to saturate the tissues and then its a matter of maintaining saturation. My 115 lb daughter, after taking 500mg for 3 days, maintains on 500mg every other day. I like that, because I can work on the yeast issues in between zith doses.

 

Giving zith just once/week will give you several days each week w/ no coverage. When we saw Dr.L last January, I asked about zith dosage, particularly since it was clearly THE abx that works for my daughter and because her pediatrician had concerns about too much zith causing liver problems. Dr. L said 500mg/day would be safe and is what is administered all the time to pediatric AIDS patients.

 

My daughter takes tablets, though, so I can't speak to the dye issue. Also, we do not have stomach upset w/ it- never have. Aug. and omnicef both cause major tummy problems for her though.

 

I think I leaned a lesson. they come in 250 mg, so I will give them 2 x per week - spread a part. I wish I did not listen to him. ugh.......

 

So, your tablets have red dye? I've never seen that w/ zith tablets.

 

they are pink and the pharmacist said they use red dye [not even food grade - real garbage]. that is all our cvs has, so maybe I should call around. I need the white.