anti-biotic help please

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Carl - 16 Oct 2004 17:33 GMT

hello, i have RA for 2 years now. take mtx 2.5 x 8 pills weekly. also
remicade 600 mg. every 8 weeks. and various supplements that attend
such...

just yesterday i got hit hard and fast with the flu. my doc rx
ciprofloxacin, a strong anti-biotic.

as it is the weekend i cannot contact my rheumatologist. and today
(saturday) is the day i take my mtx. i have been searching like crazy
for info on interactions between mtx and antibiotics. found some but
don't really understand the info.

can someone please tell me, in laymens terms, if it is safe to take my
mtx today. or should i hold off til monday and disscuss it wih my r-doc?

i would greatly appreciate any thoughts you may have......carl s.

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Karen Palmer - 16 Oct 2004 18:00 GMT

Hi,
if you are running any type of temperature do not take MTX. I would skip
the MTX until I was off the anti-biotic but suggest that you confirm your
personal situation with your doctor.

Flu is a virus... why were you prescribed a anti-biotic especially such a
strong one. It won't help at all and helps promote anti-biotic resistance.
Karen

> hello, i have RA for 2 years now. take mtx 2.5 x 8 pills weekly. also
> remicade 600 mg. every 8 weeks. and various supplements that attend
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> i would greatly appreciate any thoughts you may have......carl s.

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spodosaurus - 16 Oct 2004 18:11 GMT

> Hi,
> if you are running any type of temperature do not take MTX. I would skip
> the MTX until I was off the anti-biotic but suggest that you confirm your
> personal situation with your doctor.

My thoughts, too. If it really is "The Flu" you need your immune system
to react. The flu virus can be lethal, especially to those of us on
immunosuppressants like the DMARD drugs.

> Flu is a virus... why were you prescribed a anti-biotic especially such a
> strong one.

I was wondering that as well. Did the doctor explain why? The only
reason I can think of is to prevent secondary infections like pneumonia
after the flu, but aren't there less "atomic bomb" antibiotics that
would be used for that? Unless the doctor isn't sure that the infection
is viral and doesn't want to chance septicaemia...?

> It won't help at all and helps promote anti-biotic resistance.
> Karen

>>hello, i have RA for 2 years now. take mtx 2.5 x 8 pills weekly. also
>>remicade 600 mg. every 8 weeks. and various supplements that attend
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>>
>>i would greatly appreciate any thoughts you may have......carl s.

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JXStern - 16 Oct 2004 19:43 GMT

>I was wondering that as well. Did the doctor explain why? The only
>reason I can think of is to prevent secondary infections like pneumonia
>after the flu, but aren't there less "atomic bomb" antibiotics that
>would be used for that? Unless the doctor isn't sure that the infection
>is viral and doesn't want to chance septicaemia...?

Speculating, maybe because the patient is already immune-comprimised
because of the mtx and the flu might further hinder immune process,
the doctor is prescribing antibiotics as a preventative?

Wouldn't think we're down to using cipro like that, but I'd ask the
doctor.

J.

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Jo Firey - 16 Oct 2004 19:37 GMT

I always skip my MTX dose if I've just come down with something or am trying
to get over an infection or virus.

You should have asked the doc that prescribed the antibiotic, but we don't
always remember. And he should already know you are taking MTX for sure, so
he/she should have addressed it.

Its your call but I would at least hold off on the MTX dose until to can
talk to your RD.

Jo

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