Flagyl indefinitely? Update on L.

By no means is it clear to me, at least from available data, that the story is similar for the fluoroquinolones. Whether neuropathy occurs only with long-term therapy or can occur with short-course therapy is unclear. Other antibiotics can cause neuropathy, and in my experience this typically happens with long-term administration. The drugs capable of causing neuropathy include linezolid, chloramphenicol (a drug that we don't use very much anymore), metronidazole, sulfonamides, colistin, and dapsone. Even the penicillins are capable of causing neuropathy.

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Peripheral neuropathy, a result of damage to your peripheral nerves, often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in your hands and feet. It can also affect other areas of your body.

Your peripheral nervous system sends information from your brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) to the rest of your body. Peripheral neuropathy can result from traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems, inherited causes and exposure to toxins. One of the most common causes is diabetes mellitus.

People with peripheral neuropathy generally describe the pain as stabbing or burning. Often, there's tingling. In many cases, symptoms improve, especially if caused by a treatable underlying condition. Medications can reduce the pain of peripheral neuropathy.

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Secondary to Drugs
Neuropathy is a common side effect of certain medications, especially those used to treat HIV/AIDS and those used in chemotherapy, to fight cancer.
In some people, these medications may cause nerve damage that results in a loss of sensation or movement in part of the body. Although uncomfortable and perhaps painful, this condition is not life threatening. Peripheral neuropathy will often go away if these drugs are changed or discontinued, or if the dose is reduced. It can take several months for peripheral neuropathy to completely heal after discontinuing these drugs, but the patient may start to feel better within a few weeks. In extreme cases, however, the nerve damage may be permanent.
Some of the drugs that may cause peripheral neuropathy include:
Anti-alcohol drugs
Disulfiram
Anticonvulsants
Phenytoin (Dilantin®)
Cancer medications
Cisplatin
Vincristine
Heart or blood pressure medications
Amiodarone
Hydralazine
Perhexiline
Infection fighting drugs
Metronidazole (Flagyl®)
Nitrofurantoin
Thalidomide
INH (Isoniazid)
Skin condition treatment drugs
Dapsone
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
(Not all symptoms and signs may be present.)

Numbness
Loss of sensation
Tingling
Abnormal sensations
Sensations usually first occur in feet or hands
Weakness
EVALUATION AND TESTS
(Not all evaluation and tests may be necessary.)

Physical examination
Neurological evaluation
Electromyography
Nerve conduction velocity test
Blood tests
TREATMENT AND THERAPY
(Not all treatments and therapies may be indicated.)

Therapies focus on treating the symptoms, including:
Medications causing the neuropathy may be stopped or altered
Over-the-counter pain medication for mild pain.
For severe pain, take over-the-counter pain medication or prescription drugs used for peripheral neuropathy, on a regular basis—rather than waiting until nighttime when symptoms can become more severe.
Antidepressants (for pain control)
Take safety measures to compensate for loss of sensation
Ask your doctor about special therapeutic shoes (which may be covered by Medicare and other insurance).

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Maya142 said:

I would ask them to check her levels. My daughter was on a good dose of Azathioprine for her weight - 2.5mg/kg but when we checked her levels, they were very low. We had to increase her dose.

Wanted to add that our GI is at Chop and we were told my daughter could not be on Flagyl for more than a month. She was diagnosed at 16 so I guess VEO IBD is very different!

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