Antibiotics for remission?

[ibdoer]

I was just thinking. When I had my first flair, I had severe bloddy diarrhea for about 3 days. I was given Cipro by a doctor because I was on vacation at the time, and by the end of the day I felt 100 times better.
I then did not take anything else until about 6 weeks later after my colonoscopy. The diarrhea never really came back, and although I was never 100%, i was much much better.
My question is.... Has anyone ever had any success with antibiotics alone? I'm just thinking about it. Thanks.

 

[Crohn's 35]

I was just thinking. When I had my first flair, I had severe bloddy diarrhea for about 3 days. I was given Cipro by a doctor because I was on vacation at the time, and by the end of the day I felt 100 times better.
I then did not take anything else until about 6 weeks later after my colonoscopy. The diarrhea never really came back, and although I was never 100%, i was much much better.
My question is.... Has anyone ever had any success with antibiotics alone? I'm just thinking about it. Thanks.

Yes, I have, Cipro and Flagyl for many years off and on...they do have side effects but long term usage is not recommended to long because they stop working. I havent used Cipro in 2 weeks, so far, the Pentasa and Entcort are working. I find I have to switch my meds, no matter which ones, or they just stop working. NOT everyone is like that, I wish I could be on Remicade and be in remission.

 

[soupdragon69]

Some antibiotics do have anti inflammatory properties hence the specific ones that are generally given to us when we do flare..

I am currently on another antibiotic that works well for my gut and chest. The reason for this is my gut flares and the inflammation affects my chest so my asthma kicks off too! Am only on half the dose I normally take as the doc I saw last thursday didnt know me and it was at a Walk in Centre not my new GP practice.

As Penny says antibiotics have their place but long term the side effects arent good. Also means we are at greater risk of becoming resistant to the good effects and so lessen the range of antibiotics that can be used for us. Does that make any sense??

 

[kenny]

I was on Cipro/Flagyl for a few months too. I don't think it is good long term because it is going to work against a few good gut flora as well as the baddies. I believe the whole idea is to knock out as much of the baddies as you can and rebuild with good guys via probiotics, yogurt and other yucky stuff like that.

 

[Sue-2009]

I know they give Cipro & Flagyl for for pouchitis (inflammation of the J Pouch) . For about a year I was on and off of those antibiotics, until they diagnosed me with Crohns! Sue

 

[CrohnsHobo]

Was on both last year, but got worse in that time unfortunately.

 

[Cookie]

I am currently on Cipro and Flagyl, and have been on and off for the past two years. I usually do about 6 weeks on, 4 weeks off kind of thing. I have an anal fistula and they are the only treatment I have found to keep the adjacent abscess from filling up. As Pen said, there are lots of reasons not to stay on them long term if you don't have to. I would not recommend antibiotics as a maintenance treatment. I am also on Imuran and Lialda.

 

[imisspopcorn]

There was a poster on her who was on Rifaximin....This antibiotic is used for traveler's diarrhea. Anyway, he had great things to say about. I believe there have been some clinical studies to see if it is a good treatment. I will see if I can find the thread.

Edit: here is the thread.

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=8205