Metronidazole

[Rachel--24]

Does anyone know if Metronidazole (genneric for Flagyl) is gluten free? I've been on it 3 days for a C-Diff infection and I'm getting alot of my old symptoms back. Dont know if its related to the infection or if there could be gluten in antibiotic. All I know is my stools are no longer formed, I've lost weight and I'm getting bruises and depression. I'm really scared and just want to make sure its not gluten.

[Becky6]

Im not sure. I could only find Flagyl on the list and not the generic. Hopefully someone else will know for sure!

[jerseyangel]

Rachel--If you can let me know the manufacturer, I would be happy to research it for you--I'm getting pretty good at ferreting out generic drug info! I have found when checking out my own meds, the manufacturer's name is either on the Rx bottle, or your pharmacy can tell you who made it.

I also took this drug years ago--the only side effect I had was a metallic taste in my mouth. The doctor told me that the only other thing to look out for was if I drank alcohol, I would get violently sick (vomiting).

[penguin]

Don't forget to eat lot's of yogurt...I can only imagine what an antibiotic of that strength would do to your digestive tract, not to mention the lady parts

That might be part of the tummy problems, it's killing off your good bacteria, too

[Rachel--24]

Rachel--If you can let me know the manufacturer, I would be happy to research it for you--I'm getting pretty good at ferreting out generic drug info! I have found when checking out my own meds, the manufacturer's name is either on the Rx bottle, or your pharmacy can tell you who made it.

Thanks Jersey,

There is no manufacturer on the rx so I'll have to wait until the pharmacy opens. I appreciate your help...I'm not much into researching today. Just wanna sleep. Its the first day I've had to miss work and I'm really bummed about blowing my record.

Don't forget to eat lot's of yogurt...I can only imagine what an antibiotic of that strength would do to your digestive tract, not to mention the lady parts

Chelse thanks for the tip. I knew I would be taking this antibiotic so I got plenty of probiotics ahead of time. So I should be ok (hopefully) with that. I cant do yogurt cuz I'm off dairy right now.

[jerseyangel]

Sorry you feel so bad today --if they can get you the name without a hassle, I'll be glad to do the 'leg work' for ya.

[penguin]

Chelse thanks for the tip. I knew I would be taking this antibiotic so I got plenty of probiotics ahead of time. So I should be ok (hopefully) with that. I cant do yogurt cuz I'm off dairy right now.

If you can have soy, Silk has a new "yogurt" that has active cultures in it, and it might feel good on your tummy

[Rachel--24]

Jersey,

The only info. I could get from the pharmacist was that the manufacturer is Pliva and its in E. Hanover N.J.

She didnt have a phone number.

I hope its just side effects that I'm experiencing and that the pills are gluten-free. There are alot of side effects associated with this drug but I dont want to making things worse for myself in case theres gluten. If you have any luck you'll have to let me in on your tips for getting info. on generics.

Thanks.

[penguin]

Here's what I found for the Pliva info:

(800) 922-0547 Tel

customer.service@plivainc.com

Here's the contact info page:

Open Original Shared Link

Also, they'll need to know which dosage you're on and if they're the tabs or caplets.

Hope that helps!

[StrongerToday]

I tried to look it up on their website, but it said "no product found". Please call them asap to put your mind at ease.

I know whenever I take an antibiotic, I get D pretty badly. Also, if it's killing off the bacteria in your gut - then the dead germs only have one place to go...

Hope you're feeling better soon!

[StrongerToday]

I found this too, it lists the ingredients:

Open Original Shared Link

[jerseyangel]

Rachel--I just got off the phone with Yvonne Hodges at Pliva. She told me that all of their products were gluten free. She looked it up to make sure. Are you feeling any better? Maybe you should call the doc to see if this is a reaction to be expected, not something worse? Let me know how you do

[Rachel--24]

Rachel--I just got off the phone with Yvonne Hodges at Pliva. She told me that all of their products were gluten free. She looked it up to make sure. Are you feeling any better? Maybe you should call the doc to see if this is a reaction to be expected, not something worse? Let me know how you do

Thank you soooo much...all of you have been a lifesaver today!

I'm so glad there is no gluten....thats a huge load off my mind. I'm having lots of orange/smelly soft stools. Just got off the c-diff forum and it seems like this is a common sign of the infection. Funny, I used to have these regularly but forgot about it because I havent had the problem for several months now. Maybe you could be right about the dead bacteria coming out StrongerToday. I hope thats what it is. I want them all to DIE!! Well...not the good ones of course...I might need those.

Thanks a million for calling Pliva Jersey!

Luckily I have a doctors appt later today.

[StrongerToday]

The orange smelly stuff is exactly what happened to me when I took Diflucan for Candida overgrowth. (It was almost "foamy" too) It's quite interesting, isn't it???

[Susan123]

Take it from someone who was on it for a week. It causes stomach distress in anyone celiac or not. Your stomach rumbles like crazy, its upset, D increases etc. My doctor said the side effects outweigh the final outcome. They thought I had C-Diff too. Another coworker took it and had the same side effects. I could hear his stomach across the office.

[jerseyangel]

The orange smelly stuff is exactly what happened to me when I took Diflucan for Candida overgrowth. (It was almost "foamy" too) It's quite interesting, isn't it???

I had the orange stuff, too, when I was the sickest before my diagnosis. I did not take any medication--just the gluten-free diet. The D subsided, and even when I get it now, the orange never came back. Could I have an infection still that I wouldn't know about? All of this has me thinking...

[Sterndogg]

I picked up C diff when I was visiting a former college buddy in China. I then became gluten intolerant and the docs believe it was triggered due to "environmental stresses." Anyway, Flagyl is nasty antibiotic and I recall very similiar symptoms that you describe. As all the other posters mentioned, the best course of action is to continue to take the probiotics and hydrate too!

Best,

Adam

[Rachel--24]

I had the orange stuff, too, when I was the sickest before my diagnosis. I did not take any medication--just the gluten-free diet. The D subsided, and even when I get it now, the orange never came back. Could I have an infection still that I wouldn't know about? All of this has me thinking...

I dont know Jersey, my stools got so much better after I started the diet that I just assumed I had nothing else and I would just get better but obviously didnt. Theres a link in a thread having to do w/ gluten intolerance on a radio program. I listened to it and during the program it explained why bacteria infections can occur with gluten intolerance.

The orange stuff was gone for me until I got on this medication. On the c-diff forum they mention orange soft stools alot but maybe alot of things can cause that?? I dont have the classic symptoms of a c-diff infection so its hard for me to tell what the heck is going on. I've always had to be "different" my whole life but just this once you think I could go with the norm. Sheeesh. Apparantly from what I'm told I'm extremely lucky to have tested positive for this infection since I guess c-diff is notorious for giving false negatives. The people on the forum made me feel as if my lab results are something to be treasured.

I found a site where people have written about their experiences w/ metronidazole. Probably 95% of what I read made it sound like the drug from hell w/ horrendous side-effects. Although they all said it was effective...it did the job but at a price. Many people could not finish the treatment and these people only had to go 5-7 days...I have to go 14!! I'm a little scared.

I picked up C diff when I was visiting a former college buddy in China. I then became gluten intolerant and the docs believe it was triggered due to "environmental stresses." Anyway, Flagyl is nasty antibiotic and I recall very similiar symptoms that you describe. As all the other posters mentioned, the best course of action is to continue to take the probiotics and hydrate too!

Best,

Adam

Thanks Adam,

I think this may have trigered my gluten intolerance as well...or maybe the gluten intolerance was there first and made me more vulnerable?? I dunno...the whole thing sucks though.

[jerseyangel]

I must be in the minority because, as I stated in an earlier post, I had very few side effects from Metronidazole. Other than the metalic taste, I don't remember feeling bad at all. This was about 15 years ago, and I took it for a female problem. I also used Metrogel (topical) for what the doctor thought was roscesia--that didn't work, because it turned out the skin problem was connected to the Celiac all along.

[Rachel--24]

The orange smelly stuff is exactly what happened to me when I took Diflucan for Candida overgrowth. (It was almost "foamy" too) It's quite interesting, isn't it???

Funny, I took Diflucin a few different times. I had kind of diagnosed myself with candida not knowing what else it could be. The Diflucin had no effect on me whatsoever. I had expected more from it and was disappointed cuz it didnt solve anything for me. I guess cuz it wasnt candida making me sick...duh.

I must be in the minority because, as I stated in an earlier post, I had very few side effects from Metronidazole. Other than the metalic taste, I don't remember feeling bad at all.

Yeah...you must be one of the fortunate ones. I think I saw about 2 people say they didnt have alot of side effects. 2 out of like 75.

I also used Metrogel (topical) for what the doctor thought was roscesia--that didn't work, because it turned out the skin problem was connected to the Celiac all along.

I used this too! I got dx'd w/ rosacea and faithfully used the stuff everyday for 2 years and it didnt do anything cuz I didnt really have rosacea....stupid dermatologist. Arent you suppossed to have a red face with rosacea...I never had that.

[jerseyangel]

I used this too! I got dx'd w/ rosacea and faithfully used the stuff everyday for 2 years and it didnt do anything cuz I didnt really have rosacea....stupid dermatologist. Arent you suppossed to have a red face with rosacea...I never had that.

That was just one in a long list of misdiagnoses--at least that one didn't cause any lasting problems

[tiffjake]

I wish I would have seen your post earlier! I am a pharmacy tech and I have been on Metronidazole myself for a female infection and it was horrible! MOST people have some sort of reaction because it is a really heavy duty medication. It will kill just about any infection. I have had most people get it along with phenergan, to reduce the nausa and upset stomach. I would second the post about yogurt. You need to help your system balance back out after a big killer like this one. Hope you feel better! And if you react like me, and it sounds like it, I request another antibiotic whenever some doc says that one.

[Rachel--24]

Thnaks for your post Tiffany,

At least after seeing that everyone pretty much reacts horribly to this drug I know its not something else going wrong. I was scared. I was also getting heart palipatations off and on and I felt dizzy. Unfortunately, for c-diff infection there is only one alternative (vancomyacin). Doctors usually prefer to use it as a last resort because its very expensive and even more effective than the metronidazole. I guess they fear bacteria resistance to the vancomyacin.

I'm sad because I had to travel yesterday so put my probiotics in a cooler with ice. The ice melted and got in the bottle so when I opened it there was only water. Took me a second to figure out what the heck happened to all my pills.

Maybe thats another reason I feel worse today...no probiotics.

[tiffjake]

Thnaks for your post Tiffany,

At least after seeing that everyone pretty much reacts horribly to this drug I know its not something else going wrong. I was scared. I was also getting heart palipatations off and on and I felt dizzy. Unfortunately, for c-diff infection there is only one alternative (vancomyacin). Doctors usually prefer to use it as a last resort because its very expensive and even more effective than the metronidazole. I guess they fear bacteria resistance to the vancomyacin.

I'm sad because I had to travel yesterday so put my probiotics in a cooler with ice. The ice melted and got in the bottle so when I opened it there was only water. Took me a second to figure out what the heck happened to all my pills.

Maybe thats another reason I feel worse today...no probiotics.

Oh that stinks!!! Well, from what I understand, if you are traveling, you can get (atleast a small amount) your probiotics from yogurt (like if you are staying at a friends for a week or something). You can also buy milk that is fortified with acidopholous (sp?) that has the live and active cultures in the milk. I have seen it at my local "average" grocery store. If you like milk, then you can get your probiotics in your cereal!! Hope that helps!

[Judyin Philly]

RACHEL,

I'M SO SORRY I DIDN'T SEE THIS THREAD EARLIER--

JUST READ THE WHOLE THING.

YOU STILL AREN'T 'GETTING A BREAK' ARE YOU, GIRLFRIEND

YES, THE

(vancomyacin).

IS THE LAST RESORT AND THEY DON'T LIKE TO USE IT BECASUE IF YOUR ALLERGIC TO EVERYTHING ELSE LIKE I AM, THEY DON'T WANT TO ABUSE IT.

AFTER MY HIP REPLACEMENT THEY USE IT IN A IV AND IT WAS A NIGHTMARE.....IT JUST DIDN'T AGREE WITH ME AT ALL....EXPLOSIVE 'D' AND THE SMELL WAS UNREAL...I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AND HAD TO HAVE DIAPERS...WHAT AN EMBARRSMENT...TOOK 2 HUGE MALE NURSES TO TURN AND CHANGE ME BECASUE OF THE INMOBILE HIP...THEY EVEN CALLED IN THE HEAD OF THE GI DEPT OF THE HOSPITAL BECASUE THEY THOUGHT I'D GOTTEN C-DIFF IN HOSPITAL...

THEY TESTED ME AND DIDN'T HAVE IT BUT..COULDN'T OR WOULDN'T GET ME ANY IM AD...SO THIS SWEET GI GOT SO MAD SHE SAID " YOU CAN TREAT YOURSELF BETTER AT HOME...I'M GETTING YOU OUT OF HERE ESP BECAUSE THE PHARMACY WOULDN'T GET HER THE IM AD...

ANYWAY...TRY TO STAY ON THIS IF YOU CAN. MY CHIRO GETS SOME ACIDOPHILIS..(?) IT'S gluten-free AND DOESN'T HAVE TO BE REFRIG..IT'S GOT LIVE BACTERIA TOO. HATED THE REFRIG ONES I USED TO GET

I'LL CK THE NAME AND EMAIL IN THE MORNING..IF YOU CAN'T FIND IT OUT THERE...I'LL BUY YOU SOME AND OVER NITE IT TO YOU.

HANG IN THERE...I KNOW THEY END IS IN SITE...I CAN FEEL IT

JUDY

Rachel--

Tues- here is the product i use

PB 8 Pro-Biotic Acidophilus for Life

1,000 mg

let me know if you want me to send some

what did your dr recommened you take for it?

Hope your feeling better

Saw you had to take a day off work. PLEASE DON'T FRET OVER THIS...iF YOU HAVE TO TAKE EVEN A WEEK TO FEEL BETTER THE REST OF YOUR LIFE...IT WILL BE WORTH IT.

JUDY