Posted by yxibow on May 18, 2009, at 23:10:37
In reply to Should everyone go on a trial of antibiotics?, posted by odon on May 16, 2009, at 8:42:18
> Should everyone with stubborn mental symptoms go on lets say a 6 month trial of antibiotics?Even if its a case of psychiatric medications that used to work well,then stopped being as effective.In my case I seem to not tolerate Doxycycline so I was thinking of medications like amoxicillin or cipro or levaquin.--Could it be of great benefit for most people with psychiatric issues to just give a course of antibiotics a good trial?
NO and NO and NO!Good grief.
That is if one believes in evidence based psychiatry, and the simple principle of not creating antibiotic-resistant pathogens for yourself and those around you.
That is if you care about those around you, since the last two antibiotics came to market somewhere in the world at least four years ago.
Sorry to be harsh about this but drug resistant bacteria is a serious problem in and out of hospitals.
Now, if you want to go through test after test to prove that you have a bacterial infection, or are showing serious signs of bacterial meningitis (which manifests more than just 'psychiatric'), that is a different story.
I admit.. I've had tests because I have a rare disorder, and yes, I went through Lyme tests, rocky mountain spotted fever tests, and a half a dozen other tests I can't recall.
There are also serious side effects from taking things like doxycycline for 6 months.And going on a fluoroquinolone without any reason for it is also both a) dangerous and b) if you need Cipro god forbid for a theoretical terrorist attack it may not help you.
These are the reasons why long term antibiotics for Lyme disease are strongly discouraged in the scientific community. One would have to have a pretty convincing case for it to be justified medically, but yes, I know, it goes on anyway. C'est la vie.
Also they will wipe out your natural intestinal flora in such an incredible way and possibly cause Pseudomembranous colitis, which is caused by some antibiotics because of resistance to Clostridium difficile, and is a serious form of diarrhea which must be treated by yet again another type of antibiotic if you're lucky.
Its the idea of this that I'm writing this way, I'm not trying to character assassinate but I just can't emphasize this any more.-- Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:896062
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090515/msgs/896531.html