Fending off the yeast

[ChrissyH]

I finally found out yesterday that the flare I thought I had been having for the past three weeks is actually a UTI. Now I have to be on Levaquin for the next ten days. I haven't had a yeast infection for just over a year, but before that was fairly prone to them. I do not want to end up with a yeast infection because of having to take an antibiotic for the next ten days. I am taking acidophilus pills and plan on getting some plain yogurt today. My gyn had told me before that inserting plain yogurt can help repopulate the good bacteria.

However, I am wondering if I should also look into taking Diflucan as a preventative (I have done this before while on antibiotics). My concern is that I also take Elavil and Elavil can interact with Diflucan. Has anyone taken both Elavil and Diflucan? Or should I just stick with the acidophilus pills and yogurt and hope for the best?

[Flarin-up Vicky]

How do you get a yeast infection? I know what it is exactly and what it looks like,but I have never had one!!

[ICNDonna]

I don't usually get yeast even if I'm on antibiotics. What I do if I think I have one is to contact my doctor so it can be treated. I do have one suggestion and that is to follow your doctor's advice about the preventive measures and be alert to any symptom that you might have a yeast infection --- and contact your doctor promptly at the very first sign.

Warm healing thoughts,
Donna

[vm]

I am on Elavil and when I am put on a course of antibioics I always ask for Diflucan to take preventively b/c I am prone to yeast infections. I also TRY (mostly unsuccessfully) to steer clear of sugar and I take acidophilus.

[Katrina]

Vicky, There are different ways to get a yeast infection. One is when on an antibiotic the good bacteria is killed allong with the bad and that good bacteria usually prevents the yeast infection. Some with weak immune system are just more prone.

[kadi]

I would try the preventative measures your doctor recommended first & hope they work. Why take a powerful medicine like Diflucan if you don't need it?

But if you do need it:
Check with your doctor about the interaction of Elavil & Diflucan - I think it may depend on the dosages you are taking. I took several rounds of Diflucan in January due to a stubborn yeast infection. It did flare my bladder, but afterwards I felt so much better it was worth it. I also found that the Diflucan wasn't enough & had to buy a Monistat type cream to use externally.

Hope you feel better soon!

[vm]

Here are drug interactions for Diflucan:

What other drugs will affect fluconazole?
• Do not take fluconazole if you are taking cisapride (Propulsid). Combined with cisapride (Propulsid), fluconazole could cause serious, even fatal, heart problems.
• Before taking fluconazole, tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
· an oral diabetes medicine such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase), tolbutamide (Orinase), tolazamide (Tolinase), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), and others;
· warfarin (Coumadin);
· phenytoin (Dilantin, others);
· cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);
· tacrolimus ((Prograf);
· rifabutin (Mycobutin) or rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); or
· theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair, Theochron, Elixophyllin, Slo-Phyllin, others); or
· astemizole (Hismanal).
• You may not be able to take fluconazole, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with fluconazole or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

http://www.drugs.com/Diflucan/

I have taken it many times while on Elavil with no problems.