H. Pylori and I.V. antibiotics

[KelLe]

Can H. Pylori be treated with I.V. antibiotics or must the medicines be ingested in order to reach the bacteria and work?  I am considering taking I.V. Flagyl and Amoxicillin for 14 days and taking the Prevacid orally -- What do you think?  Is there a reason why this couldn't work just as well as ingesting the meds?  I am desperately seeking an answer and/or related resources/articles discussing this possibility for treatment.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

I am not aware of IV antibiotics that have been shown in studies that can treat H Pylori.  The recommendations and studies looking at H Pylori treatment have used oral antibiotics.  If there is a reason why you can't take oral medications (since the IV antibiotics need to be administered in a hospital setting), perhaps that problem needs to be addressed first.

If it is problem with tolerance, there are multiple medication regimens that can be tailored to your side effect profile.  

Please note that Amoxicillin only comes orally, the IV equivilent would be Ampicillin - which has not been studied in trials.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[yoshi]

prev pac does not have flagyll,it is biaxin.
the other treatment consists of flagyll,pepto bismal,etc.