Some help for a slightly older gentleman

[BladeofDantes]

as the title says, where I live we dont have many STD's and or Doctors that deal with them.  While visiting a friend in Chicago, I had a few sexual exploits and I fear I have all symptoms of gonorrhea/chlamydia.

We may not have Dr's familiar with this but we have pharmasists.  My Pharmasist gave me 3 medications, and actually asked me to ask around for which is the best combo to take.

I have 7 days of Cipro (2 pills a day)
I have 3 pills of Zpack (each pill 500 mg)
I have 5 pills of Supraz (each pill 400mg)

Help me out somebody because all I have to go on is internet searching and I got no clue on which ones to take, and how much.  The nearest Dr to me that has any experience with this matter is almost 4 hours away, and I simply can't get away.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Your exposures did nto put you at risk for HIV.  Your test results prove this., HIV test results at any time more than 8 weeks following exposure are definitive.  EWH

[BladeofDantes]

My experiences included unprotected oral sex with protected vaginal sex.  no condom breaks as far as I could see, for your consideration.

[BladeofDantes]

It's been some weeks since my question so I had an update.

All my symptoms went away after taking the antibiotics.  I then proceeded to having unprotected sex with my wife.

But then started thinking about HIV.  Ive been feeling very weak lately, and tired, with pressure behind my eyes and general achy-ness throughout my body.

My wife and I have been experiencing "hot" symptoms lately.  No fevers, but our bodys seem very hot, and at night she has been sweating and has been sweating at work as well.  Everything I read online about HIV says these could be concerns.

Any final thoughts on this?  you sure my 11 week negative test was conclusive and Im not being infected late?  what about the "hotness"?

Like I said, no Dr's here to deal with these types of questions.  This will be all I have left.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No, HIV is not spread by masturbation.  I woul not worry that your symptoms are due to an STD.  EWH

[BladeofDantes]

Ok Dr.

One thing I seem to have left out.  SOmetime about one month ago I received a hand job to completion with some sort of oil.  My 11 week test for HIV was done before the hand job.  Now I am experiencing red spots that show up on my hand in some formation then disappear a day later, with diahhrea along with some general stiffness.

A hand job can't give me HIV can it?  Do my symptoms sound troubling?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

There is no danger from taking the additonal azithromycin.

Similarly, while taking additonal cefixime, beyond the recommended dose, will do no harm there is no reason to assume it will provide any additonal benefit either.  There is no evidence that to take additonal medications "to be on the safe side" will provide any benefit or increased cure rate.  It will however increase your risk for side effects and development of drug allergy.

An approved HIV test at any time more than 8 weeks following exposure provided conclusive evidence of the presence or absence of HIV.  Your negative test proved you did not get HIV 11.5 weeks earlier.

It is now time for you to put this behind you and move on.  EWH

[BladeofDantes]

Sorry If I was not clear.  What I meant to ask what since you recommend 2 Zpack pills, I assume there's no danger of taking 3 just in case.

And with the Suprax, like I said I have 5 pills total, with instructions to take one pill daily for 5 days.  Would doing that as opposed to taking one single pill as you stated above also be alright just to be on the safe side?

I ask these questions because I wish to stay on the safe side, and I assume if I take a little bit more/longer of what is reccommended then my success rate would be higher I suppose.

And my final question is this.  I took a home HIV test at 11.5 weeks that came out to be negative.  Would you believe this to be conclusive?

Thank you for your patience and guidance.  I have no further inquiries.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Not sure I follow your questions.  Taking lower doses for a longer time is not a sure cure.  The recommended doses are the ones I listed above.  Taking higher doses would be overkill.  EWH

[BladeofDantes]

So If I took all the zpack and all the suprax for the 5 days, that's like overkill?  That would be safe as a precaution I assume.  

Like If I NEED to make sure It gets treated, can I take all the zpack and suprax?  over the course of the days I have them for?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

By "all the symptoms" I presume you have a penile discharge and burning on urination.  Testing is the preferred approach so that you can know what was treated.  With these symptoms, recommended therapy for gonorrhea should resolve your problems.  I would NOT take the cipro; it is not recommended for gonorrhea therapy.  Rather I would take 400 mg (1 pill) of the Suprax (the alternate, non-brand name is cefixime) and 2 (1000 mg) of the azithromycin,  This is recommended therapy for gonorrhea, chlamydia and NGU if that is your problem. EWH

[BladeofDantes]

correction, it is Suprax, not Supraz.