yeast infections, UTI's and antibiotics

[poo head]

helloo...hmm lets see, i seem to get yeast infections very easily, one time was the worst when i took antibiotics to get rid of fever, after the fever, but not short after being on the antibiotics i got a really bad yeast infection! i went to see my ob/gyn for constant UTI's after sex etc, so she put me on the generic brand for Bactrim DS (Sulfameth/Trimethoprim) but im scared to go on it, because i know its an antibiotic, and i do NOT want another yeast infection! id rather burn in hell before going throught those again!!! maybe theres just something wrong with me to where i always get stuck with bad stuff, or not, but uh...basically after all of this jibber jabber, i want to know, if i take the Sulfameth/Trimethophrim, will i get another yeast infection!??? help!

[kittymommy]

I too am prone to frequent yeast infections and UTI's for some reason.  I don't know anything about the specfic drug that you're referring to, but I thought I'd share some things that have helped minimize them for me.  I always seemed to get them every single time I had sex, I mean almost EVERY single time.  (We are trying to have a baby, so those infections were pretty much constant!)  I started showering and making my husband shower right before any intimacy.  I also drink a full glass of cranberry juice every morning, and I also take cranberry herbal supplements once a day along with my vitamins.  In addition, I started drinking one of those Danactive yogurt type drinks each morning.  It's not the same as the regular-yogurt-on-the-go drinks, but it's called Actimel which has 10 times the active cultures in it that yogurt does and it's proven to boost immunity and is great for the digestive tract.  All of these measures have paid off for me, as the infections have significantly dropped off.  I think the key is to be consistent in your preventive measures.  Hope this is helpful.  Good luck to you, I know how horrible those infections are.

[Anne B]

It also helps to urinate and wash up well AFTER sex, too!

[Angel_PharmD]

Bactrim DS is a GREAT antibiotic to get rid of UTIs! It's cheap and works fast, and most of all it can be used as a preventative if you are prone to UTI's from intercourse. Cranberry juice or cranberry supplements help, but they will not work as well as the antibiotic because the antibiotic will actually kill the bacterial. If your doctor gives you a regular prescription for Bactrim DS or generic just take one before sex with a full glass of water. This helps the drug get to the urinary system faster and kill any bacteria that may enter from sex. Then go to the bathroom after sex and pee HARD - this will help expell bacteria that haven't worked their way up into the bladder and settled there. In fact if you just pee hard after sex it might prevent infection and you might not need the antibiotic. Bactrim shouldn't give you a yeast infection, esp if you us it as a prevenative, and if your taking it for a full blown UTI you usually only take it anywhere for 3 to 7 days, depending on if is complicated or uncomplicated.



Now for the yeast infections with antibiotics - this happens because the antibiotics have killed off so many of the bad bacteria and they start attacking the similar good bacteria that control the yeast population "down south." so then the yeast over grow and you're left in misery - i know it sucks, and it happens every time i take ANY antibiotic that isn't for a UTI. Penicillin, Biaxin, Augmentin, you name it - if i have to take it for more than 7 days i'll get a yeast infection. Simple solution to this - talk to you OB/GYN about this. I know it's a pain to have to call everytime you have a yeast infection and ask for something but hey, maybe he'll write you a script with refills for Diflucan - the greatest pill known to man in my view! And I do believe it comes in a generic now. Or when your general practitioner write the script for the antibiotic that will curse you in a week tell him that you know what it will do and ask for a script for diflucan as well - if the doctor tells you to use something OTC, get another doctor. A lot of women can't use the OTC vaginal yeast infection treatments because the cause irritation and frankly they don't just work as well as Diflucan.



On the side note, increasing your yogurt intake to prevent yeast infections helps some, but it doesn't have that many live cultures in it. There used to be this product from the makers of Immodium - but i think manufactures have pulled it from the market because it didn't sell well. Anyways, go ask your Pharmacist if he has any LACTOBACILLUS tablets and if he doesn't if he can order some. they're OTC and they are life cultures of bacteria that you take. you can either take them every day or just take 1 with each antibiotic dose. the theory with taking them with the dose is that once the antibiotice kill off most of the bad bacteria they will start attacking the "extra" good bacteria in your gut that you are taking instead of the bacteria that control your yeast population.



Another side note - it is always recommened that you finish your entire dose of antibiotics. This is to prevent resistant strains of the bacteria from forming in your body. Please bear in mind that if you get a yeast infection and stop taking your antibiotic because of the yeast infection - you may still have some bad bacteria that are resistant to the drug and this could be bad in the long run....more medications, different antibiotics, you getting sick again, etc... - it's not fun, seriously.

Now coming from a future pharmacist, yes, i'm still in pharmacy school...do I ever finish my entire antibiotic regimine - no...do most people...no. (unless it's a Z-pak, i take all of that - i can do 5 days, that didn't give me a yeast infection anyways) Just try to take 3/4 of the medication, and continue to take it until yeast infection symptoms appear.



Hope this helps:-)

[mythang]

I was given the drug sulfameth trimethoprim. I was DX. with Strep 2.  I have not yet found on the Web where this drug is used to treat my condition.  My Dr. says this drug is good for a number of things.  I explained to him in the beginning that I may have step throat.  I had the flu back in the winter and could never get rid of the cough.  Since I have been taking the prescribed medicine it has cleared my cough.  Can someone kindly reply.  In my Pap Smear I was DX with Strep 2  I need to know how did this occur.  This only happens with women that are pregnant.   Help me to understand in laymens terms what is going on.

[pekastare]

Everytime i go to the gynecologist they tell me i have a yeast infection! I don't understand, why! Sometimes a lot of times I don't even have symptoms (itchy, scratchy, i'm sure you know). The major problem is the cheesy, thick, discharge and sometimes it even looks like clear, booger, thick snot (sorry if I just grossed anyone out)I take lactobacillus acidophilus, eat yoghurt BID, and cottage cheese with added cultures. I am sick a lot eventhough i take about 10 pills or more of different vitamins a day: Calcium (not too much), Juice Plus (www.juiceplus.com)In the morning you take 2 orchard blend capsules (equals daily fruit requirement) and in the evening 2 Garden Blend capsules (equals daily vege requirement) i am a vegetarian so of course i do not just rely on those 4 pills! I love to eat a lot of veges and make sure I have a lot of protien, but since i am sick all the time i try to boost my immunity with vitamins and minerals. I also drink "green goodness" in the fruit section at the super market which is packed with phytonutrients (blended smoothie of veges such as spinache,broccolli, bananas, kiwi, and even BLUE GREEN ALGAE for immunity! olay vitamins QAM (vitamin e, coq10,multi vitamin,greentea)stress tab + iron QHS not to mention ritalin, focalin, nortriptyline for daily headaches. thankgod i work at cvs the discount sure does help. the fact that i have had headaches daily since i was 10, daily fatigue, cold hands, tingly in arms and legs, dizzy, weak muscles, weak immune system, depression, add, irregular periods EVEN ON BIRTHCONTROL!sometimes i wouldnt have my period for 3-6 months and then i had it since january every other week.. and i have wierd hair growth on my body(side of face is hairy,lip,