Question regarding Chlamydia and resistance to antibiotics

[takashi]

I have some concerns about something that happened on October 5th...

Symptoms were present around October 26th.

Symptoms consisted of tingling and slight burning, along with discharge. The initial discharge was yellow-ish (happened once, in the morning) but since it's been clear, looking like semen. Aside from that, the penis looks normal.

Needless to say I went immediately to a walk-in clinic. I got tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia (only tests they had available) and was given 1 gram of Zithromax along with the single dosage of levofloxacin (Levaquin brand). The treatment started on Oct 27th. I received the results on Oct 31th and I tested positive for chlamydia.

Here are reasons why I am concerned:

a) It is now October 31st and there is still discharge
b) I've been on antibiotics a few times this year and I am worried about developing some sort of resistance. I also drank alcohol on Saturday night.

Today, after receiving the results and explaining that the discharge continued I was told to go to a specialized clinic, and that I did. This time I got tested for syphillis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. I will have those results in two weeks; of course we know about the chlamydia, so it was a bit redundant to do so, but better to get a second opinion.

I was also given doxycycline to be taken for the next 7 days.

Is it abnormal that I still have discharge? I was under the impression that it would usually clear up in 3 days. I have friends who've had chlamydia and the consensus seems to be that it's gone rather fast.

Is this abuse of antibiotics going to create some super strain of chlamydia within my body?


Thanks for your help.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You can be 100% certain the antibiotics you were given will cure chlamydia.  Even with effective antibiotic therapy, it takes several days for symptoms to resolve; I don't know where you heard 3 days, but that's unusually fast.  You probably did not need the doxycycline--but think of it as icing on the cake, a little extra insurance.  Your symptoms might take a couple of weeks to go away entirely; don't lose any sleep over it.  Fortunately, chlamydia virtually never becomes resistant to antibiotics.  That is a problem with many infections, but not this one.

I trust you made sure your sex partner(s) were treated.  Chlamydia is a trivial problem in men, almost never causing serious problems. But it can be highly dangerous in women.

Good luck-- HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The additional information doesn't change my opinion or advice.  Don't worry about antibiotic-resistant chlamydia.

HHH, MD

[acoco]

A related discussion, Drug Resistant Chlamydia was started.

[Michaelfire]

A related discussion, Resitant Claymidia was started.

[lola224]

A related discussion, side effects of antibiotics was started.

[moet]

Hi: Just read your thread and shocked that you would sleep with anyone unprotected after what you just went through..to protect yourself and her???

[yeahweyeah]

The above post was for you and anyone else in an authorative position in the matter.

[yeahweyeah]

I also tested positive for chlamydia. i was prescribed a gram of zithro and then cipro. i drank a few days later and it didn't go away. I then was prescribed doxy for 7 days and on the 6th day i was in the sun alot at the bucs game also took an oxycontin and when i got home the discharge was still present. I was then treated with another dose of zithro and cipro. The discharge has been gone for about a week now but the painful urination is still there. Ive been worried sick because i have had this infection for about 3 months now and i have also been having feelings of fatigue all throughout the day and am worried sick about HIV. It also looks as if i never get any sleep but i dont know if i always looked like that and never noticed it, or it is something to worry about. I recently have had unprotected sex with my new girlfriend and about five days afterward she was complaining about a severe headache and feels like hell and also exhausted which is the same thing that i have been going through. Could these things in any way be linked to HIV. EX: im always tired, still painful urination, little pimple looking things above pubic region under belly button but go away in 3-4 days after i pop them. I have been working myself up over this for the last 2 months now thinking i have HIV and it is killing me inside, i just need some legit answers.

[takashi]

I am sorry, I also forgot to mention that I took the liberty to self myself with antibiotics the week that this happened, not because of the sex, but because I had what appeared to be strep throat (in fact, the symptoms started that same day, so it is unrelated to sex -- although definetely related to drinking too much). Basically what happened is I had just gotten back to the U.S. after living abroad and caught the flu as soon as I got here.

Extremely bad move, but raises more concern about the resistance.

[Imdumb]

Was your sex unprotected?  Just curios if people get iy with protected sex.

[takashi]

Thanks for the information. I was a bit worried about the effects of other antibiotics and the fact that I drank while using the medication.

I informed her as soon as I found out, let's hope she gets it treated as well.