26 replies to this topic

[bennyb]

I am going to my derm this week and it is so expensive to just visit my derm so I have one chance to talk to her about what I want to try. I went on Minocycline 4 years ago and I don't know if it is coincidence or not, but my face was the worst it ever was during that time. I need some ideas about what to request from my doctor. I have somewhat moderate acne and I need to get rid of it. Bactrim is the highest rated antibiotic in this site, so please let me know any details that you guys have about it? Thanks.

[Lady Odd Duck]

Bactrim was amazing for my acne. Your acne probably will return though when you stop taking it. If you're allergic to sulfur, Bactrim is not the antibiotic for you. Unfortunately there's no way to really know until you try it.

[Wynne]

It's best not to use Bactrim for acne as Bactrim is one of the few oral antibiotics that can be taken at home that will kill MRSA.

[bennyb]

I am not allergic to sulfur. thankfully. So how does an antibiotic work? Do you take it for years until you grow out of your acne? Did you experience any side effects? An initial breakout? How long did it take to see results with bactrim? What is MSRA? I am happy to hear that it worked for you.

Edited by bennyb, 03 April 2010 - 07:57 PM.

[Wynne]

MRSA is Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus. It's one of the rampant nosocomial (hospital acquired) infections that's spreading into the community at large. Clostridium Difficile is another, but it's not treated by bactrim.

MRSA is a very serious infection that can cause septicemia (infection in the body system, the blood) and end up killing someone. Using bactrim for non-life-threatening reasons is irresponsible of doctors and irresponsible of patients to ask for.

[bennyb]

Alright that sounds pretty serious. Is there an actual case where people died from taking Bactrim?

[Wynne]

Bactrim treats MRSA. MRSA is bad. Don't use Bactrim for acne. That is what I am saying. Unnecessary use/Overuse of antibiotics makes bacteria RESISTANT to the antibiotic.

Allergies to Bactrim have caused death.

[bennyb]

Allergies to pretty much anything have the potential to cause death. Has anyone actually died from taking Bactrim? My Derm has no reason to prescribe me one antibiotic over the other. If she thought that I was going to die, she wouldn't suggest it. She's been a family friend for 20 years. Also, all antibiotics have the potential to make bacteria resistant to it. It seems as though it is just a stronger antibiotic, and since I have already done accutane, but some of my acne came back, then I don't see it as such a huge risk. Why not take the stronger medication when the others don't work. If there is no actual instance then I have no reason not to try it.

[Lady Odd Duck]

It's best not to use Bactrim for acne as Bactrim is one of the few oral antibiotics that can be taken at home that will kill MRSA.

That bums me out. I took Bactrim for years. Luckily I don't think I ever became resistant to it as I took it again after a month break and it still worked.

[Wynne]

Allergies to pretty much anything have the potential to cause death. Has anyone actually died from taking Bactrim? My Derm has no reason to prescribe me one antibiotic over the other. If she thought that I was going to die, she wouldn't suggest it. She's been a family friend for 20 years. Also, all antibiotics have the potential to make bacteria resistant to it. It seems as though it is just a stronger antibiotic, and since I have already done accutane, but some of my acne came back, then I don't see it as such a huge risk. Why not take the stronger medication when the others don't work. If there is no actual instance then I have no reason not to try it.

MRSA is enough. Or should be.

[bennyb]

Alright you've convinced me. Do you have an alternate suggestion for the best antibiotic Wynne?

[Wynne]

Alright you've convinced me. Do you have an alternate suggestion for the best antibiotic Wynne?

I had great success with Retin A and clindamycin. Clindamycin should not be used long-term though, either, because of risk of developing Clostridium Difficile. Keflex is another antibiotic associated with antibiotic induced colitis. C-Diff can kill one through perforation of the intestinal tract, via dehydration (severe diarrhea), and impaired absorption.

Doxycyclin and Minocycline are generally used for acne; there are also clinical studies about the benefits of a sub anti-microbial dose of (which one I don't remember) where the dose is not enough to kill bacteria and thus eventually cause resistance but is enough to cause anti-inflammatory effects.

PS: People have died from Bactrim, not just being allergic to Sulfa meds. Look up Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Think degloving of the skin. Then again, other meds can cause SJS as well, even over the counter ones. It's best to save the 'strongest, broad-spectrum' antibiotics for when one really has a life or death choice or we may all end up as we were before the advent of antibiotics with a simple bacterial infection no longer susceptible to anything at all. It's already happening! Medscape (where I go for my continuing education units in nursing) has some interesting articles about how we may be headed to extensive bacterial resistance. I've been warning of it for years....

[bennyb]

Alright thanks. Is Clindamycin an oral antibiotic?

[moxie1]

I agree with Wynne. Antibiotic resistance is a scarey problem. At one point in my life, I was getting UTI's. They were what they called multi-drug resistant. You know its bad when after they get your lab results, the doctors spend 20 minutes online, trying to figure out what antibiotic to try to treat me with. I was told that there was only 1 antibiotic left that would work for treating the bacteria. If I grow resistant to that...I'm scared to think what would happen. Before antibiotics were used to treat bacterial infections, people died of infections. I am on Solodyn now, but its really not something I would want to do long term. I try to stay away from antibiotics unless they are really needed.

[Wynne]

I agree with Wynne. Antibiotic resistance is a scarey problem. At one point in my life, I was getting UTI's. They were what they called multi-drug resistant. You know its bad when after they get your lab results, the doctors spend 20 minutes online, trying to figure out what antibiotic to try to treat me with. I was told that there was only 1 antibiotic left that would work for treating the bacteria. If I grow resistant to that...I'm scared to think what would happen. Before antibiotics were used to treat bacterial infections, people died of infections. I am on Solodyn now, but its really not something I would want to do long term. I try to stay away from antibiotics unless they are really needed.

That is exceedingly scary. I'm glad you were able to find at least one med that worked. I suppose you know all about acidifying your urine? Drink cranberry juice (NOT the cocktail) or take cranberry capsules as supplements. I'm sure the doctor will have more suggestions that will help acidify your urine. It won't hurt to take probiotics, too.

Clindamycin topical. There's an oral one, too. But even topicals are absorbed into the system, so even Clindamycin topical can cause antibiotic associated colitis.

[bennyb]

Alright thanks. I am looking for antibiotics, but am now a little worried from what you guys have said and what I have read throughout this website. I have moderate acne, but nothing will clear it. My derm believes that antibiotics will clear it up also. The only thing is, I don't want a temporary fix. I am sick of getting some type of treatment and then my acne comes back like with accutane. I need something to clear this moderate acne, but I don't want to make it worse. What would you guys say is the chance that my acne would return after a course of some antibiotics? And if it returns what are the chances it will be worse than before?

[moxie1]

Hey Wynne - at the time, yes, I took cranberry pills daily, and drank cranberry juice regularly. Luckily its been around 6 years since I've had one. But I had them on and off for around 1 1/2 years. I think part of the problem was that they weren't getting fully cured by some of the antibiotics I was on, because they did try multiple types of antibiotics on me. So, I'm thinking maybe it was just one infection that never fully was cured for a long time. My doctor said that Solodyn is usually not used for treating urinary tract infections, so that is the only way she pursuaded me to go on it.

[Katlouise01]

Alright thanks. I am looking for antibiotics, but am now a little worried from what you guys have said and what I have read throughout this website. I have moderate acne, but nothing will clear it. My derm believes that antibiotics will clear it up also. The only thing is, I don't want a temporary fix. I am sick of getting some type of treatment and then my acne comes back like with accutane. I need something to clear this moderate acne, but I don't want to make it worse. What would you guys say is the chance that my acne would return after a course of some antibiotics? And if it returns what are the chances it will be worse than before?

I have been using Oxytetracycline for 2 months and my skin is now completely clear and smooth, apart from a few scar. I really didnt expect it to work, after having Moderate acne for 2 years, and taking Tetralysal 300 for 10 months (which worked about 50%) and Zineryt lotion for 6 months, i was really depressed and prepared to begin a course of Accutane, which i didnt want to do but felt it was my only option.

But i had a consultation at my local hospital with a very nice Dermatologist who convinced me to try Oxytetracycline for 4 months to see how it goes, and literally after 2 weeks i could see a difference. I just hope when i come off them my skin stays like this!!

[flatron]

reading this, I've probably messed up my body through lots of antibiotic use over the years

Bactrim: Worked amazingly well when i first got it. I took it for a few months.

After a while my skin started getting bad again, and so i took bactrim again. This time it helped a little bit but my mouth seemed to often be a little sore. I stopped taking it again after a few months.

Skin began getting worse AGAIN. Doctor gave me another antibiotice which didn't help. I was then put on bactrim for a 3rd time. This time it didn't help at all, and it gave me really bad sores on my tounge and on the inside of my mouth. To drink anything hot was torture!!
Not sure what that as about!?

Also, I guess considering that it stopped working, that im now resistant to it and ill die from MRSA somewhere down teh road???
Something to look forward too I guess!

[bennyb]

alright. thanks for the replies but my derm put me on doxycycline 200 mg a day, with a clyndamycin/BP topical and retin-a.