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Is There Any Way To Treat Pseudomembranous Colitis Other Than Antiobiotic Usage?

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Posted on Tue, 22 Apr 2014
Twitter Tue, 22 Apr 2014 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 12 May 2014 Last reviewed on
Question : I was diagnosed with pseudomembranous colitis during routine colonoscopy. This explained having nausea, fatigue and abdomen pain. I do not have diarrhea, but my stool has a lot of membranes. Dr. recommended taking probiotics, which do not seem to help as I have been taking them for years. He stated that there are two ways to treat this condition - to take antibiotics or fecal implant. I took a course of ant., but they make me nautilus and pain and fatigue also came back. What do I need to do to make insurance pay for fecal implant? And is this the only way to treat this condition without antibiotics?
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Answered by Dr. Enrique Molina (1 hour later)
Brief Answer: Antibiotics needed Detailed Answer: you definitely should be on antibiotics until cured. the first line therapy is metronidazole, however it has plenty of side effects and many patients do not tolerate it. vancomycin is also used for C Diff infection (which is what you have), however it is reserved for more severe cases, recurrent cases, or if you can't tolerate the metronidazole. then there is also a third antibiotic called Fidaxomicin, which is pretty good too, but expensive as it is new. fecal transplant would be reserved for patients that do not respond to antibiotics and have recurrent infection. it is very effective. insurance should pay for it. there is no other way to treat it. probiotics can help, but do not cure it.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Enrique Molina

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 364 Questions

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Is There Any Way To Treat Pseudomembranous Colitis Other Than Antiobiotic Usage?

Brief Answer: Antibiotics needed Detailed Answer: you definitely should be on antibiotics until cured. the first line therapy is metronidazole, however it has plenty of side effects and many patients do not tolerate it. vancomycin is also used for C Diff infection (which is what you have), however it is reserved for more severe cases, recurrent cases, or if you can't tolerate the metronidazole. then there is also a third antibiotic called Fidaxomicin, which is pretty good too, but expensive as it is new. fecal transplant would be reserved for patients that do not respond to antibiotics and have recurrent infection. it is very effective. insurance should pay for it. there is no other way to treat it. probiotics can help, but do not cure it.