General Medical issues thread

[blackcat20]

Well, you’d hope that if they were not good that someone might have called you. Seems a long time.

Yeah it will be two weeks by the time i get the result.

 

[JohnK]

The drugs from that general part of the world could have anything in them and the label will not be reliable.

Have you checked recently to see where some of the drugs sold in Australia are manufactured?

 

[Renato1]

I don't normally comment on this thread, but I couldn't leave this one there without rebuttal. That's terrible advice (so bad as to be dangerous).

Norfloxacin comes as 400mg tablets, and the dosage is one tablet twice per day. Expect significant side effects if taken as described above. There is no benefit in taking higher doses (rare exception may be in those with extremely high body weights). The drug is (in Australia at least) in short supply and there are better antimicrobials out there for the most part anyway.

Due to (increasing worldwide) antimicrobial resistance, it's highly likely to be ineffective anyway (ie. a poor choice for SE-Asia travellers diarrhoea).

I'd suggest your friend find a new doctor.


The fluid therapy is the one piece of good advice and in the majority of cases of traveler's diarrhoea that would be sufficient treatment (and is probably what would be working rather than the antibiotic overdose). In fact usage where there is no need is what causes antimicrobial resistance.

I'll leave these two links for more info:

Travelers' Diarrhea - Chapter 2 - 2018 Yellow Book | Travelers' Health | CDC (more than you'll ever want to know)

What is antimicrobial resistance?

Thanks, but from
GenRx Norfloxacin Tablets - myDr.com.au

"Norfloxacin is an antibiotic used to treat some bacterial infections, such as:

• urinary tract infections
• infections of the stomach or intestines, such as traveller's diarrhoea."
  

"How much to take
Take norfloxacin only when prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will tell you how many tablets you need to take each day. This depends on your condition and whether or not you are taking any other medicines.

The usual dose of norfloxacin 400mg tablets is one tablet twice a day."

I can see why you are critical of the dosage my friend's Doctor recommended to him beyond the usual dosage, but don't understand why you are critical of the use of Norfloxacin/ Norxacin - as one of it's main usages is plainly for traveller's diarrhoea.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

The pharmacies there stock almost everything but not always cheap either.

I take some antibiotics without consulting a doctor and I'll take anti-fungals such as ketaconazole as needed but cautious of taking too much else and certainly cautious of anything I give to my wife with the issues she's had in recent times.

Imodium is ok for situation above although I'm not sure that's wise either unless need to be out and about.

Interesting thanks. I noticed similar in Bali last year - when my wife ran out of Lyrica from being stuck there because of the volcano - that Lyrica could be bought over the counter, though it was nearly two and a half times dearer than over here when bought with a scrip. About A$22 for a packet of 14 Lyrica, versus $38 here for a packet of 56.

Over the decades, I've always had a chuckle over work colleagues who chose to suffer by letting "nature take its course" rather than popping one or two Imodiums and stopping the suffering. I mean, what's the point of having several sick days off work - if one is actually seriously sick?
Cheers,
Renato

 

[JohnK]

I mean, what's the point of having several sick days off work - if one is actually seriously sick?

That's what sick days are for. Part of my contract.

I think most of us know our limits. Sore throat, coughing, difficulty swallowing then I'll take Amoxil, Rulide and maybe Augmentin Forte.

Take some Imodium for vomiting/diarrhea to relieve symptoms. I'll even take Lasix if I'm severely bloated. May also take Panafcort if inflammation is extreme.

What else? I'd need to be careful about certain pain relievers and antibiotics as the side effects could be unpredictable. I was prescribed Digesic many years ago and was excellent pain relief but it was dangerous and has been taken off the market.

 

[Pushka]

I asked for norflaxcin in Europe and was refused. Not because I didn’t have a script but because the pharmacist said it had been banned there. Too many tendon ruptures. I’d used it before for UTI and it was effective but also interestingly I have tendon ruptures in both hands. She gave me a safer antibiotic.

 

[Renato1]

That's what sick days are for. Part of my contract.

I think most of us know our limits. Sore throat, coughing, difficulty swallowing then I'll take Amoxil, Rulide and maybe Augmentin Forte.

Take some Imodium for vomiting/diarrhea to relieve symptoms. I'll even take Lasix if I'm severely bloated. May also take Panafcort if inflammation is extreme.

What else? I'd need to be careful about certain pain relievers and antibiotics as the side effects could be unpredictable. I was prescribed Digesic many years ago and was excellent pain relief but it was dangerous and has been taken off the market.

I think that you are somewhat like me in effect. Though I was more inclined to often go for a shotgun effect of pills used (one was bound to work)

One can spend one's sick days either miserably sitting on the toilet all day (because it's character building/ it's natural/ God is punishing you) and not going out of the house, or more productively, with an unpleasantly sore stomach doing some shopping, looking for bargains or getting a suntan down the beach.
Regards,
Renato

 

[docjames]

This is why I don’t usually comment.

Between the poor side effect profile, resistance to the drug and others in its class, especially so in SE Asia, and poor efficacy compared to better alternatives (which includes no antibiotics in many cases), it shouldn’t be used as you originally posted.

It a classic case in travellers diarrhoea that you’d get better in a week with Norfloxacin, or 7 days without.

It has a narrow range of uses which is why it stays on the market although it is currently experiencing intermittent stock outages in Australia anyway.

Form your own opinion (you have already I suppose), or have a discussion with your own doctor for further info.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Yeah it will be two weeks by the time i get the result.

Well call them and ask. They are your results, not your doctor’s.

 

[Pushka]

Well call them and ask. They are your results, not your doctor’s.

They won’t give them without Drs consent. Coz we are not grown up enough. Bring on the universal health records.

 

[TheRealTMA]

They won’t give them without Drs consent. Coz we are not grown up enough. Bring on the universal health records.

I’m sure you can be persuasive.

 

[Pushka]

I’m sure you can be persuasive.

Even I get nowhere Drs receptionists are a class of their own.

 

[JohnM]

Well call them and ask. They are your results, not your doctor’s.

The medical and ancillary professions don't see it like that. But it's easily handled: I always ask the referring medico to mark the request form for the results to be copied to me.

 

[Quickstatus]

Drs receptionists are a class of their own.

Same class as lounge dragons

 

[JohnK]

Even I get nowhere Drs receptionists are a class of their own.

Depends on the relationship you have with them?

 

[TheRealTMA]

The medical and ancillary professions don't see it like that. But it's easily handled: I always ask the referring medico to mark the request form for the results to be copied to me.

Ah, a good recommendation.

 

[blackcat20]

Well given its not my usual doctor, we have no relationship. She's a skin specialist. Sounds like I'll get results Tuesday anyway.

 

[Cossie]

Starting to sound like someone else on here, picked up the dreaded lurgy over the last few days, possibly Singapore to Sydney, so I'll have to drink lot's of fluids, does red wine count?

Every time I come back I say that I must get fitter before next trip, never seems to happen though!

 

[love_the_life]

Starting to sound like someone else on here, picked up the dreaded lurgy over the last few days, possibly Singapore to Sydney, so I'll have to drink lot's of fluids, does red wine count?

Every time I come back I say that I must get fitter before next trip, never seems to happen though!

Yeah, I have a friend who has just returned from a cruise and she picked up kennel cough on board, (well not exactly as she isn't a dog and she wasn't in kennels but it's the hacking cough and lurgy you can get when travelling).

 

[love_the_life]

Well given its not my usual doctor, we have no relationship. She's a skin specialist. Sounds like I'll get results Tuesday anyway.

Good luck for today.