Sinusitis FAQ

Preventive antibiotic treatment for sinusitis

Question:

Has anyone tried using once a day sulfa antibiotic as a preventive for serious chronic sinusitis?  What results, what risks?

Response:

I haven’t but would also be curious as to whether or not sulfas in general, are good against sinus infections? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Aramar wrote in message <19990704153909.01986.00008…@ng-cc1.aol.com>… >Has anyone tried using once a day sulfa antibiotic as a preventive for serious >chronic sinusitis?  What results, what risks?

Response:

I may be headed for that myself.  But I know that they may not be good as a cure all to wipe out an acute infection since many bugs are now resistant, but I guess they kind of use it preventively like for acne. Carol – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Aramar wrote: > Has anyone tried using once a day sulfa antibiotic as a preventive for serious > chronic sinusitis?  What results, what risks?

Response:

On 4 Jul 1999, Aramar wrote: > Has anyone tried using once a day sulfa antibiotic as a preventive for serious > chronic sinusitis?  What results, what risks?

Where did you hear about this?  Which sulfa drug is it?  What dosage?

Response:

On Sun, 4 Jul 1999, ssohni wrote: > I haven’t but would also be curious as to whether or not sulfas in general, > are good against sinus infections?

I suffered with an intractable sinus infection from November of last year until April of this year.  I took course after course of antibiotics and even was put on prednisone for three weeks (what a nightmare THAT was!) but the infection persisted. Then in April I got dysentery in Mexico and was treated with Bactrim, which I believe may be a sulfa drug.  In a few days the sinus infection cleared up and I have been infection free ever since. Was it the Bactrim?  They also gave me an assortment of other pills for the dysentery, so who knows.  But I know that if I ever get another infection I’m going to ask the Doc to prescribe Bactrim to see if it really works.

Response:

My allergist has prescribed sulfameth-trimethoprin once a day – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> Has anyone tried using once a day sulfa antibiotic as a preventive for >serious >> chronic sinusitis?  What results, what risks? >Where did you hear about this?  Which sulfa drug is it?  What dosage?

Response:

Aramar <ara…@aol.com> wrote in message

news:19990706142949.14554.00001662@ng-cb1.aol.com… > My allergist has prescribed sulfameth-trimethoprin once a day

I think that is the same as Bactrim, also called Septra, available in generic form, one of the cheapest antibiotics, not hard on the stomach (for me at least), and often helpful in sinus infections. Yes, it is a Sulfa antibiotic. But you say he gave it to you to use as a preventative? For how long? Forever? One would think it would lose all efficacy that way, as the bugs will become resistant to it. Or just while you’re having surgery or something? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >> Has anyone tried using once a day sulfa antibiotic as a preventive for > >serious > >> chronic sinusitis?  What results, what risks? > >Where did you hear about this?  Which sulfa drug is it?  What dosage?

Response:

>But you say he gave it to you to use as a preventative? For how long? >Forever? One would think it would lose all efficacy that way, as the bugs >will become resistant to it. Or just while you’re having surgery or >something?

He wants me to take it for three months, then review to see if it changed my trend to have infections every two months.

Response:

I recently spoke to a well educated pharmacist friend of mine about this.  She said that prophylactic antibiotic use is risky due to bacteria resistance.  She said they usually recommend going on periodic antibiotics and that they recommend switching types frequently.  Just another opinion I guess…  I wish I knew. Carol – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Aramar wrote: > Has anyone tried using once a day sulfa antibiotic as a preventive for serious > chronic sinusitis?  What results, what risks?

Response:

I’ve never heard of preventative antibiotic use. If you keep taking it "good" bacteria will become resistant to the antibiotic. Bacteria tend to swap DNA with other bacteria(kinda a communal  bug). Therefore the "bad" bacteria may soon become resistant also. Every 2 months? do you use antiflamatories and sudafed to keep the drainage going when you get these problems? The bacteria waits for stagnant drainage. good luck. On 04 Jul 1999 19:39:09 GMT, ara…@aol.com (Aramar) wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Has anyone tried using once a day sulfa antibiotic as a preventive for serious >chronic sinusitis?  What results, what risks?

Response:

I’ve been on 2/day of bactrim DS (for a condition unrelated to sinus) for 25 months.  So far, so good.  Now problems except early constipation which is now resolved —

Response:

ssohni wrote: > I haven’t but would also be curious as to whether or not sulfas in general, > are good against sinus infections?

Bactrim (a.k.a. Septra) is a sulfa drug commonly used for sinus infections.  Unfortunately, my bugs developed resistance to it years ago.  (They sure learn quickly…) — Steven D. Litvintchouk                   Email:  s…@mitre.org                 Disclaimer:  As far as I am aware, the opinions expressed herein             are not those of my employer.

Response:

>I’ve never heard of preventative antibiotic use.

Its referred to in the new national sinusitis guidelines, for difficult cases.

Response:

>Its referred to in the new national sinusitis guidelines, for difficult >cases.

Where can I read these guidelines? Is there a website? Nadine

Response:

Filed under: Acute sinusitis

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