I am having issues with an infected tooth. I may have to have it pulled. I’ve been to the dentist and he is sending me to an endodontist this week. Right now I am not on antibiotics which makes me nervous. I am allergic to penicillin.
I have called and sent messages to my hepatologist atMayo clinic to inquire which is the safest antibiotic for my liver in the event I have to have antibiotics. I have not heard back from anyone at Mayo although I have spoken to several people there who assured me someone would get back to me. Evidently all antibiotics are hard on the liver according to the Internet.
I was wondering what various antibiotics anyone with PBC has used without issue.
Thanks for your help. 💕
Linda
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Twojer
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To be honest I’ve not used antibiotics since having PBC but I do know NOT to take Nitrofurantoin also called Macrobid that is really bad for the liver as that is the one my hepatologist said triggered my PBC. Hope someone gets back to you very soon x
Hi - I’ve recently had six teeth out. I also needed to have antibiotics. I was prescribed Amoxicillin by my dentist. I checked with my GP before taking it and he assured me that because I would only be taking it for a short time (7days) it would be fine. Sometimes we have to make difficult choices and if the only way to clear up an infection is by taking antibiotics, for me, it’s a no brainer. I’m in the UK by the way.
I am so sorry you have had teeth issues too. I think that teeth issues seem to plague some of us PBCers. I am constantly flossing, water-pikking, and brushing but it doesn’t seem to help. I looked up Amoxicillin and it says it’s in the same family as penicillin which I am allergic to so may not be able to take that one. ☹️
Yes I was very surprised and disappointed that Mayo did not call or even message me through the patient portal. I gave the contact Info to the endodontist office and they are going to try to contact them. Maybe they will have better luck than I did.
I am thinking about going to an allergy doctor to see if they can test for penicillin allergy. My mother told me she was told that I was allergic when I was a baby but I have an identical twin sister who is not allergic to it.
I am going back to the endo next week for done type of procedure to see if they will have to pull it or if they can do a root canal instead.
Hi Twojer, my husband and my daughter where both allergic to penicillin when they where little but in adulthood their doctor tried them on it and they where both ok so good chance you maybe ok too good luck
Very interesting. Was it their primary care doctor that tried them on it? How did he/she go about it? Did they give them a tablet and then monitor them?
Hi it was the primary care doctor they just said to them both lets try it the doctor properly knew that it was in childhood they where allergic so said to them both lets see how you get on and they where both fine on a course of penicillin for 7 days . They where both absolutely fine . Hope the same happens for you if you go down that root take care & good luck x💚
After more calls by me to my Mayo doctor’s office and two phone calls by my endodontist’s office I received a phone call back from my doctor’s office that I could take ANY antibiotic.
My endodontist prescribed Clindamycin. When I looked it up online it said Clindamycin had been implicated in instances of hepatic injury. I am keeping my fingers crossed I will get through this without causing further injury to my liver or anything else.
Thanks so much for yours and the others who answered my question about antibiotics with suggestions and concern.
Tricky one, no antibiotics are good for the liver but needs must and all that. I have taken Amoxicillin when needed for dental problems also Nitrofurantoin for repeated UTI infections it’s the only one that works for me. Like most of us we don’t need anything that makes our liver work harder but sometimes we have too. Hard choice but hope you get some answers from your clinic. I am faced with needing to take an antibiotic low dose long term or wait another attack of Cystitis! Hope you manage to get away without having to take any. Good luck
Because of my penicillin allergy I can’t take Amoxicillin I looked up Nitrofurantoin and it seemed like a possibility but read further and it says it’s only effective with UTIs and not tooth issues. I will certainly keep it in mind for my next UTI.
A hepatologist’s input would have been wonderful because of my allergies and liver ( I am also a non-responder to Ursodiol). I am so disappointed in the non-response of my doctor. Up until this tooth issue they had been great. I mean I did not even get a “sorry we don’t know” in response to the phone messages I left and the message I sent through the patient portal. The front desk people were sympathetic and concerned and said they would make sure they would mark my message urgent. So now I have been a week with a massive infection without antibiotics. My endodontist appointment is tomorrow, thank God.
Maybe they will be able to contact my hepatologist if they need to do a consult.
Bummer to hear you are having to deal with this. I too am allergic to the "Cillin" family of medicine. Don't do any better on Keflex or Sulpha. I had a major sinus infection that went misdiagnosed as an eye infection (long story) I had been given eye drops which did nothing. By the time I was correctly diagnosed, it was too late for alternative methods. I was given Levaquin. It's fairly new in the world of antibiotics, but easy on my stomach, no "liver" or digestive issues occurred either. The 'ol standby CIpro is effective and milder on me too. Good luck. Infection in teeth/gum/roots is nothing to play around with. If infection occurs, it can travel to the heart or the brain. Call the pharmacist/chemist. They are usually more aware of pharmaceuticals than doctors anyway. Hope you are feeling on top of the world soon. Remember your probiotics when using these drugs....space out the time in between taking the anti's and the pro's. Be well
That was a lot of good information! Besides penicillin I am also allergic to sulfa. I hope I never get a systemic infection.
I will check out Leavaquin.
I hear you about tooth infections! I looked it up and it said all kinds of nightmare physical problems could occur from bone destruction, lymph nodes, systemic infections, and blindness. That’s why I kept calling my doctor’s office and why I was so worried I wasn’t on antibiotics.
That was a good suggestion about probiotics. Thanks!
I am always touched by the kindnesses shown here. There is a real sense of concern and a desire to help in the responses. We understand each other’s journeys with PBC and yet each one of our experiences with it is so unique.
I just had a phone call from the orthodontist to confirm my appointment tomorrow. I asked if they would be able to do something tomorrow. The receptionist said “Oh no tomorrow is just an evaluation.They won’t do anything until next week. “
Levaquin is suppose to be a good antibiotic. I had a tremendous allergic reaction to it & ended up in hospital via squad. Thought I was having a stroke .
Oh my gosh that must have been so scarey for you. I think Leavaquin is one of those super antibiotics like Cipro. None of the antibiotics are great if you look at the warnings and side effects.
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