Hi,
Not too long ago, I developed thrush, post-radiation. The first doctor I saw prescribed a 200 mg. dose of diflucan and then a second dose of 100 mg. to be taken 2 days later, followed by another 100 mg. dose.
While getting the prescription filled, the pharmacist looked up the recommended dosage and said that the minimum treatment of diflucan is 14 days. Another doctor said that usually 5-7 days of treatment is enough to knock out thrush and if it doesn't, another drug is required as continued intake of diflucan won't make much difference.
For those of you who have had thrush and were treated for it with diflucan, what was the course of your treatment?
Thanks, Sheldon

Hi Sheldon,
I made medical history at UCSF CCC for being on Diflucan the longest of any patient they knew of! I was up to 400 mg a day at one point and 200mg/day was the maintenance dose (actually the manufacturer recommends 50 mg/day for maintenance). I was on it for months - so long that it temporarily supressed my white cell count. Although they thought that it was a huge amount I found instances of AIDS patients taking up to 800mg/day.

Sheldon,
I too was on Diflucan for 7 months (on and off) after my treatment. The thrush kept coming back. Doesnt any more though and I am 8 months post treatment, 1 year post diagnosis.

Take it easy.
Robert

Sheldon,
I was on Diflucan for several months while on treatment and just after. Also if I take any antibiotic I still get thrush and I'm 3 years out!

Sheldon, You might ask to try Nystatin swish (perhaps you have already) It is more of a contact anti-thrush rather than a systemic treatment like Diflucan. Nystatin always works for me. (yes I still need it maybe once a month)
Larger doses of Diflucan can be a bit hard on the liver whereas the Nystatin swish seems to have few side effects (they give it to babies)

Just a thought.

Thanks, Mark.
I tried the Nystatin swish but it burned my tongue so I asked for a systemmic alternative. It also felt like it was so loaded with sugar that it was dissolving my teeth. - Sheldon

Sheldon,

I had a bad battle with thrush for many months and I only took 40 mg twice daily (liquid) but usually for 14 days. I had just finished hep c treatment when the cancer was found and had liver issues so I tried to avoid the Diflucan since I could feel it in my liver. (I guess it made my liver quiver.)

I tried a biopathic product called Threelac that is acidophillus and a couple other digestive enzymes. It seemed to do the trick without the liver discomfort. I took a double dose and it was about $65/month. It is not on Quackwatch, by the way.

Ed

Hi Sheldon,
I'm on a permanent dose of Nystatin. Came back from Vegas with a mild case because forgot to take it. It does burn somewhat until it starts to clear up and then ok.

However, during and after I had radiation back in the dark ages, I had thrush so badly I was on both nystatin and diflucan for months. They finally had to put me on a steroid, dexamethasone, for several weeks before it cleared up. Of course, no one bothered to tell me I was not supposed to be eating or drinking anything with sugar or that could turn into sugar, ie. nothing white. There is a whole section on this someplace on this site. Read up on it. Take the Nystatin and watch the sugar and if that doesn't clear it, see the dr.

Hope your flight home wasn't too long. Great to meet you.

uyyyyyyyyy66666666 This post is from my cat, Skippy. Just danced on the keyboard.

Take care,
Eileen

Sheldon- That Three Lac stuff is wonderful. Ed had thrush so bad at one point he laid there (over Labour Day weekend/mid-treatment) crying from the pain (maybe his 3rd degree radiation burns had something to do with it). Once we found the Three Lac and the Domeboro Soak he never had any more radiation burn OR thrush (though we thought we were close a few times). It may not be right for you but dang, it was great at our house.

Have a great evening!

In my experience the burning means thrush, when the burning stops, no more thrush. You are right the nystatin is sweet however I understand it is prepared with an artificial sweetener. I haven't lost my teeth yet and one of the ways I use Nystatin is by swishing just before bed. That way the stuff is working all night. Another natural treatment that seems to help is to eat lots of live culture yoghert.

Strange enough, I had a little bout of thrush when we got home and I could feel it coming on after I drank some cream soda at the Forum. I think it was the first soda I had all year and now I remember why I stopped.

Ed