Restarting antibiotics?
April 25, 2022 3:44 AM   Subscribe

I have recurrent bouts of prostatitis, urethritis, and epididymitis. My doctor gave me a bunch of doxycycline, and I usually take 100mgs/twice a day for 2 weeks whenever I feel something coming on. It's worked well for me over this year. But, this time, I felt something coming on, and made the mistake of only finishing about half the usual course. I was fine for a few days, but then got hit with epididymitis. I immediately start taking the doxycycline again, but now I'm worried about resistance, especially because I'm allergic to all the other major antibiotics. Will I be okay? I know YANMD, but I'm in the USA and I can't afford to see one.
posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (5 answers total)
 
You are unlikely to develop resistance that quickly.

Do you have a sexual partner(s)? Someone could be re-infecting you regularly.
posted by theora55 at 6:27 AM on April 25, 2022


Is there a Planned Parenthood where you are? They provide health care to all the bodies, and are really, REALLY helpful for people with no resources.
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 6:40 AM on April 25, 2022 [4 favorites]


IANAD, but I have struggled with recurring ear infections all my life, and I would not fuck around with trying to figure out bad consequences after stopping mid-course like this without a medical provider. (Like you, I have carried antibiotics to the field and successfully treated myself without issue.) Doxycycline isn’t Augmentin, but it’s not a vitamin, either, and if this is a recurring problem for you, I would want you to have the best treatment to prevent further complications.
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 6:44 AM on April 25, 2022


This is not a question that can be answered without a visit to a doctor. Nonetheless, some studies are looking into using doxycycline as PEP ("doxypep") to reduce incidence rates of STIs. Long-term usage to manage acne is also not uncommon by patients who can tolerate side effects (e.g., diarrhea). You might discuss using it long-term for managing other infections, but this is really something you should talk to a clinician about, first.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 9:46 AM on April 25, 2022


If you are allergic to multiple antibiotics you can't afford to fuck around with self-treating. Go to Planned Parenthood if necessary but you need skilled clinical input for this potentially serious infection. They are an excellent resource for genito-urinary infections.

If this doesn't clear up completely it's likely to come back, and may evolve into an infection that requires IV antibiotics and a consult with an Infectious Disease specialist to pinpoint the exact antibiotic you need.

I know this because I, too, am allergic to nearly every antibiotic, prompting me to have allergy testing because it freaked me out that if I ever need surgery I'd be screwed. Nobody will perform elective surgery on someone who can't take antibiotics. I found that I was not allergic to penicillin, which I'd always been told, but remained allergic to several other "families" of antibiotics. Still, adding penicillin to the small list of OK abx was a relief. That might be an avenue that could help you, too.
posted by citygirl at 2:10 PM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]


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