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Can Florastor Be Taken For A Long Duration?

Posted on Thu, 13 Oct 2016

Question: To forestall a possible siege of C-Diff resulting from a one-week regime of a strong anti-biotic for a possible cause of my irritable bowel symptoms (cramps, bloating, gassiness but NOT diarrhea or constipation) I was advised to take Florestar during that week and for one week after. Now, two weeks after my last Florestar dose, my irritable bowel symptoms are gratifyingly reduced. Should I resume taking Florestar daily? or from time to time? or one week on, one week off? or not at all? YYYY@YYYY

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
no...

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

using such products has not shown any well documented benefit for patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Therefore it is not recommended. Taking it won't hurt you though... So while the medical recommendation is against its use, you can take it if you believe it has benefited you. I can't suggest any dosage for obvious reasons.

I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (11 minutes later)

Thank you, Doctor Zografakis. That fits with my sense of the situation. I gather you don't disagree with the original suggestion, from my gastroenterologist, that a couple of weeks on Florestar might be a good precaution against the risk, however remote, of C-Diff as a side effect (for up to two months, according to the literature with the drug) of the antibiotic.
XXXXXXX XXXX

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I don't disagree

Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!

You're right... I don't disagree with that. We usually prescribe it (or other similar products) for as long as the patient takes antibiotics though. As I've already pointed out, it doesn't do any harm to take it for longer!

Kind Regards!

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar