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Is Nitrofurantoin As Effective As Flagyl For Treating Diverticulitis?

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Posted on Thu, 30 Jan 2014
Question: Is nitrofurantoin as effective as flagyl for treating diverticulitis?
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Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (39 minutes later)
Brief Answer: No, it is not. Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for the query. No, it is not. Nitrofurantoin is not even an antibiotic. It is chemotherapeutic what means that it does not kill bacteria, just prevents them from growing. Moreover nitrofurantoin does not penetrates to tissues, just works in the urine. So Flagyl is much more effective and can not be replaced by Nitrofurantoin. Please also note that you should not treat diverticulitis by yourself. Every diverticulitis brings risk of intestine perforation that is why medical attention is necessary. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (5 minutes later)
Sounds like i need to visit another doctor, then. I mentioned to the doctor i saw today that I'd had lots of trouble with Flagyl, and he prescribed this instead. Should I find an urgent care to visit for this over the weekend, or can it wait til Monday? I am also taking cipro. Thanks.
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Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (24 minutes later)
Brief Answer: . Detailed Answer: Ciprofloxacine 500 mg twice a day can deal with diverticulitis. Sometimes it is enough and Flagyl is not necessary. So you can try it and see if your symptoms are improving. If strong abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting will appear, you should go to er. Otherwise er is not necessary. You should also avoid solid foods for a day or two. Have liquid diet like soup, tea and water. Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (2 minutes later)
Should I discontinue the nitrofurantoin, then? I do not have a bladder infection.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (7 minutes later)
Brief Answer: . Detailed Answer: Weak tissues penetration makes it completely useless in case of diverticulitis or any other than bladder infection. So no reason to continue it. Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Grzegorz Stanko

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 5795 Questions

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Is Nitrofurantoin As Effective As Flagyl For Treating Diverticulitis?

Brief Answer: No, it is not. Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for the query. No, it is not. Nitrofurantoin is not even an antibiotic. It is chemotherapeutic what means that it does not kill bacteria, just prevents them from growing. Moreover nitrofurantoin does not penetrates to tissues, just works in the urine. So Flagyl is much more effective and can not be replaced by Nitrofurantoin. Please also note that you should not treat diverticulitis by yourself. Every diverticulitis brings risk of intestine perforation that is why medical attention is necessary. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.