Anthrax: Preventive Therapy, Part 2

by CDC

(Page 8 of 10)

Ciprofloxacin and doxycycline look different and come in different doses. Is one better than the other?

Ciprofloxacin 500 mg and doxycycline 100 mg both have the same killing power in your bloodstream and are equally effective against anthrax bacteria. Both have similar side effects. Doxycycline is available in both tablet and capsule form. Both will give you the same amount of medicine in your bloodstream to kill the bacteria.

What if the antibiotics I take gives me headaches? Is there anything I can do to help this?

If you don't have a history of headaches, then your headache may be related to the medicine. Changing the time of day that you take the ciprofloxacin or eating after you take the medicine may help. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen may help your headache. If your headache does not go away, you should consult your doctor.

What if the antibiotics I take makes me feel sick to my stomach? Is there anything I can do to help this?

Taking your antibiotic with food may help reduce this sick feeling. Ciprofloxacin and doxycycline should not be taken within 2 hours of taking antacids. Ciprofloxacin and doxycycline should not be taken with dairy or calcium-fortified products (such as ice cream or calcium-fortified orange juice).

What if the antibiotics I take give me diarrhea? Is there anything I can do to help this?

Antibiotics may disrupt bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, causing diarrhea. Food may help relieve the diarrhea. If the diarrhea does not go away, your doctor may recommend another antibiotic. If you develop severe, long-lasting diarrhea, you may have a serious condition and should consult your doctor.

If taking one of the recommended antibiotics makes me feel terrible, can I switch to another of these antibiotics?

If you have tried taking the medicine with food or changing the time of your dose but still feel terrible, you should ask your doctor about switching antibiotics.

What if I get a yeast infection while taking antibiotics? Is there anything I can take for this?

Occasionally, women develop yeast infections while taking amoxicillin. You may treat the infection with over-the-counter medicines such as clotrimazole. If the symptoms do not go away, you should consult your doctor.

What if the antibiotics I am taking make me feel itchy all over. Is there anything I can do to help this?

Rashes that appear suddenly or do not go away after a few days may be signs of an allergic reaction. You should see your doctor immediately.

What if the antibiotics give me an allergic reaction and I stop taking them? What should I do?

If the allergic reaction was severe or rapid, you should notify your doctor before taking another antibiotic. Your doctor will prescribe a different antibiotic that will kill the bacteria without causing an allergic reaction. Remember: you should complete the entire 60 days of treatment even if you change antibiotics.

Why can't I take a shot, wear a patch, or take one large dose of the medicine instead of taking it for 60 days?

Spores can stay in your body for some time before they start growing and causing you to become ill. When the spores are not growing, antibiotics are not effective. Only after the spores start to grow can the antibiotics work. Therefore, you need a constant level of antibiotic in your body for 60 days to make sure that when the spores start to grow, the antibiotic is there to kill them.

I think I may feel much better if I take only one pill of ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, or amoxicillin each day. Is that okay? No. The drug must be taken twice a day to kill the bacteria. If your body contains anthrax bacteria and you do not take the full dose, the bacteria may start to grow again and become harder to kill.

Can I drink alcohol if I am taking antibiotics?

Social drinking of alcohol (fewer than 2 drinks a day) should not cause any side effects unless you already have a liver problem. However, drinking too much alcohol can cause the medicine to leave your body faster, which will decrease the effectiveness of the medicine. If you drink more than two drinks a day, you should tell your doctor so that different medicines can be prescribed.

If I was exposed to Bacillus anthracis and was prescribed antibiotics, but took the medicine only for a couple weeks, wouldn't that weaken any anthrax that's in my body?

Inhaled anthrax spores become lodged in the body and may activate after initial exposure. Antibiotics have little or no effect when the spores are inactive. To be effective in preventing inhalation anthrax, the antibiotics must be in your system when the spores activate. It is necessary to take the medicine for at least 60 days to ensure the best protection against inhalation anthrax.

If an anthrax event occurs, should people buy and store antibiotics?

There is no need to buy or store antibiotics, and indeed, it can be detrimental to both the individual and to the community. First, only people who are exposed to anthrax should take antibiotics, and health authorities must make that determination. Second, individuals may not stockpile or store the correct antibiotics. Third, under emergency plans, the federal government can ship appropriate antibiotics from its stockpile to wherever they are needed.

Will antibiotics protect me from a bioterrorist event? Should I stockpile them?

CDC does not recommend using antibiotics unless a specific disease has been identified. There are several different agents that could be used for bioterrorism, such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins. Not a single antibiotic (or vaccine) works for all of these agents. Antibiotics only kill bacteria, not viruses or other agents that could also be used in a bioterrorist event. Antibiotics are not harmless drugs. They can cause serious side effects and drug interactions. National and state public health officials have large supplies of needed drugs and vaccines if a bioterrorism event should occur. These supplies can be sent anywhere in the United States within 12 hours.

When is a 60-day prescription of prophylactic antibiotics not needed?

People who are determined not to be at risk for inhalation anthrax do not need to take the 60-day course of prophylactic antibiotics. Prophylactic antibiotics are not indicated for the prevention of cutaneous anthrax, for hospital personnel caring for patients with anthrax, or for persons who routinely open or handle mail if there has not been a credible threat.

About the Author

www.cdc.gov
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the 13 major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is the principal agency in the United States government for protecting the health and safety of all Americans and for providing essential human services, especially for those people who are least able to help themselves.