Oral thrush

[BM]

I've developed quite severe oral thrush over the past few days. I'd had it before when I was in hospital with PCP and it was cleared up quite easily with fluconazole. Now I'm on my meds, it seems there are few anti-fungals available to deal with the problem (they interact with Viramune). I'm supposed to be getting some "medicated sweets" (amphotericin?) from my doctor but I was wondering if there was anything I could be doing to lessen the problem. Could brushing with Colgate Total and/or using Listerine be making the problem worse? I'm currently using doxycycline for an acne-type rash that appeared shortly after I started my meds.

[Ann]

BM,

You might find that eating plenty of plain, bio-active yogurt helps.

As for the brushing and mouthwash, I can only tell you that things with strong flavours - like spices or mint - always make my mouth feel much worse when I've got oral thrush. Whether or not it actually makes the thrush worse, well, I'm not sure. I just avoid strong flavours, carbonated drinks, alcohol, that kind of thing when I've got thrush because of the "ow" factor.

I'm not on hiv meds yet, so I can't be of any assistance where the meds are concerned. I can still use fluconazole for what ails me.

Hope you feel better soon.

Ann

[Pippet]

BM,

  I found a mouthwash at my local drug store called "Prevention" that has no Alcohol (active ingedient: Zinc and Hydrogen Peroxide).  It was quite soothing when I went through a period of thrush.

  I know how frustating thrush can be. Hopfully you'll get it cleared up soon.

Be well, Pip

[J.R.E.]

Hello,

Should also try to limit your sugar intake. If you drink alcohol, and smoke, you should try to to stop that also, until it starts clearing up. Change your toothbrush more frequently, until things get better, might want to get a tongue scraper. Just practice a lot of good oral hygiene. Stick with whatever medication that has been prescribed for this, and use it as directed. I have even rinsed my mouth with Hydrogen peroxide. It gets a little foamy, and you don't want to swallow the stuff.

As your t-cell count goes up, the thrush should start diminishing.


Ray

[lean2265]

Try this.
HP 3% grade...u cna get this from cvs or walgreens or any big grocery store.
It's hydrogen peroxide...u just swish it in ur mouth for 30 sseconds-1minutes....twice a day.
Please don't swallow or inhale it.......

I hope it work for u

[hivsweden]

Drinking fizzy mineral water with a high level of sodium bicarbonate helps when you have oral thrush. (I don't know the name of any such mineral waters available in Scotland, but perhaps someone else can help here?)

[denb45]

I've developed quite severe oral thrush over the past few days. I'd had it before when I was in hospital with PCP and it was cleared up quite easily with fluconazole. Now I'm on my meds, it seems there are few anti-fungals available to deal with the problem (they interact with Viramune). I'm supposed to be getting some "medicated sweets" (amphotericin?) from my doctor but I was wondering if there was anything I could be doing to lessen the problem. Could brushing with Colgate Total and/or using Listerine be making the problem worse? I'm currently using doxycycline for an acne-type rash that appeared shortly after I started my meds.

Oral thrush is the pits, it rears-it's ugly-head about every 2 to 3 yrs. for me, but, after a Med regime change and some Bactrum DS, it clears it right up for me    my ID Doctor told me that hydrogen peroxide is the worst thing to put in your month, it destroys the natural  flora-fona-bacteria needed to fight off infection in your month...........at least for me,  (hydrogen peroxide) it made my oral thrush
worse 

[AndyArrow]

I've never had oral thrush ... mine always develops much deeper in my esophagus.  My doctor has me use Clotrimazole Troche (or Lozenge).  They just sort of melt under your tongue like an antacid.  I've never had a problem with any drug interaction but I know everyone is different so good luck.

AA

[BM]

When the thrush was treated systemically, it tended to stay away for months at a time. Now it doesn't seem to matter what I do: it never goes away.

I'm currently using amphotericin lozenges and might as well be using a placebo.

[penguin]

you might want to discuss this study with your dr. worth noting of those on ARV's 74% were taking nvp based combo.

good luck, oral thrush is miserable, i know

kate

[BM]

Thanks for that, I'll mention it next time I see my doctor.

I was given some low dose fluconazole today and told to use it for three days along with the lozenges. I'm a bit worried that constant exposure to fluconazole (this is the fifth course since July) is going to give me a resistant strain of thrush.

Am I right in thinking that any dose of fluconazole has the same effect on plasma nevirapine levels?