QuestionI have been hospitalized approximately 20 times in the past 1 1/2 for pulmonary embolisms, deep vein thrombosis DVT left leg and a spider bite from a brown recluse which was a total nightmare. Those are most definitely the worst spiders out there and very, very painful. I was bit on the top of my right foot - five months later, I thought they were going to have to amputate my foot however, the performed surgery and saved my foot thank God! However, while on the blood thinner coumadin which I will have to take the rest of my life because I have a protein C deficiency in my blood inherited from my Father. Fun. Fun. Fun. I tried working and my legs would swell so bad from sitting I could hardly walk by the time I left work. If I stand too long they swell also - it's a catch 22. However, when taking antibiotics with the coumadin I have severe allergic reactions - I become psychotic - hallucinate, talk to people I think are there and really believe they are - I black out and don't know where I am - it is so scary I can't even begin to describe how horrible those reactions can be. I tried like 6 antibiotics with the spider bite and had to stop taking them because of the drug interactions. I mentioned this to the coumadin clinic where I have my PT/INR's done and they say they have never heard of such a thing however, when I looked up Bactrim it plainly states you can hallucinate if taking with blood thinners and suggest that you do not take Bactrim with the Coumadin. Each antibiotic I tried affected me the same way. Am I going nuts and becoming psychotic or is this truly a drug interaction? PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS AS I AM BAFFLED TO BE THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THESE TYPE OF REACTIONS. YOUR ASSISTANCE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. IF I CAN BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE TO YOU (I AM A GRAPHIC ARTIST, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRAINER, MEDICAL DICTATION SPECIALIST AND CAN ASSIST WITH DATABASE MANAGEMENT, SPREADSHEETS, MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATIONS, ETC.
THANK YOU. I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU AT YOUR CONVENIENCE.
BEST REGARDS,
SUSIE HOMSEY
shomsey@bellsouth.net
AnswerYou are correct and here are the studies just this year to confirm you belief.
1: Weinberg AD, Altman JS, Pals JK. Related Articles, Links
Quality improvement case study: warfarin sodium interactions.
J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2006 Jun;7(5):315-8.
PMID: 16765868 [PubMed - in process]
2: Regal RE, Vue CO. Related Articles, Links
Drug Interactions between Antibiotics and Select Maintenance Medications: Seeing More Clearly Through the Narrow Therapeutic Window of Opportunity.
Consult Pharm. 2004 Dec;19(12):1119-28.
PMID: 16553473 [PubMed - in process]
3: Kelly M, Moran J, Byrne S. Related Articles, Links
Formation of rectus sheath hematoma with antibiotic use and warfarin therapy: a case report.
Am J Geriatr Pharmacother. 2005 Dec;3(4):266-9.
PMID: 16503323 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
4: Stroud LF, Mamdami MM, Kopp A, Bell CM. Related Articles, Links
The safety of levofloxacin in elderly patients on warfarin.
Am J Med. 2005 Dec;118(12):1417. No abstract available.
PMID: 16378802 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
5: Phillips S, Barr A, Wilson E, Rockall TA, Stebbing JF. Related Articles, Links
Two cases of retroperitoneal haematoma caused by interaction between antibiotics and warfarin.
Emerg Med J. 2006 Jan;23(1):e8.
PMID: 16373793 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
6: Johnson MC, Wood M, Vaughn V, Cowan L, Sharkey AM. Related Articles, Links
Interaction of antibiotics and warfarin in pediatric cardiology patients.
Pediatr Cardiol. 2005 Sep-Oct;26(5):589-92.
PMID: 16235009 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
7: Glasheen JJ, Fugit RV, Prochazka AV. Related Articles, Links
The risk of overanticoagulation with antibiotic use in outpatients on stable warfarin regimens.
J Gen Intern Med. 2005 Jul;20(7):653-6.
PMID: 16050864 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
8: Aldous JA, Olson CJ. Related Articles, Links
Managing patients on warfarin therapy: a case report.
Spec Care Dentist. 2001 May-Jun;21(3):109-12.
PMID: 11507845 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
