[pct-l] Trip report-CA section G-long

[Bob Bankhead]

Dr. Moore speaks words of wisdom. Take them to heart.

Ciprofloxacin carries a black box warning because of the high risk of tendon
rupture associated with its use. Even a single use has reportedly resulted
in rupture. That does NOT mean it will for you; just that it did in the
study. 

For that reason, I discarded my earlier Rx for Cipro and asked my doctor to
prescribe a different antibiotic without the tendon rupture potential. He
offered 2 possibilities; one that targets primarily systemic (respiratory,
intestinal and urinary tract) infections and another that targets primarily
wound and physical damage infections. I am never more than five days from
access to medical care and decided I was more likely to encounter the latter
while hiking in the western mountains. Accordingly, he wrote me a Rx for 20
Cephalexin 500 mg capsules and included detailed instructions on not only
how to take it, but more importantly, when to take it.

The importance of having a good long-term relationship with your doctor,
especially one who is also an outdoorsman, cannot be overstated. It will go
a long way in convincing him or her to give you non-refillable prescriptions
for small quantities of antibiotics and/or heavy-duty pain medications in
accordance with the risks associated with where and how you hike. He/she
will know you are not just drug-seeking.



 

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of CHRIS C MOORE
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 9:01 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trip report-CA section G-long


If you ask your physician for a prescription they can write you one and
review with you the indications for taking it. In addition they can
determine if you have a contraindication for taking it, whether it might
interact with your current medications and discuss possible side effects.
For instance did you know that ciprofloxacin can cause hypersensitivity to
sunlight resulting in a blistering rash to sun exposed skin? It can also
cause achilles tendon rupture - hard to hike with that. There are good
reasons why you need a medical professional to prescribe medications and a
pharmacist to dispense them. Oh and your swollen hand. Unless you where
bitten by a cat cellulitis won't cause your hand to blow up overnight. More
likely you had a localized reaction to something from the bite.

Chris Moore, MD