Oral Thrush and Nystatin

[sunnygir1]

So, my baby has nasty oral thrush. I gave it a few days of trying natural remedies, but now I've gotten the Nystatin prescription and am going that route.

It is an oral suspension and the recommended dose is 1t 4 times a day. Does that seem like a crazy amount to anyone but me? The little guy is only 1 year old and 20-some pounds! Of course i don't kow what anything means on the label, but the only thing it says is "nystatin oral susp 473" even the pharmacist said that seemed like a lot.

Any thoughts?

[shotmama]

you know my LO had a super nasty one that lasted 4 months cause i had an emergency c-section. i was always in tears, and even considered quitting BF so many times.

do you also have thrush?
if you do, i would ask for a topical ointment for you, too.

my LO was prescribed the same thing. i also felt the dosage was just too much for such a little body, and for us it totally did nothing to help! i talked with my lactation consultant, and she took a look at my LO and us over a period of a few weeks, and determined that when i stopped having thrush that hers would clear up on its own.

and she was right. nothing cleared up (in fact everything got worse) until i used the topical ointment. for some reason they sometimes don't mention it or give it to you unless you request it. i am by no means saying you should stop using what is prescribed for the babe, but i know using mommy intuition is good, too!

[braidmama]

ds had the same thing around 3 months and was prescribed the same medication/dosage. It did seemed like a lot to me, but for him it cleared up...took like 3 weeks though! Yikes! We didn't end up finishing the bottle...I know they say to use up the whole prescription even if you're feeling better but I just didn't feel comfortable continuing it when there were no signs of it anymore! Also, since you've tried natural rememdies already you are probably already doing this I'm guessing but I stopped eating sugar as well. Just lots and lots of plain yogurt. I didn't have thrush myself but I do have candida on my skin...have for years, large patches of tan/pinkish organic looking shapes all over my neck/back/under bust, etc. I had lots of luck with a candida cleanse I bought at Whole Foods years ago, combined with no sugar in my diet (or very limited, anyway), but as soon as I changed my diet again it came back. I don't want to do the actual cleanse while nursing and didn't while I was pregnant but eliminating sugar seemed to help a lot. I know you weren't asking for all that extra stuff but its related so I thought I'd share!

[sunnygir1]

Thank you for your replies.

I really want to avoid pharmaceutical medications as much as possible, so I won't be leaping for the topical for my breasts just yet. I am taking probiotics, limiting my sugar intake, and cleaning my breasts with a vinegar solution after nursing.

I'm giving him bifidus powder in plain goat yogurt (he's not on cow dairy yet) twice a day. I am taking probiotics and yogurt myself as well.

I haven't gone completely gung-ho on the dietary stuff yet...hoping to have some success without cutting out all fruits, etc. I am already doing so many supplements, etc. for this and ppd that I don't know how much more I can take! Fingers crossed.

UPDATE: I talked to my doctor and he said to reduce the dose to 1/4 t 4x a day for now.

[AndtheStars]

DS and I had thrush around 1 mo old. We had a lot of success with gentian violet. I painted my nipples and swabbed a q-tip around his mouth for about a week. It cleared things up and we've never had a problem since. Besides the purple color everywhere, it was really easy. It's also good for a laugh for your DH/DP to come home to a wife with purple nipples and a baby with a purple mouth.

[fruitfulmomma]

I am on my second round of it and that is the dosage they gave me, so yeah that sounds like a lot for a baby.

[Blessed1]

Originally Posted by sunnygir1

Thank you for your replies.

I really want to avoid pharmaceutical medications as much as possible, so I won't be leaping for the topical for my breasts just yet. I am taking probiotics, limiting my sugar intake, and cleaning my breasts with a vinegar solution after nursing.

I'm giving him bifidus powder in plain goat yogurt (he's not on cow dairy yet) twice a day. I am taking probiotics and yogurt myself as well.

I am doing the same thing right now for me and my 3month old. But I am not using the cream for her mouth like the dr. prescribed! Instead I am using COCONUT OIL and it is clearing up her dipaer rash and oral thrush pretty darn fast! I apply it on my nipples before I feed her and I apply it to her mouth at every diaper change (easiest way to remember) and after feedings.

http://www.candida-cure-recipes.com/...r-candida.html

[sunnygir1]

Originally Posted by dicksonley

DS and I had thrush around 1 mo old. We had a lot of success with gentian violet. I painted my nipples and swabbed a q-tip around his mouth for about a week. It cleared things up and we've never had a problem since. Besides the purple color everywhere, it was really easy. It's also good for a laugh for your DH/DP to come home to a wife with purple nipples and a baby with a purple mouth.

As I would like to avoid medications, I am in no hurry to try Gentian Violet. From Dr. Sears website:
"If the candida is resistant to the standard treatments described above, in consultation with your healthcare provider, try a 0.25 - 0.5 percent solution of gentian violet applied to your nipples twice a day for three days. Gentian violet is effective, but messy. Also, apply a small amount once a day to baby's mouth, but be aware that overuse of gentian violet may irritate the sensitive oral mucus membranes of baby's mouth. Apply Vaseline to baby's lips before using the gentian violet to avoid purple stains.
Warning - gentian violet has been used for many years to treat thrush. A recent study done in Australia has linked gentian violet to cancer of the mouth. However, many other professionals around the world believe that it is safe, and continue to recommend it. For this reason, we suggest you use this remedy sparingly, and for as little time as possible."

[Blessed1]

Originally Posted by Blessed1

I am doing the same thing right now for me and my 3month old. But I am not using the cream for her mouth like the dr. prescribed! Instead I am using COCONUT OIL and it is clearing up her dipaer rash and oral thrush pretty darn fast! I apply it on my nipples before I feed her and I apply it to her mouth at every diaper change (easiest way to remember) and after feedings.

http://www.candida-cure-recipes.com/...r-candida.html

I also asked about the GV because I didn't want to go that route and my dr. doesn't use it.. I told him about the same study linking it to cancer of the mouth and he said that he isn't comfortable using it unless it's an extreme case

[aphel]

Yarg. Thrush almost destroyed our bfing relationship. I feel for ya mama, and hope you aren't having symptoms (or too many anyways) as well as your little one.

I was told nystatin 4x a day for my one month old as well, but she usually only got three doses. We also used gentian violet for a while (purple purple everywhere!). We are at the tail end of our infection, and we're almost symptom free, and I have to say I never did do the diet, though I was on diflucan for a looooooonnnnng time. I added a lot of good foods (garlic, yogurt, lean meat, probiotic supps) but never completely stopped eating sugar or dairy. It helped, but honestly I think it can be beat without major dietary upheavals, in most cases anyway.

Good luck!

[BathrobeGoddess]

moved to health and healing...

[smeep]

I can almost guarantee that the nystatin is in a glucose base which makes it completely counterproductive as yeast thrives on sugar. I used it when DS and I had a really bad case of thrush and it relieved the pain a little and as soon as the 2 week treatment was over it came back worse than before. I gave in and used gentian violet (I, too, was worried by the cancer study so I avoided it at first) and, because it was SO bad, it took about a week before it was gone. Under normal circumstances it clears it up within 2 or 3 days.

Candida Protocol from Dr. Jack Newman
Using Gentian Violet from Dr. Jack Newman

As I said, I too was cautious because I read about the cancer study. However, I did end up looking it up because I was surprised that it was such a large recommendation in the alternative medicine community if it was supposed to be so bad. Apparently the study was long term exposure, several times a day. Not once or twice a day for a few days at a time. You'll want the 1% solution, not the 2% solution (as mentioned in the links above) and I read recently that using a 2% solution also may have been a contributing factor to the outcome of the study. Honestly, for short term use, I think the risks of continuing with thrush (most importantly the risk of weaning or baby not nursing enough because of the pain caused by thrush) are much higher than the small risks of gentian violet and you can observe baby for bad reactions. I would be more concerned about the nystatin (because it's SO much and they swallow it and it's used for such a long time) than the gentian violet. Of course, this is after I've already BTDT.

If you are nursing, make sure you treat both baby's mouth and your breasts. The thrush will NOT be resolved if both of you are not treated.

[sunnygir1]

Originally Posted by smeep

I can almost guarantee that the nystatin is in a glucose base which makes it completely counterproductive as yeast thrives on sugar. I used it when DS and I had a really bad case of thrush and it relieved the pain a little and as soon as the 2 week treatment was over it came back worse than before. I gave in and used gentian violet (I, too, was worried by the cancer study so I avoided it at first) and, because it was SO bad, it took about a week before it was gone. Under normal circumstances it clears it up within 2 or 3 days.

Candida Protocol from Dr. Jack Newman
Using Gentian Violet from Dr. Jack Newman

As I said, I too was cautious because I read about the cancer study. However, I did end up looking it up because I was surprised that it was such a large recommendation in the alternative medicine community if it was supposed to be so bad. Apparently the study was long term exposure, several times a day. Not once or twice a day for a few days at a time. You'll want the 1% solution, not the 2% solution (as mentioned in the links above) and I read recently that using a 2% solution also may have been a contributing factor to the outcome of the study. Honestly, for short term use, I think the risks of continuing with thrush (most importantly the risk of weaning or baby not nursing enough because of the pain caused by thrush) are much higher than the small risks of gentian violet and you can observe baby for bad reactions. I would be more concerned about the nystatin (because it's SO much and they swallow it and it's used for such a long time) than the gentian violet. Of course, this is after I've already BTDT.

If you are nursing, make sure you treat both baby's mouth and your breasts. The thrush will NOT be resolved if both of you are not treated.

Thank you for your thoughts. I just don't think our situation is dire enough to require all these medical protocols or gentian violet. The only reason I decided to go with the nystatin is that his mouth was SO bad by the time I realized what was going on.

I started what I normally do:
dietary restrictions for mama and babe (sugar, simple carbs, fruit, etc.)
probiotics for mama and babe
vinegar solution applied to breasts after breastfeeding
washing laundry and diapers in hot water with a vinegar rinse

He kept getting worse, so on the third day or so I started the nystatin. It's day 5 of the nystatin and he is getting much better...despite it being "counterproductive".

In a couple days I will discontinue the nystatin and continue at least a month with the other things. I am confident we can beat it...I've done it before with my dd -- and never even added the nystatin (although she never really had much show up in her mouth like this).

[smeep]

Originally Posted by sunnygir1

Thank you for your thoughts. I just don't think our situation is dire enough to require all these medical protocols or gentian violet. The only reason I decided to go with the nystatin is that his mouth was SO bad by the time I realized what was going on.

I started what I normally do:
dietary restrictions for mama and babe (sugar, simple carbs, fruit, etc.)
probiotics for mama and babe
vinegar solution applied to breasts after breastfeeding
washing laundry and diapers in hot water with a vinegar rinse

He kept getting worse, so on the third day or so I started the nystatin. It's day 5 of the nystatin and he is getting much better...despite it being "counterproductive".

In a couple days I will discontinue the nystatin and continue at least a month with the other things. I am confident we can beat it...I've done it before with my dd -- and never even added the nystatin (although she never really had much show up in her mouth like this).

I hope it does work for you! Nystatin isn't always completely ineffective, it's just that in my experience most mums I've talked to have found that it ends up being more trouble than it's worth and often doesn't resolve the issue. Obviously that's not the case for everyone, I'm just saying that it's not on my list of recommendations because it all too often just prolongs the process.

BUT, as I said, I do hope that everything you're doing works for you! I made it a habit of adding white vinegar in the rinse cycle for all my bras, underwear, cloth diapers and towels...even though we stopped nursing two years ago. Haha. It's just a good habit to have, IMO.

[ltlmrs]

Ladybug was on two rounds of the full Nystatin dose at 1 month! It did nothing for the thrush. But, homeopathic borax cleared it up in two days!