Strep

I went to the doctor a couple of weeks back for strep throat. My wife had just gotten a rocephin shot for strep a few days before I went to the doctor, so I knew what to expect. She visited a walk-in place in the town she works in. Well, when I went in to the walk-in place in our town, I explained that my wife had strep, and had gotten the shot. The PA explained to me that they treat strep with the Z Pack, and not the shot. I was suprised to leave with just the Z Pack, and no needle in the butt.

Since my BP was a bit elevated, and it's been a good while since having my own doctor, I decided to arrange for a physical with a new doc. We will see how that goes.

I used to get injections all the time when I was sick, & about 5 years ago my doctor started giving me z-packs instead

The Z-Pak has been the commonly used treatment for strep for at least 20 years.

I was suprised, since my wife got the shot. She said that the shot really hurt, but she felt better the same day. I got all excited for nonthing, but I did get better in a few days.

The last time I got an antibiotic for strep was over 20 yrs ago. Most antibiotic injections today are given to hospital patients via their IV.

From what I understand, the injection used to be very common but apparently the penicillin shot for it got really expensive so now a lot of doctor's offices just prescribe oral antibiotics.

Personally, I think I'd prefer a shot in the butt to take care of it. Just don't like having to take pills for several days.

Had largely the same experience. Wife got strep, got a shot of some form of penicillin said it was extremely painful. And an oral antibiotic.

A few days later I feel like I'm coming down with it. I go to a different walk in place and the doc says hell write me a script for anti biotic. I told him my wife got a shot and I'd prefer a shot because pills give me diarrhea usually. He said sorry but the federal gov. Has made shots of penicillin too expensive to maintain. But if I wanted a shot to kick start the antibiotics he'd add one. I thanked him for it.

Cute nurse comes in and gave me 500 mg ancef in my hip ventrogluteal site for those of you with an injection fetish (like me). It hurt but wasn't that bad. My wife's -judging from her band aid was given in dorsogluteal -just interesting the different treatments for the exact same thing given in different walk in clinics.

Hey I just found my old profile! Another thing to add about this recent shot... It seemed like the ventrogluteal site made it more, well, intimate (?) had to take my boxers down lower, and the nurse sort of leaned over me as she was gauging the landmarks with her hand on my naked hip.

These days nobody gets shots anymore, so it seems, unless it is for things that are potentially life threatening.

Shots on the butts? Vere rare. There is fear of hitting the sciatic nerves and get sued for that.

I find that the Z-pak doesn't work for me.

I always got the z-pak for strep

The Z-pak is one common treatment and has been for a while. There are a couple of exceptions that I know of. One is immune compromised individuals and the other is those individuals who have, or are at risk for Rheumatic Fever. In those cases, Bicillin LA is often the drug of choice.

Azithromycin is the correct choice. An additional option is Augmentin. Both have coverage you need for Strep. Shot is uncommon.

Um.. No. From the CDC one month ago:

"Penicillin or amoxicillin is the antibiotic of choice to treat group A strep pharyngitis. There has never been a report of a clinical isolate of group A strep that is resistant to penicillin. However, resistance to azithromycin and clarithromycin is common in some communities"

We are seeing a LOT of Zithromax resistance because they hand Z-pak prescriptions out like candy. We use Pen-V K first line, clindamycin if pen allergic. Rocephin IM or IV if the patient can't swallow. We used to use Bicillin LA, but the price went through the roof, and if they go out of date was a lot of money to throw away.

Believe it or not the patients preferred the Bicillin.. Leaves a lump but doesn't burn or sting, and usually very significant relief in about 12 hours, and it's one shot and done.

Doc

Going to chip in here because I came down with strep earlier this week.

My doctor explained that oral antibiotics are usually the standard: pencillin or amoxicillin. They took a different approach with me due to extensive medical history that cannot be explained in one forum post.

Believe it or not the patients preferred the Bicillin.. Leaves a lump but doesn't burn or sting, and usually very significant relief in about 12 hours, and it's one shot and done.

I received a Bicillin injection for the sake of shielding my stomach from any more damage than has already been done over the years. I was feeling significantly better within the 12-18 hour frame. However, the shot caused a considerable amount of discomfort both when I got it and for several days later. It's now Thursday and only late yesterday afternoon did the soreness reach a point that I could forget about it. I got the shot on Monday. Luckily it is a one and done deal like stated before me.

I can't say I like the shot option. It was better than the alternatives I was given, but if oral antibiotics were an option I would have taken them, no questions asked.

@docinny45 I’m a doctor’s nightmare when it comes to antibiotics! I’m allergic to everything you mentioned except for Zithromax or Levoquin and Cipro! Everything else gives me hives!

... We used to use Bicillin LA, but the price went through the roof, and if they go out of date was a lot of money to throw away... Doc

The price of Bicillin is insane.... Somewhere around $165 for a 1.2 million unit prefil syringe. When I was in school -- many many years ago -- I remember the instructor telling us that the syringe cost more than the bicillin. How times have changed in the consolidation of the pharmaceutical industry.