Katy,
There's not much information in the literature on this topic, but in general, there's a fairly significant correlation between the use of certain drugs, and MC. In this study, for example:
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/b ... 2/art00016
For CC and LC, respectively, the number of SSRI users was 18% and 28%, compared with 1% for the control group. Note that for NSAIDs, there was a 46% correlation among CC patients, but no correlation was reported for LC. Presumably the LC patients were similar to the controls, which were rated at 23% usage. This evidence, of course, is really simply circumstantial. It doesn't prove that these meds cause MC, it simply shows that a significant percentage of MC patients have a history of using significant amounts of these respective meds.
On the other hand, it is known that SSRIs help to suppress the symptoms of IBS, (though no one knows why), and I've seen reports of Crohn's and UC patients who thought the effects were beneficial.
http://gut.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/55/8/1095
In fact, there is a school of thought that speculates that the body's immune reaction to candida is what brings on the immune reaction to gluten, (because gluten protein mimics candida protein). Some celiacs have noted an improvement in their symptoms while they were taking an SSRI, and there is speculation that SSRIs might control the candida, and thereby reduce the celiac autoimmune reaction to gluten.
Researchers, however, point out that sertraline, (Zoloft), for example, reaches steady-state plasma levels of 50 µg/L, which is a concentration significantly lower than that required for anti-fungal activity. Therefore, if SSRIs do indeed suppress candida, (and collaterally, gluten autoimmune reactions), then it does so by some unknown mechanism, (most likely not by it's anti-fungal properties).
This same school of thought also claims that, (like MC), candidiasis can never be "cured", it can only be controlled - either by a sugar-free diet, a good population of the right gut bacteria, (or probiotics), or by meds, (such as SSRIs).
Interesting speculation - isn't it.
Tex
Currently candidiasis can't be gotten rid of. It can only be controlled ......like with SSRI's ......or a sugar-free diet.
