Doxy & Diflucan & Benicar COMBOS? (sandi & tami)

[Guest guest]

Sandi and Tami.... I'm confused with you saying:

''Benicar is supposed to help the antibiotic be more effective''

That is for high blood pressure, one I take, so I can't imagine how it would help an antibiotic ....or help with herxing? It just doesn't make much sense to me. Unless a lower BP helps. Ummmmm I don't think so, eh? (but then who knows?)

Also Sandi not sure if you caught that connection I mentioned between Erythromycin and Diflucan... high risk for heart attacks.... and I know you're on the Doxy (one of my favs if I have to be on one) but "I" still would be very cautious of mixing any antibiotic with that antifungal (or any antifungal).

But that's me. *sigh*...I don't know how close Erythromycin is related to Doxy chemically and haven't checked it out but I would if "I" were taking both.

PLUS seeing you mention Benicar (that's an ACE inhibitor) ... I'm just double glad it's not a BP calcium channel blocker *see below* .) Another one you DON"T want to take with erythromycin (and I know you're on the doxy) but.....

Anyway hon here's one link to check out .

arggggggh another Reuters dead one but here's the article about Diflucan and Erythromycin and Heart death risk in combination.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews & storyID=6184886 & src=eDialog/GetContent & section=news

(Link now void)

" Antibiotic Interaction May Raise Heart Death Risk By Gene Emery BOSTON (Reuters) - Doctors have known for years that the antibiotic erythromycin can, in rare cases, spark an abnormal and sometimes fatal heartbeat. (In fact they call it an erythromycin heart attack, Dee) But 'combining' it with several common drugs may 'dramatically' increase that risk, researchers warned on Wednesday. Their analysis of 1,476 sudden deaths in Tennessee found a fivefold increase in the chance of dropping dead from a heart attack among people taking erythromycin 'plus' one of a handful of drugs. Yet even erythromycin, if used alone, 'doubled the risk' of sudden death, said the team, led by Wayne Ray of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville. "We were very surprised. We were expecting maybe a slight increase in deaths, if anything," he told Reuters. The drug is a general-purpose antibiotic that is commonly prescribed. More recently, research has shown that some drugs can 'double' the time it takes for the body to break down erythromycin, increasing the risk that the antibiotic will disrupt the heart's electrical rhythm. Until the new study, published in this week's edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, the scope of the erythromycin risk had not been assessed. "People knew that in theory, this might pose a problem, but this is the first study to document serious outcomes," Ray said. Two of the drugs found to 'interact' with 'erythromycin' are fairly common. One is diltiazem, also known as Cardizem, which is prescribed to fight the chest pain of angina, and used to lower high blood pressure and, at times, restore circulation to fingers and toes in people with Raynaud's syndrome. Diltiazem is also sold under the brand names Tiazac and Dilacor as well as Cardizem. (calcium channel blockers) . The second drug is verapamil, sold under brand names like Calan and Isoptin. It is also used for heart and blood pressure problems, but can be prescribed for migraines, asthma, manic depression, and panic attacks.

The problem also applies to fungus-fighting drugs that contain nitromidazole. Once seldom used, those medicines are often given to people with HIV, the AIDS virus. They have generic names like fluconazole (DIFLUCAN), ketoconazole NIZORAL) and itraconazole,(SPORANOX) Ray said. (just remember they end in 'azole' Dee) But it's not just the drugs that enhance the risk of erythromycin and the risk Ray said. Drinking grapefruit juice also keeps the antibiotic in the body longer and may pose a risk.

"The typical patient and their doctor should avoid these combinations whenever possible," he said."

HugsDee~ Just so sorry hon and I keep hoping and praying that things will turn around for you gals ... *sigh*

[Guest guest]

Hi Dee, I am not an expert on this but the FFC says Benicar is an angiotensin blocker. Angiotensin is a component of inflammation. For some reason Benicar has the offlabel use of helping with the herxing by blocking acting on the angiotensin. It is also known to make antibiotics more effective. You can google the Marshall protocol and they have extensive information on it. I really don't understand the chemistry of it and did get confused b/c according to the Marshall protocol Benicar makes the antibiotic more effective and doesn't necessarily help with herxing. The Marshall protocol was developed for sarcoidosis and then extended for use in Lyme and mystery illnesses. It is very difficult to follow b/c you have to avoid vitamin D. Tami, it might be something you could look into. The Benicar made me dizzy even though it isn't supposed to lower bp if it

is already low like mine. I have to call the FFC about what I should do next. Love, Sandi

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[Guest guest]

Hi Dee:

Unfortunately those of us with Lyme have to take long term

antibiotics and have to worry about systemic yeast. Therefore our

Dr's prescribe antifungals. I take Nystatin and Diflucan (not both on

the same day) to keep my yeast under control. My pharmacist gave me

the " green " light, as well. My Dr. keeps checking everything,

including my liver enzymes and yeast levels to try to " balance "

things out. I have to say though, I am not familiar with Benicar,

but when I was on Zithromax I had to take it with Amantadine which is

a drug for flu prevention. It makes the cells more alkaline

otherwise the Zithromax won't work on Lyme. It's weird what the Lyme

docs do sometimes, but it's in Dr. Burrascano's (the most prominant

Lyme Dr. in US) protocol. Dr. B says erythromycin is not effective

against Lyme (not sure about co-infections, though, as I don't have

any) so we should be OK there.

You take such good care of us. Thank you!

Us " Lymies " are a strange bunch, for sure.

Hugs

Mojo

>

> Sandi and Tami....

>

> I'm confused with you saying:

>

> ''Benicar is supposed to help the antibiotic be more effective''

>

> That is for high blood pressure, one I take, so I can't imagine how

it would help an antibiotic ....or help with herxing? It just doesn't

make much sense to me. Unless a lower BP helps. Ummmmm I don't think

so, eh? (but then who knows?)

>

> Also Sandi not sure if you caught that connection I mentioned

between Erythromycin and Diflucan... high risk for heart attacks....

and I know you're on the Doxy (one of my favs if I have to be on one)

but " I " still would be very cautious of mixing any antibiotic with

that antifungal (or any antifungal).

>

> But that's me. *sigh*...I don't know how close Erythromycin is

related to Doxy chemically and haven't checked it out but I would

if " I " were taking both.

>

> PLUS seeing you mention Benicar (that's an ACE inhibitor) ... I'm

just double glad it's not a BP calcium channel blocker *see

below* .) Another one you DON " T want to take with erythromycin (and

I know you're on the doxy) but.....

>

> Anyway hon here's one link to check out .

>

> arggggggh another Reuters dead one but here's the article about

Diflucan and Erythromycin and Heart death risk in combination.

>

> http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?

type=healthNews & storyID=6184886 & src=eDialog/GetContent & section=news

> (Link now void)

>

> " Antibiotic Interaction May Raise Heart Death Risk

>

>

[Guest guest]

No need to worry about taking both Nystatin and Diflucan on the same

day. My yeast levels are back to normal. My twin took both plus

antibiotics at the FFC while fighting her Chronic Fatigue. They both

work differently in the body. It sounds like you have a good FFC

doctor (so jealous) LOL>

Molly

>

> Hi Molly,

>

> My doc uses amantadine too. He hasn't prescribed it for me yet.

Why don't you take Diflucan and Nystatin on the same day? I do. Now

I am worried about it and perhaps should ask my doc?

>

> THANKS,

> Sandi

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

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