Re: When is enough abx.........enough??/Biaxin, Zithromax

[Guest guest]

What doses of Biaxin have people in this group been on and for how long?

I have been taking doxy (300mg, twice a day) for two months with no

improvement and a lot of nausea and an edgy feeling. My doc doesn't know

anything about Lyme nor have the time to research it (nor does anyone else

in my state), but she trusts me to research everything I take and will let

me try things if they seem reasonable.

I have probably had Lyme for at least ten years, but only recently been

diagnosed. In the early years of the infection I took Biaxin for about two

or three months for a sinus infection and chronic bronchitis. Didn't notice

any general health benefits for the symptoms I now associate with Lyme.

So as an alternative, what doses have people taken of zithromycin and for

how long?

Thanks,

Kelley

[Guest guest]

<<<I have been taking doxy (300mg, twice a day) for two months with no

improvement and a lot of nausea and an edgy feeling>>>>>>>

My LLMD would always switch abx after two months (about two cycles of

the spirochete) without losing any of my symptoms. Sounds like it may

be time for you to move on. The bacteria you have isn't responding to

this abx.

Could also be that since you have gone so long undx......that those

buggers are really deep into the tissues of your body....and perhaps

need something stronger. I would certainly talk to your Dr. about

switching to another abx.

Perhaps one that crosses the blood/brain barrier like Tequin.

Conniek nwnj

When our bodies & minds are out of balance........we suffer!

Leave no stone unturned, research!......The mind is a powerful tool!

[Guest guest]

Tequin is a quinolone. In the past I have had allergic symptoms such as

itchy rash and breathing problems from other antibiotics in this category.

I have an inactive allele for the CYP 2D6 pathway and do not process

antihistamines very well, so I would have to resort to inhalers and

epinephrine to control an allergic or anaphylactic attack.

Tequin, along with the other quinolones, is very photosensitizing. Not only

do I have pale (Dutch ancestry) skin which burns easily, I also have an

inherited liver disorder, porphyria cutanea tarda, which causes me to get

crusting, bleeding blisters and lesions from exposure to light in general.

That's probably why we didn't consider the quinolones an option.

Just out of curiosity, what would be the dose and duration of Tequin?

Zithromax and Biaxin are both macrolides and I have tolerated them

moderately well in the past. Does anyone know the dose and duration

recommendations for either of these meds?

Thanks,

Kelley

From: " conniek " <conniek@...>

Sent: Monday, June 09, 2003 8:14 PM

Subject: Re: [ ] When is enough abx.........enough??/Biaxin,

Zithromax

> <<<I have been taking doxy (300mg, twice a day) for two months with no

> improvement and a lot of nausea and an edgy feeling>>>>>>>

>

> Could also be that since you have gone so long undx......that those

> buggers are really deep into the tissues of your body....and perhaps

> need something stronger. I would certainly talk to your Dr. about

> switching to another abx.

> Perhaps one that crosses the blood/brain barrier like Tequin.

[Guest guest]

I took plaquenil as a malaria prophylactic when I went to Tanzania in 1993.

It gave me horrendous stomach pain and other nasty GI symptoms. I thought I

had a parasitic infection, but the symptoms stopped when I stopped the

plaquenil. Ironically, plaquenil is sometimes given to help with the

terrible photosensitivity of porphyria, but plaquenil can have a nasty side

effect of permanent vision loss. I had an episode of a couple of months of

blindness along with brain stem encephalitis due to cytomegalovirus in 1986.

Since I never completely regained my eyesight, plaquenil was ruled out for

future use.

I also get large red welts from metronidazole. I haven't tried tinidazole,

which I understand is better tolerated and which a local pharmacist can

compound. Here again, I don't know the recommended dose.

What about Zithromax? Do people take plaquenil with that, or something

else?

Kelley

> But my understanding is that Biaxin is most (or only?) effective when

> taken with plaquenil, which somehow makes it more effective. (I think by

> changing the pH balance of the cell).

>

> Would plaquenil, or, as it is also known, hydroxychloroquine, be one of

> the drugs that you could not take?

[Guest guest]

Marie: I have taken Biaxin with Amoxicillin and suprax only and it

has been effective.

E.

>Hi, Kelley,

>

>I have been on Biaxin for several months - I take one 500 mg tablet, two

>times per day. (total = 1000 mgs per day).

>

>But my understanding is that Biaxin is most (or only?) effective when

>taken with plaquenil, which somehow makes it more effective. (I think by

>changing the pH balance of the cell).

>

>Would plaquenil, or, as it is also known, hydroxychloroquine, be one of

>the drugs that you could not take?

>

>I can't say that I've heard of anyone taking the Biaxin *without* the

>plaquenil for Lyme. (But I could be wrong! )

>

>Sending you wishes for feeling better!

>Sincerely,

>Marie

[Guest guest]

My LLMD said that it takes a substantial amount of plaquinil to damage

eyesight. I'm currently taking 200mg twice a day. I'd suggesting

checking with your doc and/or an opthalmologist about your own

situation before ruling it in or out.

[Guest guest]

<<<<<<Just out of curiosity, what would be the dose and duration of

Tequin?

Zithromax and Biaxin are both macrolides and I have tolerated them

moderately well in the past. Does anyone know the dose and duration

recommendations for either of these meds?>>>>>>

These questions really don't have a definitive answer. Dose is very

individualized, and duration depends on symptoms, time since tick

bite,.....etc. There are way too many variables to have just one

answer for these questions.

Conniek nwnj

When our bodies & minds are out of balance........we suffer!

Leave no stone unturned, research!......The mind is a powerful tool!

[Guest guest]

<<<But my understanding is that Biaxin is most (or only?) effective

when taken with plaquenil, which somehow makes it more effective>>>>

Where is the research on this? I took Biaxin without Plaquenil. Keep

in mind we are all different. Our time from tick bite/symptoms to dx

are different. The degree of organ/body systems involvement is

different. The types of bacteria is different.

What works for one, may or may not work for another.

Conniek nwnj

When our bodies & minds are out of balance........we suffer!

Leave no stone unturned, research!......The mind is a powerful tool!

[Guest guest]

<<<<<<The reason that I wrote that it is my understanding that Biaxin

is most

effective w. plaquenil is that it is Dr. D's protocol, and so in

meeting a

number of his patients I have encountered it numerous times. He has

explained to me on several occasions how the plaquenil alters the pH

balance of the cell to make Biaxin particularly effective.>>>>>

You answered your own question.......you weren't really wondering if

this is correct or not.

You already did the research.

Conniek nwnj

When our bodies & minds are out of balance........we suffer!

Leave no stone unturned, research!......The mind is a powerful tool!

[Guest guest]

Forget it Marie,

Just plain miscommunication.........that's all.

We both missed stuff in the posts. I understand now.

Conniek nwnj

When our bodies & minds are out of balance........we suffer!

Leave no stone unturned, research!......The mind is a powerful tool!

[Guest guest]

, what state do you live in? it might be more important than

you think to find a LLMD. I spent many years with a well meaning

doctor who also let me try what seemed to work but this has only

resulted in driving the little bugs into my brain and nervous

system. It might be worth checking deeper to see if there is a

doctor within a reasonable distance who would participate with you in

your treatment.

> .... I have been taking doxy (300mg, twice a day) for two months

with no

> improvement and a lot of nausea and an edgy feeling. My doc

doesn't know

> anything about Lyme nor have the time to research it (nor does

anyone else

> in my state), but she trusts me to research everything I take and

will let

> me try things if they seem reasonable.

>

> I have probably had Lyme for at least ten years, but only recently

been

> diagnosed. .....