I know flagyl can cause neuropathy but what if you have neuropathy to begin with? How will you be able to differentiate between a drug reaction and your normal symptoms?
Also, can flagyl cause nerve damage in the Vagus nerve or other major nerves that affect important body functions?
Posted by tiredmom21 (Member # 28479) on :
I have this exact same question.
I had neuropathy long before starting Flagyl. I take it three days a week and my LLMD has told me that he does not feel this way of taking it puts me at risk for increased neuropathy.
However, my neuropathy seems to be getting worse in spite of treatment so I continue to fear it may be from Flagyl.
I have no idea how to know what is causing what, but my LLMD has "poo-poo'd" me everytime I ask about the possibility.
I'll be watching for others answers.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Doctors don't always know much about medication side-effects...might be better to ask a pharmacist this question.
Posted by H8NLyme (Member # 29487) on :
I recently started taking Flagyl 2 days per week on top of other ABX. 4 months into treatment and somewhat concerned about the effect of taking all of these strong drugs over such a long period of time. Last December Lyme was destroying my body & mind. When I look at how bad off I was I thank god that I found a LLMD to help me turn the corner. The bottom line for me is this. The drugs MIGHT do permanent damage. Lyme WAS DEFINITELY ending my life.
The drugs are getting easier to tolerate as time goes by. My guess is there is less die off releasing rubbish into my system.
Posted by migs (Member # 16496) on :
I've never had neuropathy as a Lyme symptom but I got it from Flagyl and it never went away. My right two biggest toes and my fight index and middle finger are slightly blue when they are not warm from the decreased blood flow. Apparently Flagy irritates nerves and LLMD says my nerves probably spazzed and caused inflammation that damaged my small blood vessels.
LLMD took me off and it improved but only partially. Another Lyme victim I know had the EXACT same experience but hers is worse. She can barely feel her fingertips but hasn't taken Flagyl in over a year and has been off meds for months.
So be aware side effects DO happen.
Posted by steven (Member # 13101) on :
also got new neuro symptoms from flagyl that never disappeared afterwards. not sure if its side effects or if it just makes borrelia or any other bug more aggressive.
Posted by Nebula (Member # 31636) on :
Throwing in my two cents on this..
Given the finding of Bbtox1 and Flagyl's apparent ability to rupture cysts at certain levels, I would imagine side effects post Flagyl treatment seem to indicate that it's working quite well except Lyme die off made causes cellular malfunction or in worse case scenario apoptosis. Not a doctor or biochemist, but that is the unfortunate aspect of taking it. I recently was doing decent on my treatment (have neuroborreliosis and had increased energy and cognitive function). Then my MD had me experiment with Flagyl I worked up to 1500-2000. Talk about hangover, that stuff was my second or third time taking it and while I've never had spasm like herxes or extreme emotional herxes, numbness, tingling, cognition, and fatigue were through the roof and any progress I had in that window of treatment has been back set by what I believe to be "collateral damage" in my brain and spine.
That's it for my first post, glad to continue adding to this forum as my goal is to know this disease in and out by the end of the year and my research will not stop, even in this slighted mind functioning capacity.
Posted by Dawn in VA (Member # 9693) on :
I had really, severe debilitating headaches- unlike those I've ever had with Bb- a few months into Flagyl or Tindamax, forget which.
Finally figured out what it might be and stopped it for about a month.
Went back on it, pulsing this time, and no problems with it neuro-wise since a full year now.
Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
quote:Originally posted by BackinStOlaf: I know flagyl can cause neuropathy but what if you have neuropathy to begin with? How will you be able to differentiate between a drug reaction and your normal symptoms?
Also, can flagyl cause nerve damage in the Vagus nerve or other major nerves that affect important body functions?
UP.
Old post, but seriously. Neuropathy (in every way) is one of my worst symptoms--how is one supposed to tell if it's getting worse because of herxing, or because of drug interaction?
My neuropathy always gets worse on anitbiotics before it gets better. But if it gets worse this time, it might be irreversible before I figrue out it's not getting better. So confusing! This seems impossible.
I've been off abx for one week and my numbness is increasing every day. Do I want neuropathy from the Lyme or from the meds to treat it?
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