NanaDubo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14794
posted
When I was on Mepron I was NOT told about not taking COQ10 and was taking it! I found out somewhere on this site and stopped.
Same for milkthistle Posts: 1129 | From Maine | Registered: Feb 2008
| IP: Logged |
canbravelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9785
posted
Oh my Gosh! Me too; I've been taking CoQ-10.
We should make a point to bring this post to the top every 6 weeks.
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
I highly recommend Dr. S's book on Babesia. Goes through all the drugs used to treat, their interactions, and side effects. From this book, I learned:
doxy and mepron reduce each other's effect. (And at the price of mepron, we want it effective!) My doc wanted me on both at the same time and I had to point out the interaction.
CoQ10 actually feeds the babesia bugs. Get off it!
Posts: 73 | From ID | Registered: Jul 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
Wait. . . not supposed to combine Mepron and Rifampin?!! Does anyone have any more details about this or a specific article I can reference for my LLMD? I was about to start Mepron and I'm taking Rifampin and Bicillin and don't want to stop Rifampin as my bart is still active.
Posts: 929 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Oct 2007
| IP: Logged |
TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
You can search for "mepron doxycycline" and that should bring up some info.
According to the manufacturer's pharmacist (I called them), Doxy can lower blood levels of mepron by as much 40%!! They gave me a number that my doctor could call to talk to the pharmacist about it. 1-888-825-5249
I agree, Dr. S's book on babesia is really good.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
| IP: Logged |
Mepron and Rifampin - Rifampin causes Mepron to process through the body faster which does cause a reduction in efficacy of the Mepron.
My husband was on both together - knowing of this issue we handled it as follows:
Rifampin has an approximate half life of 3 hours.
So he took Rifampin at 6 AM, Mepron dose #1 at 11 AM and Mepron dose 2 at 10 PM. This allowed Rifampin to pass through almost 2 half lives before ingesting the 1st Mepron. This will diminish some of Rifampin's effect on Mepron.
By the way - Rifampin interacts with a ton of things - really - a lot - birth control pills, thyroid meds, other antibiotics, etc... - it's general interaction is to reduce the efficacy by some degree of those concomittant agents.
As a disclaimer - I am not a doctor so check with yours.
-------------------- When you are going through hell, just keep going. Winston Churchill Posts: 20 | From Georgia | Registered: Aug 2007
| IP: Logged |
-------------------- When you are going through hell, just keep going. Winston Churchill Posts: 20 | From Georgia | Registered: Aug 2007
| IP: Logged |
Lauralyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15021
posted
Is Ceftin okay with mepron? As that is what I am on.
Sorry I don't have Dr S book yet. Does he state milk thistle is a no go with mepron? Searching on pubmed I can't find that in writing. My LLMD repeatedly says it's okay to take milk thistle and mepron.
My bilirubin is elevated I need to take some liver support that doesn't conflict with mepron.
-------------------- Fall down seven times, get up eight ~Japanese proverb Posts: 1146 | From west coast | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged |
Clarissa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4715
posted
LauraLyme:
NAC doesn't interfere with mepron and that cleanses the liver. My Mom took both during her Babesia treatment.
posted
The book: The Diagnosis and Treatment of Babesia by Dr. James Schaller
I don't have the book in front of me. Off the top of my head I remember something like mepron works by dismantling your body's coQ10 and that cuts off what Babesia feeds off of.
I know CoQ10 is recommended for lyme folk. But everytime I took it I felt worse. Then I read the book and realize why!
Posts: 73 | From ID | Registered: Jul 2008
| IP: Logged |
cottonbrain
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13769
posted
I just came across a blog that quoted Singleton regarding CoQ10 with mepron:
"Finally, don't worry - if you took all of these fat-soluble antioxidants when you took Mepron in the past, it's fine. It just may have taken you a little longer on the Mepron to get the job done, that's all."
(I have no way of knowing if this quote is correct, but it is comforting)
Posts: 1173 | From USA | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged |
cottonbrain
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13769
posted
up
Posts: 1173 | From USA | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged |
MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Just wanted to mention that Mepron works better when you take it with fat - flax oil, peanut butter, etc. 2 tsp. fat to one tsp. Mepron.
-------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." Anonymous Posts: 450 | From California | Registered: Feb 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
According to Dr. Singleton's book: The Lyme Disease Solution, if taking Mepron, one needs to avoid CoQ10, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and Vitamin E.
He states, "These should not be used while taking atovaquone because they are all fat-soluble antioxidants that tend to neutralize the pro-oxidant effects of atovaquone against Babesia."
From this website, I learned that Milk Thistle should be avoided when taking Mepron.
Now that my daughter is off Mepron for a while at least, I was thinking of adding CoQ10 in, but now that I've read it feeds the Babesia, I'm wondering if I should or not.
Does it also feed Lyme and Bart? (These are the two we are targeting now.) I was hoping that it would help give her some energy. Any thoughts?
This is so confusing. I can see why some Docs don't want their patients adding any supplements--almost better to err with nothing than to risk interactions.
Posts: 648 | From northeast | Registered: Feb 2009
| IP: Logged |
cottonbrain
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13769
posted
I wasn't aware that coq10 feeds babesia...yikes..
My LLMD told me he is not convinced that milk thistle should not be taken with mepron. He said to continue taking "a little" away from the mepron.
He also has me taking minocycline with the mepron, which I have read will lower the mepron's effectiveness by 40%.
Some of the older threads refer to the drug mfr.s own websites that used to say don't take mino and mepron together. However, i notice that now that interaction is not listed...hmmm
anybody know about mino and mepron?
Posts: 1173 | From USA | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/