Topic: Anyone else have alot of joint soreness on Mepron???
Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
Hi everyone,
I started slowly on Mepron and reached my full dose 4 weeks ago.
When I reached the full dose of 1 tsp in AM and 2 tsp in PM (plus artemisia), my joints got really sore (especially wrists and ankles), and remain sore now.
It's a herx, I suppose, but not a typical babs symptom.
Perhaps it is allowing the zithromax and tetracycline I am taking to target the lyme better?
I tested negative for Babesia...no surprise I guess.
I do not have air hunger. I have some hot flashes 24/7, but worse at night....not drenching sweats.
I have the awful vise grip pain and stiffness of my entire neck/lower skull and shoulders.
It causes a dull headache over the entire back of my head 24/7.
I had bad insomnia which improved with bioidentical hormones and sublingual melatonin.
Still not sure if I have babs, but suspect that I have a mild case of it which was making the lyme harder to treat.
Anyone else have really increased joint soreness when on Mepron???
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
I have not yet reached the full dose of mepron and am having bad muscle pain. Not so much joint pain.
Posts: 581 | From CT | Registered: May 2008
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Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
opus2828,
I did notice a little increase in my muscle pain also.
Thanks for your reply!
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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richedie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14689
posted
I take mepron and my doctor ays no more than 1 tsp twice a day. You take two in the evening!? Wow.
I was told taking extra is a waste because not much more is absorbed than with one tsp.
Does it go by weight? I am 200 lbs.
-------------------- Mepron/Zith/Ceftin Doxy/Biaxin/Flagyl pulse. Artemisinin with Doxy/Biaxin. Period of Levaquin and Ceftin. Then Levaquin, Bactrim and Biaxin. Bactrim/Augmentin/Rifampin. Mepron/Biaxin/Artemisinin/Cat's Claw Rifampin/Bactrim/Alinia Plaquenil/Biaxin Posts: 1949 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Feb 2008
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Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
richiedie,
I don't think it goes by weight....I'm 108 ibs.
I believe some people take 2 tsps twice daily.
My LLMD says this is the dose I need for it to be effective.
He said a lower dose was used for patients in the past and there was a higher rate of relapse.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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tick battler
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 21113
posted
Hi Dek,
My 3 kids see Dr. J and he has told me that Mepron is a cyst buster for Lyme. So it's possible that it is causing a Lyme herxheimer reaction!
tickbattler
Posts: 1763 | From Malvern, PA | Registered: Jul 2009
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richedie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14689
posted
Should I ask my doc about two teaspoonfuls? It would be hard for us to afford.
Will you go to two tsp twice a day?
-------------------- Mepron/Zith/Ceftin Doxy/Biaxin/Flagyl pulse. Artemisinin with Doxy/Biaxin. Period of Levaquin and Ceftin. Then Levaquin, Bactrim and Biaxin. Bactrim/Augmentin/Rifampin. Mepron/Biaxin/Artemisinin/Cat's Claw Rifampin/Bactrim/Alinia Plaquenil/Biaxin Posts: 1949 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Feb 2008
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Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
tickbattler,
Thanks for that information! I would be very happy if this soreness is because the cysts are busting!!!! lol
richiedie,
My LLMD uses 1 tsp in the AM and 2 tsp in PM as a standard dose, so I will not be going to 2 tsp twice daily.
I guess LLMD's use different dosages. I can't really tell you what to do. You can always ask his opinion of the larger dose.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Dekrator48, I believe Tetracycline can interfere with the absorption of Mepron. You may want to ask your doctor about this.
I definitely have muscle soreness and weakness when treating Babesiosis. I also attribute my sore neck, sore shoulders, and severe headaches to Babesiosis.
You may be experiencing a herx since you have been on the higher dose for four weeks now.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
richedie, some doctors are prescribing four teaspoons of Mepron daily. It does not go by weight.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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richedie
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Member # 14689
posted
Thanks everyone. My doctor attends conferences, speaks all over the country and is close with Dr. B. So, I am surprised she wouldn't be up on this information! I do recall reading that beyond a certain dose.....not much more is absorbed by the body.
With regards to other meds interfering...I take Ceftin and Azith with mepron.
-------------------- Mepron/Zith/Ceftin Doxy/Biaxin/Flagyl pulse. Artemisinin with Doxy/Biaxin. Period of Levaquin and Ceftin. Then Levaquin, Bactrim and Biaxin. Bactrim/Augmentin/Rifampin. Mepron/Biaxin/Artemisinin/Cat's Claw Rifampin/Bactrim/Alinia Plaquenil/Biaxin Posts: 1949 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Feb 2008
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Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
Sammi,
Thank you for your reply!
I will investigate whether tetracycline can interfere with the absorption of Mepron.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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Sammi
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Member # 110
posted
Dekrator48, please let us know what you find out.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
Sammi,
I found this pdf document from GSK dated June 2009 that does say that concomittant use of tetracycline and Mepron is associated with significant decreases in plasma concentrations of mepron.......see page 11
It also says in the first link that metoclopramide (Reglan) and rifampicin and rifabutin are also associated with decreased plasma concentrations of Mepron.
Thank you again for bringing this issue to my attention!
I have a call into my LLMD's office.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Dekrator48, yes Rifampin also reduces the efficiency of Mepron.
Have you heard back from your doctor's office?
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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richedie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14689
posted
Does everyone know that Mepron does not actually kill the Babesia organism directly? It stops it from reproducing, so it dies out over time.
-------------------- Mepron/Zith/Ceftin Doxy/Biaxin/Flagyl pulse. Artemisinin with Doxy/Biaxin. Period of Levaquin and Ceftin. Then Levaquin, Bactrim and Biaxin. Bactrim/Augmentin/Rifampin. Mepron/Biaxin/Artemisinin/Cat's Claw Rifampin/Bactrim/Alinia Plaquenil/Biaxin Posts: 1949 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Feb 2008
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-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
| IP: Logged |
Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
richiedie,
I had not read that, but Mepron's prescribing info (mechanism of action) addresses PCP, not babesia.
Did you read that in Dr S's Babesia book?
Thanks for the info!
Brandimc,
It seems that the drug of choice is Mepron, but some people do well on Malarone from what I have read.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Dekrator48, I am glad you spoke with your doctor. Thanks for posting what he said.
As you say, what is important is that it is working!
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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