LymeNet Flash: Flagyl compared to Tinidazole?

This is topic Flagyl compared to Tinidazole? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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https://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/20987

Posted by Yin (Member # 4707) on :

I will be starting one of these 2 drugs soon. I read so much about the difficult herxes with Flagyl that I wondered why more people are not trying Tinidazole instead.

I searched the Archives here and saw this question discussed in 2001 & 2003, and it seemed the general conclusion was that Tinidazole was newer, so not as much was known about it, and so many LLMDs felt more assured prescribing Flagyl. Of course, the extra expense & having to have it compounded were factors for some.

Since the last discussions I saw were in 2002, I wondered if the last year has brought more information about Tinidazole compared to Flagyl.

Thank you for all your help!

Posted by rosesisland2000 (Member # 2001) on :

I used the search key up under Post New Topic and did a search for you using the kewords, Flagyl Tinidazole...

this is what I found:
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/008741.html

http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/012190.html

http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/016833.html

There probably has been and you probably can find that information by just going a www.google.com search.

But, the above posts seem to be clear on the subject...

[This message has been edited by rosesisland2000 (edited 14 November 2003).]

Posted by Marnie (Member # 773) on :

Tinidazol is much more expensive (about $125), usually not covered by insurance (they want you to take the much cheaper Flagyl), but seems to be more easily tolerated. It has to be compounded by a pharmacy. Not all pharmacies can do this.

My sister took more than 1 round of it and did not experience any significant "difficulty" with it.

[This message has been edited by Marnie (edited 14 November 2003).]

Posted by KrisKraft (Member # 4329) on :

I'm just finishing up a 2-week pulse of Tindazole, and I've found it to be much kinder and gentler than Flagyl. I'm not as tired and toxic feeling, and there's no bad taste in my mouth. (Source: College Pharmacy, Colorado Springs)

I'm taking it on top of Minocycline, which has been much better at crossing the blood-brain barrier than Zithromax. I've been herxing (lower head/neck aches) on and off for four weeks. Mino caused dizziness at first, then went away.

(Symptoms: mostly neuro; Undiagnosed: 10 mos; Previous abx: 3 months Zith, with 2x2 week Flagyl pulses. First Flagyl pulse was killer, second a non-event.)

------------------
KrisKraft

Posted by Judith16 (Member # 4424) on :

Hi,

I asked my pharmacist about Tinazole. He told me that it is not approved for use in this country by the FDA . I guess the company that owns the drug does not feel there is a market here to get it approved because of Flagyl.

My pharmacy is a compounding one but he told me he would not compound it for me if I got it from Mexico because of the legality problem.

Judith

Posted by stage4 (Member # 702) on :

There's a story about why Tinidazole never got a patent in this country and how the rest of the world is benefiting from it. It's on the net.

The FDA says all doctors know that Tinidazole is ok for use in this country...that it's common-knowledge that Tinidazole can be prescribed and compounded. I was told this when I called them to complain that it should be listed in the PDR generic section because doctors DIDN't know it was legal.

The FDA says it's legal, but because they never TECHNICALLY approved it, they still don't list it in the generic section where the legal drugs are listed(so who are they really hurting here?).

Tini has a half-life of 12 hours compared to flagyl's 4 hours and it's easy to tolerate.
But it IS more expensive SIMPLY because it must be compounded.

The FDA will not let Fasigyn (Tinidazole) be sold here in the US cause that drug company circumvented their control on patents/drugs etc. and went with world-wide marketing instead.

US citizens pay the price, yet again.

Posted by gutdoc (Member # 6085) on :

Tinidazole (Tinazole) is now approved in the US (since May 2004) and available for treatment for parasites,like Flagyl(metronidazole) was when it first was approved. It should be effective for cyst forms of Bb and for those with sensitive GI tracts or if Flagyl causes neuropathy. Dr. J. (board certified in Infectious Diseases) in NC uses it once a month at 500mg/d for 5 days.

quote:
Originally posted by stage4:
There's a story about why Tinidazole never got a patent in this country and how the rest of the world is benefiting from it. It's on the net.
The FDA says all doctors know that Tinidazole is ok for use in this country...that it's common-knowledge that Tinidazole can be prescribed and compounded. I was told this when I called them to complain that it should be listed in the PDR generic section because doctors DIDN't know it was legal.
The FDA says it's legal, but because they never TECHNICALLY approved it, they still don't list it in the generic section where the legal drugs are listed(so who are they really hurting here?).
Tini has a half-life of 12 hours compared to flagyl's 4 hours and it's easy to tolerate.
But it IS more expensive SIMPLY because it must be compounded.
The FDA will not let Fasigyn (Tinidazole) be sold here in the US cause that drug company circumvented their control on patents/drugs etc. and went with world-wide marketing instead.
US citizens pay the price, yet again.

Posted by riversinger (Member # 4851) on :

Yes, Tinidazole is now approved, though it still seems to be hard to find. The compunding pharmacy where I get it told me it will be even MORE expensive in the name brand, which is Tindamax.

Here is a recent study on the use of Tinidazole with Lyme.
An in Vitro Study of the Susceptibility of Mobile and Cystic Forms of Borrelia Burgdorferi to Tinidazole

I haven't taken Flagyl, so can't compare, but Tinidazole does seem to help me.

------------------
Sonoma County Lyme Support
[email protected]

Posted by Jewlbug (Member # 4554) on :

Hi Yin,

I started on Flagyl and eventually moved over to Tinidazole. After a while, I could no longer tolerate the Flagyl. I had too many yeast problems, and my stomach was so screwed up, I was nauseous all the time and could't eat.

I found Tinidazole much better. I don't believe it is widely available since my LLMD has a pharmacy in Idaho send it to me (I live in Illinois). However, I have good insurance, and my copay is only $40 for it, which is $20 higher than my copay for Flagyl, but much worth the extra investment!

Take Care,
Jewl

Posted by Lil (Member # 4853) on :

Just to say that I have taken 2 rounds of Tinidazole, 500mg x 2 for 3 days the first round and 500 mg plus 250 mg for 3 days for the 2nd round.

It appears to have caused a massive herx reaction with massive pain in my neck, shoulders and arms. In general I have felt terrible, far worse than when I wasn't on any treatment. I have also been having a lot of migraines with it.

I am supposed to follow the Tini with Doxy 300 mg but haven't been able to do this every day because the herxes have been so bad. In addition I have developed a really bad yeast infection in my gut and mouth.

It makes me feel that this treatment is worse than the illness and I don't know how much longer I can continue with it.

Sorry to be so negative.
Lil