LymeNet Flash: Mepron Zithromax Herx

This is topic Mepron Zithromax Herx in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Lizzy (Member # 6188) on :

I started the Mepron and Zithromax treatment recently and wondered when I might expect the herx reaction to hit? I actually started the Zithromax about 7 days ago because there was a concern I may be allergic to the medication (prior allergic reaction to Erythromyocin).

I added the Mepron Saturday evening, so have had a total of 5 doses of that medicine.

So far I have only felt a little more fatigued and dizzy. Did have some initial stomach upset, but that seems to have settled down.

I have done several searches on here for the Babesia treatment, specifically the Mepron and Zithromax. My question is, when will I most likely experience the bad herx reaction that everyone talks about?

What is the herx actually like on this medicine combination?

And finally, is there a chance I will not herx? I was diagnosed clinically for the Babesia with a negative FISH test. Does that mean if I do not herx on this medicine combination, I do not have Babesia?

Forgot to also mention, I completed 3 months of Doxycycline for Lyme with little noticeable improvement, so LLMD decided to drop the doxy and hit the Babesia. Based on my clinical symptoms, he said he was 95% sure I also had Babesia.

Any help is appreciated!!

Posted by KrisKraft (Member # 4329) on :

In taking Biaxin/Mepron:
Day 2: neck/spine pressure
Day 8: rash started
Day 9: quit Mepron, took Benedryl
Day 12-15: head pressure, fog, green vision, light sensitivity.

Restarted Mepron 2 weeks later.
Day 3-5: pressure headache, shaking hands, sore ears, lwr back, neck.

To me, a Babs herx is more head & ear pressure, like an overinflated tire. Sometimes my temperature really goes down, but it's hard to say if that's Lyme or Babs.

A Lyme herx feels more like a headache to me, where localized pain migrates all around my brain during the day. It feels more toxic than a Bab herx, in that my hands tremble and feel like I have a hangover.

But when you treat the Babs, which seems to clog the fine capillaries, all of a sudden, you'll start killing new pockets of Lyme, so sometimes you have combo herxes.

Posted by jackieu (Member # 6418) on :

Just wondering what your symptoms were for Babs. I just finished 30 days on doxy (my initial treatment) and had what I think was a herx reaction right at the 4 week mark. Fever, chills, sweats, muscle pain and body aches. My fever is gone but my pain is still there...especially between my shoulder blades and at the base of my neck. my family doc referred me to an infectious disease specialist whom I will see in a couple of weeks. In the meantime I asked her to check me for Babs...asked her about it, and she never heard of it. Actually she told me that I probably know more about lyme right now then she does because hasn't read up on it in a while. Comforting, huh? But at least she was honest. She has me on another round of doxy 100 mg twice a day but I'm afraid it's going to nothing for me. If I don't get results with the infectious disease doc, I'll go see a lyme doc. Unfortunately the one near me does not accept insurance and is very expensive.
I started the Mepron and Zithromax treatment recently and wondered when I might expect the herx reaction to hit? I actually started the Zithromax about 7 days ago because there was a concern I may be allergic to the medication (prior allergic reaction to Erythromyocin).
I added the Mepron Saturday evening, so have had a total of 5 doses of that medicine.
So far I have only felt a little more fatigued and dizzy. Did have some initial stomach upset, but that seems to have settled down.
I have done several searches on here for the Babesia treatment, specifically the Mepron and Zithromax. My question is, when will I most likely experience the bad herx reaction that everyone talks about?
What is the herx actually like on this medicine combination?
And finally, is there a chance I will not herx? I was diagnosed clinically for the Babesia with a negative FISH test. Does that mean if I do not herx on this medicine combination, I do not have Babesia?
Forgot to also mention, I completed 3 months of Doxycycline for Lyme with little noticeable improvement, so LLMD decided to drop the doxy and hit the Babesia. Based on my clinical symptoms, he said he was 95% sure I also had Babesia.

Any help is appreciated!![/QUOTE]

Posted by zipzip (Member # 6226) on :

i had no herx reaction, or any reaction, at all from mepron/biaxin. did 6 weeks and then stopped.

changed llmd's and the new one said i definitley have babs, although i had no herx.

he made the babs dx on the bowen blood smear.

he said he didn't trust the bowen lyme analysis but that definitely their blood smear is irreputable.

wants me to do mepron/ketek for 4 months soon.