LymeNet Flash: mcat what is IM bicillin ?

This is topic mcat what is IM bicillin ? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by goldenjake (Member # 6451) on :

how is this administered ?
thanks for the response that is helpful.
my clinics protocol for iv treatment is
4 to 5 months of iv's followed by orals.
they switch the iv meds every 2 weeks between rochephin , zithromax, clindamycin
and levaquin.

Posted by 2bostons (Member # 6249) on :

Hey Golden Jake

I read your post about switching from orals to IV..and then I just noticed this post..if you do a search on bicillin injections..there is a ton of info

I get weekly bicillin injections..the IM..I think it stands for intra muscular injection..

bicillin is a form of long-lasting penicillin..I have been getting weekly injections for the past two and a half months...I have improved greatly..my neuro symptoms are almost gone too..

I know that others get these injections, so maybe they can give you some better info..

Cathy

Posted by minoucat (Member # 5175) on :

2bostons is right, this stands for intramuscular bicillin in the LA (long acting) form. NOT bicillin CR (another form, not so effective, as I understand it).

There's a lot of good stuff about bicillin on this forum, but here's a helpful post for your situation: http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/023769.html

The dosage seems to vary a bit between 3 shots a week, and 2 shots every 5 days. Shots are 1.2 IU each. Over 15 days, you get pretty much the same dosage, I think. We do the 2 shots every 5 days.

My husband and I give the shots to each other; some people give the shots to themselves. Some have nurses administer it. It's really not bad at all, now that we've got our technique down. In terms of comfort and lack of hassle, a lot easier than IV, IMO.

The abx you mention above can be used for babs and bart, as I recall, but in specific combinations. So is your doc trying to hit coinfections with this protocol? Will you get babs/bart treatment orally if you go the bicillin route?

I ask because coinfection treatment has made such a huge difference for us, and unless they're treated, I don't think anything will work. The bloodwork on these is NOT reliable if you get a negative on PCR/WB...this is experience talking here.

Posted by David95928 (Member # 3521) on :

Jake,
Bicillin LA is Benzathine Penicillin G, a pharmaceutical antique. An upside to this is that it is well known and generally well tolerated with minimal side effects. If you ever got a shot for strep throat, that was it. For reasons that are not clear, it seems to be VERY effective with Lyme disease. My observation from following this forum for over two years is that 80% (or so) of the people who go on it do better than they have on anything else. I have been on in for two years now (don't panic, I was infected prior to 1989) and believe it has given me a new chance at life. If you want more info, e-mail me.
David

Posted by CaliLymer (Member # 6509) on :

Hi Dave,

Just emailed you. Hoping you forward me any info you may have on Bicillin injections.

Thanks a million!

CaliLymer