LymeNet Flash: argh, ran out of biaxin!

This is topic argh, ran out of biaxin! in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by flygirl (Member # 6669) on :

I thought I had another bottle with leftovers I had taken on vacation last month, I was wrong! I found out last night I didn't have it, and so last night, and this morning - no biaxin. I'll drop the RX off tonight but I may have to wait til tomorrow.

if I am not taking biax for these few days, should I also drop the mepron at the same time? or can I take it regardless?

thanks

Posted by James H (Member # 6380) on :

I don't know the answer to your question, other than to say that this is a long term process treating a slow growing organism and a skipped day now and then is not likely to make much difference.

I wanted to ask you how you are getting along with the Mepron though.

You are trying to do something that requires a clear mind with the ability to multitask and have a functional short term memory.... operating an aircraft. I've flown them, and I know things happen fast and all at the same time... you need a clear mind.

I write software for my living and have similar needs for a functioning brain. (Software crashes are less problematic than aircraft ones fortunately.)

Does the Mepron mess with your mental clarity?

The reason I am asking is my LLMD likes to use it along with Zithromax, and I am hesitant to start anything that might mess me up since I have some very important projects to finish up over the next month or so. My next appointment is Friday, and I'm trying to figure out what treatments I dare let her put me on at this point.

Thanks.

[This message has been edited by James H (edited 14 February 2005).]

Posted by Beverly (Member # 1271) on :

I don't know either flygirl...but I have skipped days here and there, and went off abx completely for three months for tests..under my LLMDS care.

I have been on abx for over three years...takes along time to treat these diseases. Hang in there, and hope you are doing ok on the Mepron too.

Posted by HaplyCarlessdave (Member # 413) on :

Definitely stay on the 'mepron'! It attacks the babesia, which complicates the lyme- I failed to make much improvement until I went whole-hog after the babesia for awhile.
You won't lose too much ground- the growth of the lyme is inexorable but slow. Let your GI system recover for a while. Every moment do everything you can to get stronger and give the ''chetes and "plasmodiums" grief! Raw garlic by the truckload. Artimesia anua. (this herb is very good against babesia, and possibly lyme as well). Grapefruit seed extract, olive leaf extract ( look up posts on). And get a new load of ..'biaxin' (clarithromycin) as soon as you can.
(just imagining that sickly yellow color and horrid taste makes me wretch!

DaveS

Posted by flygirl (Member # 6669) on :

James, so far so good. am not aware of any fog. check with an AME to see what drugs are ok and are not re: FAA.

yep, staying on mepron.
will wormwood make me sick?

Posted by mlkeen (Member # 1260) on :

Our llmd says stay on mepron.

I take a day or two off the biaxin or tetra on occation, mostly week-ends, and the llmd says that is ok.

Don't you just hate it when you make that kind of mistake. it's a lyme thing for sure.

Be well
Mel

Posted by flygirl (Member # 6669) on :

Hi,

I'm not going to blame that on lyme, it's a copout. I had leftover pills from my trip to vegas in december all in one bottle and I thought some of them were biax - nope.

anyway, cvs filled it immediately so I really on ly missed two pills - one Sunday night, one Monday morning. whew.

Posted by James H (Member # 6380) on :

Flygirl,

Re: Artemisia...

I do not have the babesia to my knowledge (lab tests pending), but I did have some old fashioned Malaria as a co-infection.

I took Artemisinin from Allergy Research, which is the concentrated active ingredient of the herb for the Malaria according to the W.H.O. guidlines for Malaria.

That dose is 7 100mg capsules at one time... twice the first day, then 7 once a day for 5 more days. That's alot.

I didn't notice ANY side effect from it except got a bitter taste in my mouth, and it pulverized the malaria. I don't know if it is really gone, but it hasn't bothered me again yet.

It is inexpensive, it is non-prescription, and it has been very helpful for some with their babesia.

Also use search and look up the thread a few weeks back on Riamet... A new Malaria drug based on Artemisinin available in Europe and Africa now. Some here have reported complete cure of their Babesia from a single (or sometimes twice) course of 24 tablets in a 60 hour period following malaria treatment instructions.

...Just in case you missed that one.

Posted by flygirl (Member # 6669) on :

wow, thank you. wonder what the FAA says about riamet...

Posted by James H (Member # 6380) on :

Are you working on a commercial? If you are just working on a private I doubt it would be a big deal as long as you ground yourself during treatment and until the meds clear out.

I mentioned the Riamet because of the short treatment time, = less ground time.

One of the standard old line malaria treatments, Mefloquine disqualifies you for even DRIVING for 3 weeks, let alone piloting aircraft, so you definitely want to consult with the AME.

I do know the FAA likes TREATED infections better than they do active UNTREATED ones.

Posted by KH (Member # 4170) on :

James,

Can you break down your artemisinin regimen for me? Did you take 7 100 mg at one time, and then another 7 pills later in the same day?

I would like to try that. The most I've taken is 6 pills over the course of one day, and did this for a week.

Posted by James H (Member # 6380) on :

I got it from a WHO publication, which I will email you a copy of in the morning. The dose is based on body weight, for me it was 700mg

----------------
Frequency of dosage Artemisinin: 10mg/kg once a day for 5 days, with a double divided
dose administered on the first day
----------------

Keep in mind this regimen is for Malaria, P. Falciparum in particular, not Babesia.

I took it for a lesser Malaria strain.

Reading it literal it DOES say to take it in one dose... and two of such doses the first day. I was skeptical of the result... But did it with no ill effect whatsoever. Your mileage may vary!