LymeNet Flash: Next course serving Biaxin, Bicillin and Plaquenil...what's the best way to start up?

This is topic Next course serving Biaxin, Bicillin and Plaquenil...what's the best way to start up? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by JavaBeing (Member # 6321) on :

Okay, I've finally got into see Dr. H in Nevada City and now feel like I'm onto a protocol that will be more progressive in kicking the backside of this nonsense.

I'm staying on the Biaxin (going into 5th month at 500mg 2x/day) but will be adding Bicillin (2 injections per week, 1.2 million units each) and then plaquenil (2oomg 2x/day) to see if his guess on babs is right on or not.

A whole different approach from just the Biaxin, which I'm ready to get more aggressive...but did anyone else jump right into 2 shots a week and the plaquenil, or do you ramp up with these like I had to do with the Biaxin?

Not wanting to be wimpy, especially because it wasn't easy in finding a pharmacy that would order it, and much harder working with my insurance (HealthNet) to even consider paying for any of it (which I'm still working on...anyone else have HealthNet?)...I've just heard of some hard herxing by folks that wanted to dive in first, and then came up hard trying to catch their breath.

Any suggestions from those who've "been there, done that and got the lousy t-shirt to show for it"?

Many thanks for any suggestions...now I just need to find a block of ice big enough to sit on after those shots.

Health and Healing,
JavaBeing

PS I've noticed that my plaquenil was substitued with Hydroxchloroquine...will this be as effective?

Posted by firsttwin (Member # 5529) on :

Java,

Hello there.

I only have info on the bicillin shots.

My husband gives them to me. First he takes them out of the fridge and sets them aside for about 1/2 hour to warm up. Then he preps my butt cheek with alcohol. He takes the needle and aims it like a dart so that it will go in fast and it doesn't hurt as bad. He pushes the medicine in very slowly so that it doesn't hurt and make a knot. If it starts to burn, I tell him to ease up. The slower the better. He averages anywhere from 5 to 8 minutes to give me my injection.

I hope whoever gives you yours, is gentle. Good luck and take care.

Maria

Posted by Barngirl (Member # 6391) on :

LOL, I don't have the t-shirt but I probably have the butt dimples from it.

LOL

I took 3 shots a week. I took them in the evening. I usually herxed soon after but I am not sure the mepron was also contributing to it. I would go straight to bed.

It is a good cocktail though. Did it for 2 months.

I know of others that did it for many months at 4 shots a week.

Deep us posted on how it is working for you.

Take care.

Posted by David95928 (Member # 3521) on :

Based on something written by Dr. B's PA, I ramped up pretty gradually. It was one a week for four doses, then one every six days for four doses, etc...
Even so, the herxes were pretty bad. Of course, I had gone untreated at least twelve years so my bacterial load was probably really high. It is a good combination but it may be a rocky road for a while.
David

Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :

I didn't herx on plaquenil. It actually keeps down inflammation and therefore reduces my symptoms.

Posted by JavaBeing (Member # 6321) on :

Thanks everyone for your input...I feel kinda wimpy with just two shots of bicillin a week compared to y'all (Barngirl and David95928) Do you think ramping up to two doses is needed?

Were any of you on the Biaxin/Bicillin combo? I know the Biaxin doesn't cross the BBB much, does anyone know if the Bicillin does?

Firstwin--thanks very much for the heads up on "warming up" the bicillin first, I wasn't aware or told about that, but from what I've read it helps to decrease getting alot of bumps and scar tissue. As a cop, I've been called a harda$$ more than once, perhaps these folks were psychic?

Aniek--thanks for the input on the plaquenil...I hope my experience will be like yours. Have you ever had it substitued for the generic Hydroxcholoquine? If so, is it as effective, or should I stay with the 'accept no substitution' policy?

For those on the Bicillin, how hard was it to get your insurance to pay for it?

Thanks everyone for the help...now just gotta find someone to give the shots. My father-in-law offered, said he has many years experience giving shots to his cows. Hmmm...perhaps that's why cows always watch you from the corner of their eye when you go by them at those 4-H booths at the state fair.

I'm off to go get fitted for my ice block underwear..
JavaBeing

Posted by Ann in CA (Member # 97) on :

If you use your block of ice before the shot, you may not need if after! My first few shots were with a nurse, and she said I didn't need to ice the area before (as my LLMD's printed instructions suggested) so I was very sore for days. After my husband started giving the shots, we followed all the suggestions (ice the area, warm the bicillin--my husband uses his hands to bring it up to room temp, and inject slooowly.

I am on week 20 of one 1.2 shot. So far so good.

Best of luck to you.

Ann

I am on week 20 of one 1.2 shot. So far so good.

Best of luck to you.

Ann

Posted by JavaBeing (Member # 6321) on :

Thanks Ann!--Icing the target area before hand is another suggestion I wasn't told about when rx these shots. I know our LLMD are busy as all heck, but some of these simple "tricks" make all the difference in the world! Lyme is already enough pain in the backside without adding any more...

So I have my new arse-nal ready: warm up the meds, ice the area and rotate the injection sites..any thoughts on how to actually give the shot?

I heard many times go s-l-o-w as possible (4-5 mins?). How does a person/spouse actually "push" the needle into the site without the reprocussion of divorce?

Thanks again everybody for the info...

Bottoms up,
JavaBeing