Started treating lyme in late July '04. Have taken minocycline, rocephin and zithromax and did quite well with them. Moved on to ceftin at the beginning of April, and sa'weet Mother of herx . . . I can barely function. I've done nothing but lay around helplessly since I started. Lots of depression, mood swings and some days feel downright suicidal, although I'd never act on it. What gives here? I'm currently taking a break from antibiotics. My mind is currently unable to take any more battering from this sinister disease.
Thanks much, BB
Posted by pq (Member # 6886) on :
Indeed. 'tis wicked. Intense. Can be real scary. With the very first of three ceftin courses over the years, I got much of the same reponse that started about 1/2 hour+ after the first tablet of teh first course of ceftin, and it kicked in bigg time at some time after the second tablet.
One capsule of bromelain X 500 mg. quelled a real nasty kidney 'herx' by 20%, and I had to take 3 capsules of bromelain, may be 4 to quell the effects on the kidney by 90%.
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
Ceftin is nasty but it works.
Posted by Biting Back (Member # 6018) on :
Thanks for the verification guys, it really helped me get a grasp on what's happening to me. Ceftin definitely works, but it's harsh. Might try pulsing for a while, so I can have a life during my 'off-time.'
BB
Posted by beachcomber (Member # 5320) on :
Hmmmmmm.....I actually did ok on Ceftin. I thought the "constant hex" feeling was much more managable and predictable than the ups and downs of Zithromax, Amoxy and Doxy. And Flagyl......well we won't even go there!!!
I will admit that I got really bad Candida while on Ceftin. So, watch your diet and tummy. Bromelain and Curcumin helped me as well while on it.
Feel better.
Bc
Posted by Lymeindunkirk (Member # 7118) on :
Bitingback, your posting caught my eye because my 9 yr old and I have done fairly well on ceftin. I did herx badly for the first two weeks so I can realate to the drpession thing. I found it interesting that you did so well on the minocycyline. I was dizzy and out of sorts after taking the first pill. Could barely stand up the next day. I guess we are all different which is why this site is so great. It gives us an idea of what works for some and not others. PQ, I'minterested in what you were saying about your kidney. Can you elaborate some for me? I have been having horrible pain all week on my left side and back. No one can quite tell me what is wrong. The hospital thought at first kidney stones but a cat scan didn't show anything. Explain to me what kidney herxing is. I've been on ceftin for three months now and added the doxy last month.
Posted by Biting Back (Member # 6018) on :
Lymeindunkirk,
Mino wasn't exactly a piece of cake for me as it was the first antibiotic I took after diagnosis. I had a lot of the dizziness and neuro herxes with it.
I've also had the kidney herx with ceftin. A lot of pain in the kidney area (back), and also urinary herx with burning and urgency. Takes me back 22 years to the beginning of this nightmare. Was peeing blood (literally) and referred to urology. They were alarmed by the appearance of my urine but eventually they told me they couldn't detect infection, so that was 'normal' for me. Go figure.
P.S. I've been worked up negatively for kidney stones several times during the course of LD.
Posted by marks (Member # 6965) on :
Biting Back, I have done well on Ceftin. Took Doxy for 1 month - now Ceftin for 2 months. Have some good days and some not so good.
I even asked my doc if it was ok to stay on it another month as I was doing fairly well with it.
I guess everyone reacts differently.
I am scheduled for Zithromax next and really dread starting it because of some of the things I have heard about it.
I wonder if the point we are each at during our treatment has anything to do with how we react to certain abx. I'm just starting treatment and you are almost a year into it.
Oh well, too much for this brain to think about right now.
Posted by Biting Back (Member # 6018) on :
Good luck with the zithromax. I herxed in the beginning and had lots of vomiting. Just make sure you eat before you take this one. I think zithromax is my best friend from the antibiotic family (so far).
I do think the stage of treatment we're in when we initiate antibiotics does make a difference in how we react to it. Good luck with zithie!