LymeNet Flash: Heart problems from antibiotics ...

This is topic Heart problems from antibiotics ... in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Eyal (Member # 6676) on :

After having a drug reaction to the antibiotics (body rash followed by escalating liver enzymes) 4 weeks ago, I now feel like my heart has been damaged.

every so often I would suddenly feel short of breath, heartburn/butterfly feeling in my stomach, a blood rush to my head, high pulse rate, tiredness, etc.

I had a stress test and echo that were OK, so I don't know what to think.

Anyone have similar experience or suggestions? Haven't been on any meds for 4 weeks, enzymes down to 200 and still dropping. Could the liver be causing this?

Thanks,

Eyal

Posted by chainsaw joseph (Member # 6611) on :

All the things you mentioned can be caused by lyme and I have and still experience all of them.You never know though,lyme is the disease of no answers to me.Maybe ask for a holter moniter that will moniter your heart for a full day instead of an ekg that just moniters your heart for a few minutes.

Posted by johnlyme1 (Member # 7343) on :

I have had the heart thing on and off for the last year. Stress and echo showed normal. When I was on Zith/Malarone for Babs, each week there was a progression of the heart issue. inital babs tx is done and the heart issues is better. but still being treated for ehrlichi - It finaly dawned on me with all the talk about mg that I was not getting enought. It has helped a lot.

Posted by cbb (Member # 788) on :

Hi Eyal,
Sorry you've had so much to deal with.

Since you're here on LymeNet, I'm assuming the antibiotics you took were for Lyme disease.
Were you seeing a Lyme Literate Med Dr (LLMD)?
What was your treatment?
(abx, dose)
Were you checked for co-infections - like Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Bartonella?

I think it's more likely the problems are from the disease rather than caused by 4 weeks of antibiotics (abx).

If you were diagnosed with Lyme but did not treat long enough, the heart problems could be from Lyme. Lyme can also cause elevated liver enzymes.

Another possibility is co-infections. They require different meds so you have to know which disease you're targeting to know which meds you need to take.

Most of the Tick-Borne Diseases (TBDs) can cause the problems you're having.
Ex: Bartonella can affect the heart & liver.
Read "Bartonella Alert" at http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/008362.html

"Co-Infections" gives a short description of several co-infections. http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/021366.html

More links on co-infections can probably be found in the "Newbie Help Links" at: http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/029917.html

Another excellent source of info on LD & co-infections is "Diag Hints & Treatment Guidelines..." at: www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.html
Print a copy, read it a couple times, highlight important facts, write in the margins, etc.

It's just my opinion, but I'd recommend you check back with your dr.
Or, possibly you need to see a LLMD who will be more experienced in treating TBDs.
It's always best to err on the side of caution.

More responses should be posted as people see your question.

[This message has been edited by cbb (edited 09 June 2005).]

Posted by dontlikeliver (Member # 4749) on :

I have the symptoms your describe also.

Posted by Eyal (Member # 6676) on :

Thanks for the replies!

I was on abx for 6 mo. but when I rotated last month to new ones (ketek, etc) I had a bad drug reaction followed by this heart thing (which I didn't have before the drug reaction). That's why I feel it is not lyme caused but drug caused. I stopped all abx and supplements 4 weeks ago when I had the reaction and this heart thing is not going away yet :-(

It seems to happen more frequently after a meal.

Thanks,

Eyal