However, I think it is also used for lyme by some docs. Usually in a combination.
Posted by lesley1954 (Member # 7626) on :
My daughter was prescribed Septra for 30 days following a PICC line infection. Her PICC line was removed, but the tip of it tested positive for staph. According to the lab report, Septra was one of the abx her infection was sensitive to. Her doctor also said it would hit Bartonella. She was taking Septra with Ketek, but then she got strep throat so Amoxicillin was substituted for Ketek for 14 days. This week she finishes both the Amoxicillin and Septra, so it will be interesting to see what direction her doctor wants to head.
Posted by charlie (Member # 25) on :
I guess I missed the previous thread lou mentioned while we were away for Thanksgiving. Bactrim has been the best med for quite a few of us.
I don't know exactly what it treats at this point...maybe babs maybe babs and lyme but it works for some and for some it works great.
I thought I was treating lyme with bactrim and biaxin, then thought I was treating babs with bactrim and artemesinin....whatever.
But the two of us lymies/babsies in this household are doing pretty well when no other orals worked.(never tried IV and won't unless the situation is hopeless otherwise)
Using bactrim to advantage also lays to rest some of the usual crap about 'obsolete abx' 'resistant strains' ect. bactrim is old old old.
If you can tolerate sulfa go ahead and try it. It made me feel better within a few hours. If you go back thru my posts ypu'll find quite a lot of discourse on this subject. Or PM me but I'll insist on a phone call if it's anything requiring lengthy response on account of typing is a real laborious thing for me.
disclaimer: I'm no doctor nor do I aspire to be. I just want to keep feeling good.
Charlie
Posted by Bugmenot (Member # 7878) on :
Twenty years ago I was prescribed Sulfatrim DS (Bactrim Double Strength or specifically 800mg Sulfamethoxazole, 160mg Trimethoprim) for Malaria, 1 dose per 12 hours for adults, half dose per 12 hours for the kids.
I take Bactrim DS now for Babes symptoms, and for me the side effects are very minimal.
Posted by JimBoB (Member # 8454) on :
Hi Bugmenot: It was on your suggestion that I bought some Sulfa a week or so ago. I have it sitting on my table, but when I was going to take it, I thought it best to check back on your PM to me to see IF there was a reason WHY you suggested I might try it. However, I couldn't find any, so THAT is WHY I started this thread to get as much feedback as possible, and also because I went to a pharmaceutical company and got their directions and pros and cons on this drug, and to be honest got a little scared on some of the side affects that can happen with it, especially since I have asthma and also an illeostomy.
Therefore it just sits on the table, unopened. I remember giving it to my son 14 to 17 years ago when we had him on treatment for Lieukemia. Course he was already near dead, and he was on a lot of other things also. He is alive and well today at age 18.
By the way, WHAT are the Babes symptoms? Jim.
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Could you type in the exact name of this med. Sulfa drugs come in more than one type. Not sure what you have.
Bactrim/septra has a black box warning. If you don't stay hydrated, it can stomp your kidneys. I would be careful about doing this without any supervision, when you seem to be somewhat less than sure about drugs and symptoms.
Posted by Jewlbug (Member # 4554) on :
I take Bactrim along with Minocin and Ketek. I take Minocin and Ketek every other day, and on my "off" days, I take Bactrim. My doctor uses a variation of the Marshall Protocol, so that is the reasoning behind the Bactrim prescription.
I have found Bactrim very powerful. I have been on aggressive oral treatment and have taken a variety of ABX over the past 2 years. Bactrim is the first antibiotic that has made me herx BAD. While the herxing can be painful, my symptoms have been getting better. My LLMD only will prescribe it for a 2-month timeframe since he claims there are concerns about long-term use.
I haven't noticed any bad side effects with the Bactrim use, however, the yeast does start to act up.
Wishing Wellness, Jewl
Posted by Corgilla (Member # 4066) on :
Hi,
I've started Bactrim for a staph infection. I've found it to be very good for my TBDs instead.
I have tested postive for Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Borrelia, Mycoplasma and Babesia (hopefully gone now).
I was taking minocycline and my LLMD added the Bactrim because the staph infection was not resistent to Bactrim.
I am having my first herx in a long time. If I skip 1 Bactim because the herx is getting to me, the herx stops shortly after. When I take the next dose, the herx starts again. I think it's getting intracellular or something. Maybe it's changing my pH. Who knows but it's working.
I agree with the yeast thing too. This is the first time I've ever had any yeast issues in 4 years of treatment.
I take 1 SMZ-TMP DS Tab twice a day. I don't see any dosage on the bottle.
Hope this helps,
Corgilla
Posted by CaliLymer (Member # 6509) on :
Hi Everyone,
Just wondering what dosage people are takig of Bactrim?? Is everyone on Bractrim DS??
Thanks,
CaliLymer
Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :
Hi All
I started Bactrim DS160/800-- 12 days ago because I had run out of mepron--Babs-
Had a almost migrain headache for 9 days 24x7--
Then no headache 2 days --
Today I actually feel Perty Good and have energy--Ahhhh
The bactrim seams to be absorbed perty fast--I could feel effect from dose in 20 minutes (Headache)
I had be on Mepron 15 weeks-- No relaps of symptoms between different meds---Ahhhhh
So far so good--Jay--
Posted by JimBoB (Member # 8454) on :
Lou: Sorry about taking so long to get back to you. I have been posting so much on other threads that haven't had time for this one:
Thanks, Jim
Posted by Corgilla (Member # 4066) on :
Hi JimBoB,
The dosage you have is the normal strength. When there's a DS following the name, it means it's double strength.
Normal = 400 SMZ and 80 TMP DS = 800 SMZ and 160 TMP
SMZ-TMP is the generic name for Bactrim
Corgilla
Posted by Christine202 (Member # 6158) on :
I've ben taking Bactrim DS 500mg2x a day for over a year now...
It does something , but not sure what.... I went down to one pill a day fora while,,, just upped back to 2 a day about 2 weeks ago..I wonder why that is part of my flares recently....
Anyway, I have found improvement with it.
If you do take it long term you need a CBC and electrolite work up monthly since it does have risks to long term use.
Posted by Lymied (Member # 6704) on :
Hi JimBob -
I took three or four rounds of Septra. I took it in combination with Mepron at one point for babesia along with zithromax...yeah, pure hell. I read an article on PubMed at one point that documented a case of a guy on Martha's Vineyard that did not respond to the Mepron/Zith until Septra was added then it really killed the babs for him.
Well that combo nearly killed me - could only take it for 7 days...just really caused a lot of issues with my digestion.
I then took it with doxy in combo and did better on it until I became allergic to it. I had what appeared to be 2nd degree burns in my mouth and sore throat.
My half-brother has Stevens-Johnson syndrome which causes a reaction like this internally in the body...it can be life threatening so I immediately stopped. So no more Septra for me.
This was not yeast because I immediately went on another abx combo a week later after symptoms went away and have never experienced it again.
I think my LLMD suspected Bartonella in addition to the three other coinfections I had.