I'm starting four teaspoons of Mepron per day. (Yeah, I'm taking Zithromax.)
The one Malarone pill per day was like throwing a Dixie cup of water at a forest fire! I asked for Mepron, as I did seem to respond in the past (though only given for the magical three weeks by a former practitioner of mine).
My LLPA approved this, but she said that instead of the typical dose, I'd be taking twice the amount. They've seen resistance with the two per day.
I think I will be shaking in a corner soon!
The med is icky, but I sure begged for it. I'm tired of, for one, having gasping episodes every day where I can't get out full sentences without great difficulty.
Welcome, Yellow Wonder!
Anyone else taking this ginormous amount of Mepron?
Steph
Posted by liz28 (Member # 4946) on :
Yeah, I've been on this dose a year and a half, with ketek and artemisinin supplements, and lots of liver support and omegas from flaxseed oil. Mepron can really dry out your complexion. I also threw in provigil to counteract the fatigue.
It should definitely make you feel better, but after you've been on it a while, be cautious about going off it again. There is a high incidence of relapse on longterm mepron, enough to suggest we are dealing with many varieties of babesia.
Wish I could give a quick answer on how to solve that dilemma, but the cure is a work in process at the moment.
Posted by Starphoenix (Member # 2402) on :
Thanks, Liz. I never heard of anyone else taking this amount before.
That's discouraging about the relapse. Yeah, I think there are multiple strains, including some that haven't been recognized yet.
I wonder how many kinds of disease come from tick bites. There may be scores we cannot even name yet.
I stay hopeful with that "yet."
Steph
Posted by sweet pea (Member # 6495) on :
Steph,
I think 2 tsp. 2xday is the standard mepron dosage for babesia. Make sure you take it with a fatty food, for maximum absorbtion, and have your liver checked monthly.
Good luck, P
Posted by Starphoenix (Member # 2402) on :
Thanks, P! And, oh, how I love Vermont! My husband and I had considered relocating some years ago.
Steph
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
Sarrphoenix I haven't heard many people taking this amount. But what ever works for you. I know some are upping the artmenisinin so doing the same for the mepron may be just the ticket.
I could never afford to do this. At $850 dollars a bottle it would break our piggie bank
Take care and good luck with the higher dose
keep us posted
Posted by Starphoenix (Member # 2402) on :
Dana: It should be a crime for drug companies to charge $850 a bottle for medicine. I was just talking about this issue to my husband yesterday.
Fortunately, my insurance covers it at $15. But now they're giving me trouble about the Zithromax. Go figure. I'm very grateful to have the coverage, even if it's isn't always the best.
Can you get help covering your medication costs? Maybe a state program, or something through the drug companies themselves?
My heart aches for all those without coverage.
Steph
Posted by hopeful123 (Member # 3244) on :
hey steph, long time, no see. i was going to offer a bottle or two (unopened) to send to you because i had refilled the prescription before finding out that i was no long to be taking it.
i could never get up to 4 tsp a day. i could only manage 3 a day. sometimes only 2.
it helped me, so i'm glad i took it.
doing better on doxy and pulsing flagyl and biaxin.
keep the faith, baby!!
hopeful123 Posted by sweet pea (Member # 6495) on :
quote:Originally posted by Starphoenix: Thanks, P! And, oh, how I love Vermont! My husband and I had considered relocating some years ago.
Steph
That is funny Steph, because I lived in PA for 8 years, starting with college at Lehigh, then on to Chalfont and Philadelphia.
Good luck with the mepron, it sure is gross.
P
Posted by Starphoenix (Member # 2402) on :
Thanks, Hopeful! That is kind of you.
If you want to mail it to me, I'll send you my address in an email.
That is funny, P! Where do you live in VT, if you don't mind answering. I'm in Shohola, Pike County, PA. I'm 5.5 miles into the woods.
Yeah, Mepron is disgusting, but I'll gladly gulp if it helps!
Steph
Posted by suki444 (Member # 4261) on :
Hi I've never taken this much Mepron at once, only 3 teaspoons a day.
My LLMD also uses it with sometimes flagyl/macrolide or Ketek as well as the artemesia or Artemesinin.
He basically ups your combo every time you relapse and says Malarone is more effective than Mepron as it contains two antimalarials.
Liz28..I too am one of the long term Mepron relapsers..think going onto the MP for a bit allowed both the Lyme and Babesia to come back, seemingly they sort of feed each other. This is my 2nd relapse though.
Have you tried Malarone or Riamet?
Best wishes Emma
Posted by Starphoenix (Member # 2402) on :
Hi, Emma.
Hmm. I was taking Malarone, but even though it has two antimalarials, it has such a tiny amount of atovaquone (the active ingredient in Mepron). I found it useless, personally, but we're all unique.
I don't know how long you've gone untreated, but it's been over 21 years for me. I'm just now getting proper treatment. I was diagnosed in '02, but no proper treatment. Maybe that's why I need the Mepron? I dunno.
All the best, Steph
Posted by suki444 (Member # 4261) on :
Hi Steph I think he uses malarone with Ketek too, to try and get resistant babs..guess it depends how you respond and what you've taken in the past, as you say.
Yes I was bitten in 1989 and that's when i got babs and still have it unfortunately!
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