I started taking Artemisinin, 100mg 2 times a day, on the 19th of January. I got really sick about 4 days later. I kept taking it until the begining of Feb. I ran a fever for about 4 weeks and had chills and it made a lot of my symptoms worse. My heart was racing, I had night sweats, my pain got a lot worse, I had severe tummy cramps, I past blood in my stool, I had cramping in my legs and hips, all most past out a couple of times, severe head pain, tingles down my legs, Extreem tierdness and weekness, shaky and I felt like I was really going to die, I spent 6 weeks in bed, I only got up to use the bathroom.
Can this be caused by Artemisinin?
I haven't taken it for a month and still have these sympotmes, I'm slowlly getting better. Can it still be caused by taking this?
Will I get better?
Can It causes perminate damage?
Can it be an un-safe drug?
I'm so thankfull I found this message board you all are helping me find the courage to face this disease. Thank you very much!!! Sandy
Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :
Nausea is a common side effect of artemisinin with cramping, vomiting, diahhrea and loss of appetite. Some of you other symptoms sound like babesia--chills, sweating, fever etc.
I am not a medical doctor, so don't take what I say as gospel truth. Hiker
Posted by DolphinLady (Member # 6275) on :
up
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
Art can make me nauseated and very tired.
If it's hitting the babs the chills and fevers continued for me well after my treatment stopped..
The fever and chills are gone for now. And I hope they don't come back.
Be careful how high you go. I trashed my stomach this week and now have to back off for sure,.
Am on other combo's with it. I have never taken just the art.Where you on any thing else with it?
I have heard it should not be taken alone but in combination with other stuff.
take care dana
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sandy: I got really sick about 4 days later........ My heart was racing, I had night sweats, my pain got a lot worse, I had severe tummy cramps, I past blood in my stool, I had cramping in my legs and hips, all most past out a couple of times, severe head pain, tingles down my legs, Extreem tierdness and weekness, shaky and I felt like I was really going to die, I spent 6 weeks in bed, I only got up to use the bathroom.
[/qb]
By what you have stated, it sounds like a herx from babesia. "4 days" is one key to the puzzle...many herxes begin on the 4th day.
The other symptoms [except maybe blood in stool and stomach cramps] ALL sound like babesia symptoms.
My worst herxes were on meds for babs....especially clindamycin/quinine.
My heart symptoms were especially pronounced while on babs meds, as were the fainting, near fainting, extreme weakness and fatigue.
I spent two months in bed after only a week on clindamycin/Q. Had to start back slowly. A herx CAN be overdone!!
Hope you feel better soon! During my herx, I also ended up in the ER twice in one week due to the heart stuff and extreme fatigue. Kinda like you, I thought I was going to die!
Posted by NP40 (Member # 6711) on :
Sounds like a babesia herx. Many other meds one can take for babesia. Malrone, mepron, plaquenil, etc. However, any babesia med should be taken with an abx such as zithromax.
Posted by Sandy (Member # 8877) on :
"Sounds like a babesia herx."
What is a herx?
"Where you on any thing else with it?"
I was only on art.
Thank you for all your help Sandy
Posted by suki444 (Member # 4261) on :
Hi It does sound like the Artemesinin has killed off some Babesia..a herxheimer reaction. However blood in the stool needs to be investigated ASAP. Artemesinin can cause gastric upset and has not to be used if you have an stomach ulcer for example.
You need to read Dr B's guidelines on http://www.ilads.org about Lyme and Babesia and how to treat them and the herxheimer reactions that can follow.
It is correct you can only use Artemesia or Artemesinin WITH Atovaquone and a macrolide otherwise the parasites can become resistant.
****HOWEVER maybe you cannot take this at all if you have gastric bleeding*
It is best to treat Babesia with the guidance of a LLMD as treatment can be difficult.
take care and hope you can get some help Emma
Posted by humanbeing (Member # 8572) on :
Sandy, Your symptoms sound awful. Have you been diagnosis by an lld and was art the first drug you went on?
What were your symptoms before treatment? I wonder why you are not also on abx.
I hope you are feeling better and that your pain was worth it in that you got rid of the babs for good! kIM