I'm about to switch my meds from Biaxin/Plaquenil to either Rifampin or Levaquin (primarily to try to get at the Bartonella). I'm not sure which I should do and my doc may prescribe either. I am a runner and still run about 15 miles a week even with the Lyme (though there are days I pay for it, big time!). I've heard the Levaquin can cause tendons to rupture. Of course I would be careful but if I took Levaquin would that mean I can't run at all while on it? I know there've been many posts about these two meds but I want a direct comparison. Overall, what have been your experiences with both? I want to hit it hard!
Posted by LYMESCIENCE (Member # 9259) on :
Here's a thought, use both! You need 2 drugs for Bartonella
Posted by davidx (Member # 8326) on :
Dr B's guidelines (Sept 2005) recommend levaquin as the "drug of choice" to treat bart. He also recommends adding a proton pump inhibitor because there could potentially be an added benefit from that. Some people do experience side effects from the levaquin as he points out in his lyme publicationm and in that case there are alternatives.
Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
I've been on rifampin for bart symptoms since last December.
I had some wicked headaches right at first, but the initial reaction wasn't nearly as severe as I'd feared.
Some of the symptoms I had have disappeared completely. Most have lessened.
No experience with levaquin, though, so I can't offer the comparison.
I hope this is helpful!
Andie
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
I think the answer depends on whether you think the bartonella is in the G.I. tract or in your brain and nervous system.
Hubby took Levaquin for 3 months with the proton pump inhibitor -- might as well have been taking water pills.
Took only 20 Rifampin pills spread out over about a month -- that was all he could tolerate. Did help greatly to "wake up" his brain -- thinking is the best it has been since first getting sick 5 years ago.
You could try Cipro instead -- he took that for a month after the Rifampin -- feel it falls somewhere in between the other 2 drugs -- gets into the brain a little but not as strong as Rifampin.
Hubby was diagnosed clinically as having Bartonella based on ongoing G.I. issues and chronic gastritis diagnosed before Lyme diagnosis or any antibiotics. Nausea/vomiting/dry heaves were some of original symptoms.
This is not medical advice, just my opinion based on hubby's experience.
Bea Seibert
Posted by nicolette (Member # 8133) on :
Bea...I definately have neuro Lyme...not too much GI stuff, if any.
Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
nicolette,
My symptoms were heavily neurological, too. Some of them have improved a lot with the rifampin.
Andie
Posted by Cate (Member # 8787) on :
I've taken both rifampin and levaquin at small doses. Both were difficult for me.
First few times I took 300 mg rifampin (with bactrim) I got incredibly tired. Cut back to taking 150mg twice daily and I don't feel too horrible -- mostly just irritable and less able to sleep soundly. I think it helps, though I've only been on it about 1 month.
A half tablet of levaquin gave me horrible tiredness, numbness, tingling and swelling in calves as well as pain in ankles within 24 hours. That might have meant it was effective against bartonella, but there was no way I could tolerate it. Very scary. Went back to the rifampin and hope it will do the trick.
Posted by liz28 (Member # 4946) on :
I took rifampin for five months with ketek and have seen no return of bart symptoms for six months.