I'm writing for my wife who is unable to use a computer right now. She is suffering from severe chronic lyme. She was just prescribed Mepron in addition to 500mg/day Zithromax. Does anyone have any experience with Mepron or with this combo?
Posted by imanurse (Member # 7022) on :
Brian,
I am also interested in people's responses in Mepron since I will be starting it soon (when I finish all my leftovers).
It is costly I understand and does not taste very good. I was unable to take Quinine due to a severe reaction so I am going to take Mepron to treat a coinfection called Babesia.
I was told to start slowly, like taking 1/4 tsp twice a day with Zith 250 once a day, increasing after a few days to 1/2 tsp, 3/4 tsp, etc until up to 1 tsp twice daily. After I get to 1tsp twice daily I am supposed to then take 2 zith daily (500mg total).
I will do a search here for information about Mepron (as you should too) because there have been lots of previous discussions about this medication.
Wishing your wife good results with Mepron!! Let us know how she does. What is her Mepron dosage?
Posted by imanurse (Member # 7022) on :
There are lots more just do a search for "Mepron" in the subject in medical questions
Posted by lucy96734 (Member # 8372) on :
I am about to finish my 6th bottle of that nasty yellow filth. I hate the taste, the smell, and everything about it except that it seems to have helped.
I took it first with Ketek and then with Ketek and Omnicef. The Mepron is for Babs while the others are for Lyme. I have made improvements but other than the sweats I had a hard time telling what symptoms belonged to what nasty bug.
I did have my liver checked frequently although I think more for Ketek issues than Mepron but I am not sure.
Good luck!
Posted by CSTPA (Member # 10112) on :
Check out the threads as listed above. Remember to take it with a full stomach and fatty food (a glass of regular milk, cheese, etc) i got a headache and rash, all expected, and ended up needing 3 doses a day, then a switch over to malarone and then lariam
Posted by BugBit (Member # 7829) on :
Thanks for the great links - saved me a lot of time and frustration while feeling like crap on toast.
After 2.5 years of pulsed various antibiotics, we think we nailed the Lyme but now we think that the Babesia is rearing it's ugly head.
They are all symbiotic and when you kill off one, the others get upset and rear up.
In my case, my body temp hovers between 95 and 96.5 and I am in a constant sweat - always hot, waking every two to three hours dripping wet - can't even get to the store without looking like i stepped out from a rain cloud. I am so miserable with this sweating thing I am near suicidal for the umpteenth time. Change clothes 5 times a day, taking cool showers 2-3 times a day just to stay - uh... sane. Haha
Mostly sweating then will freeze for a while then start to sweat again.
I started Mepron with Artemisinin + liver support for 11 days now and have noticed nothing except perhaps slightly improved sleep, but that may be because I am taking more pain meds to knock myself out.
How long does it take to notice improvement, in general, with the Mepron?
I am so used to near instantaneous improvements with the antibiotics for the Lyme, I am now wondering if the Mepron is even working? How to tell? How to know how long to take it? The expense is causing me to involuntarily go on a diet even with my insurance requiring only 15% as co-pay, to me, that $165 a month is almost 25% of my SSDI income so it is a tough go. My rent is 35% and that leaves very little else - no cable TV, no telephone, only internet which is my lifeline.
I am near suicidal for the umpteenth time with the sweats tonite, any advice on Mepron gratefully accepted.
Dr refuse to Rx Mepron with Zithro - only Mepron with Artemisinin and liver support.
Posted by JeffM (Member # 8919) on :
I did mepron for 3.5 months. 2.5 tspns twice a day. It tore up my GI tract but seems to have gotten rid of the babs.
Posted by davidx (Member # 8326) on :
I took mepron/zith for several months. The taste isn't that bad although it does take a little getting used to. Remember to take it with fat because apparently it gets absorbed better when taken with fat.
I didn't notice any significant side effects other than my cholesterol shot up (maybe due to the extra fat I was eating?). It dropped back down to normal after I was off the stuff.
-David
Posted by AliG (Member # 9734) on :
Hi Brian,
I have a quick question for Bugbit, I hope you don't mind.
quote:Originally posted by BugBit: [Q] I started Mepron with Artemisinin + liver support for 11 days now and have noticed nothing except perhaps slightly improved sleep, but that may be because I am taking more pain meds to knock myself out.
[/Q]
May I ask what you're taking for liver support?
Ali
Brian,
Please note:
NO CoQ10 or Milk thistle with Mepron. They interfere with the absorption. I don't know if there may be others. I also know that Mepron can cause depression and can interfere with SSRIs, so make sure your wife knows it's from the drug and will pass.
It should be taken with 24gms of fat. (2 Tbsp. of Peanut Butter or a little less of butter) A lot of food that I thought high in fat is really not so high, when I checked it out.
It is also very important to take with a full meal to get proper absorption. I think that's been mentioned already.
I'm fairly new to Mepron. I haven't finished a 21 day course yet. I think my neuro/memory issues are causing me to learn a lot the hard way. I also apologize if I've forgotten much of what I just read and repeated it. I mean well.
Good luck to you & your wife with treatment! I understand that being supportive to someone going through this stuff can be challenging at times.
God bless you both! Ali
Posted by hopeful123 (Member # 3244) on :
hi, i'm from dutchess county, too. it's a wonderful place to get lyme!!
i'm on mepron AGAIN. it's disgusting tasting. it's hard on babesiosis. it's expensive, but then once i add up all of the drugs i need to take, what's a little more here or there.
good luck. you've come to a good place to get information and support.
best hopeful123 Posted by luvdogs (Member # 9507) on :
Bugbit, I was on Mepron and Zith for about 3 months (not long enough from what I have heard). My main sx were sweating and chills. Later, sever low back pain.
I didn't think the meds were working or doing anything until the herx started at about 2 or 3 weeks and then it was constant. Dizziness, imbalamce, moody, and the above sx. Don;t worry, it takes some time, but then it goes on and on... it eventually did fade for me and at 3 months I was almsot stabilized.
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