I have been taking this for 4 days now and I feel an increase in my symptoms.
Does this happen with detoxing. This is my first time. I have really bad anxiety, my head is pounding, nauseated, etc.
thanks,
karen
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
Yes, I've been on it since April of this year. I went on Actos (a diabetic prescription drug) before starting cholestryamine which is supposed to help with the detox reactions.
Apparently it has helped because I didn't feel any worse on it than off and I didn't start other treatment until I'd been on it for awhile so I would have known if it were making me feel worse.
Do a search here for questran or cholestryamine. Also, this is part of Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker's protocol (his book Mold Warriors) so you may want to google the protocol. Lots of other websites talk about it. Dr. Shoemaker has a website. http://www.chronicneurotoxins.com/ Terry
Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :
I am on teeny amounts. I'm trying to increase. Gives me a headache.
Did you read the book Mold Warriors? It explains why Lyme patients often find their symptoms are worse on cholestyramine. That's why he recommends also using Actos, a diabetes drug first to help prevent the immune system response to cholestyramine that will worsen symptoms.
However my docs and I decided just to try the cholestyramine on me because the Actos could make me hypoglycemic.
You might talk to your doctor about starting slow and ramping up dosage slowly.
Also, remember, cholestyramine pulls out any medications or vitamins you are taking unless spaced far enough apart from the cholestyramine.
Of course, detoxing itself can stir up symptoms. Detox in general makes me sicker than anything. That's another reason I'm going slowly on this.
Take care, Jill
Posted by Kendrick (Member # 10990) on :
I've been taking it for a month, and I'm not sure if it's the abx or the cholestyramine that makes me feel horrible.
It is supposed to be expected to feel worse sometimes, but it's used to bind many different toxins, including Lyme toxins produced from kill-off, by some Lyme doctors.
Indigestion, bloating, ... stomach problems is a side affect from Cholestyramine.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Kendrick: Indigestion, bloating, ... stomach problems is a side affect from Cholestyramine.
I took it for a few months. Had to stop due to the above.
It can cause an "intensification" of symptoms in the beginning.
Posted by KarenB (Member # 10510) on :
Thanks all,
I feel like I am losing my mind. I definitely have the bloating etc. I take my first dose in the am, then about 1hr later I take my meds. Do you think that is enough time?
I am taking 4grams 4 times a day. I will definitely read up on it,
I feel so stressed out.
Karen
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by KarenB: I take my first dose in the am, then about 1hr later I take my meds. Do you think that is enough time?
I can't remember. It's been years since I took that stuff. It should be in your prescription info. I think you have to wait at least 2 hrs after.
You COULD take the meds one hour BEFORE the CSM, but if you do it after, more time needs to pass.
Posted by summerlove (Member # 10428) on :
I was told to take it and eat a meal 30 minutes later. I was also prescribed something for constipation and acid (in the beginning).
I can't remember how far apart other meds are supposed to be, but I think it is more than 2 hours.
From what I understand the Actos part is real important if you have Lyme so you don't have major herx.
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
I was prescribed cholestyramine for C. difficile. 4-5 days into taking less than one scoop a day, I got very ill. I called my doctor in tears. He shared with me an article by Dr. S that stated that in about half the people who have lyme they get "sick as h*ll". That was sure me. I quit taking it.
Many months later, I wanted to try it again. This time I took one scoop a day (4 grams). Within 4 days I got the headache from h*ll. It was bad. Woke me up at 3 in the morning.
This time I stayed on it, and eventually felt better (from the headache). Then I decided to up the dose to 2 scoops a day. Sure enough, within 4-5 days, I got quite ill again. Couldn't get out of bed.
SO...in me it does something. It also constipates me! I quit taking it. I still have some in my cupboard, and will try the experiment again.
My LLMD doesn't use it for clearing neurotoxins...just for C. difficile. However, he was intrigued to see what happened to me when I took it.
My cardiologist (who uses it for his patients to lower cholesterol) has never seen anything like what I experience. Then again, he never had anyone get a herx reaction (tachycardia) from IM bicillin either!
Timaca
Posted by KarenB (Member # 10510) on :
Hi everyone,
I really don't think I can take this stuff. Although I only took one dose today and I am not that bad.
I am calling my llmd on Tuesday to check in.
I am supposed to start flagyl Monday for the first time. I'm scared to death.
I really feel like my body needs a break from all the abx I have been on.
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