I went off ABX 3 months ago because I felt like I was going no-where but downhill. (I was on them for 7 months) Zithromax + Mepron for 4 months, then Tinidazole + Biaxin for 4 months.
I had very scary herx's with both of them, really weird anxiety attacks I can't describe. But I just never felt any better after the 8 months than before I started so I stopped.
Now my question is: What other antibiotics could I try that my system my respoond might to better? I live in Canada so IV is not an option, i dont think...
Also I'd be interested in pulsing, as I never tried doing this.
thanks Posted by Lisianthus (Member # 6631) on :
You know some people don't feel better after 8 months. It can take alot longer sometimes. Depending on how long you have been sick how many co-infections you have.
Bb is a VERY slow growing bacteria, it can't be killed off quickly.
I have been on abx for over 2 years now, I do have some improvement. I know that when I stopped my abx I went downhhill.
Maybe you weren't on the right dosage for your body. My sister has been on abx for over 5 years and take pediactric doses of Zith & Malerone. She is doing good with these doses.
Everyone is different, you have figure out what you can tolerate and go from there. But if you have had lyme/babs/bart or any of them for more then a few years you will need to be on a longer regiment of abx.
Good luck, Lisi
Posted by trueblue (Member # 7348) on :
Jon, perhaps you can try a Penicillin or Cephalasporin. (pardon my spelling, not sure on either, right now)
I used to take Suprax and Zith together and it was a good maintanence combo for me. (Can't get Suprax in the US anymore but as a suspension.)
I'm trying Amoxycillin now, never had that before but did make good headway in the past with IM Billin LA and a low dose of Zith.
I was just thinking something in a completely different class of ABX than what you've been on might be worth a shot (heh, no pun intended).
Posted by Jon (Member # 9123) on :
THanks for the replies. I've heard alot about Doxy, and Amoxycillin. Also, tetracillin (sp)?? Can these drugs alone clear up lyme? Can they be pulsed??
I plan on using abx along with the Buhner Protocol. Posted by Lioness (Member # 10655) on :
I did well with Biaxin and Plaquenil my first seven months. I had to stop all ABX for a few months and I too went down hill.
I am now on Tetracycline. I will be back on the Biaxin & Plaquenil soon.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I'm on Mepron, Biaxin, Doxycycline, Omnicef, and Probenecid. I also take Nystatin and Prolisec along with Therelac, probiotics and supplements to build my immune system. The Mepron is for babesia; the Biaxin, Doxy, and Omnicef are for the three different forms of borrelia. The Probenecid makes the Omnicef work better.
It seems different things work for different people. This regimen is giving me a bit more strength even after just one month. My herx wasn't that bad either. My LLMD told me it would take at least a year or two of treatment and that it could take months before I felt significantly better.
I think it varies from person to person what works.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Try Biaxin by itself and pulse the tinidazole.
Good luck!! Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
Hi Jon,
Amoxy has helped me alot. I now take 7g/day, or 3.5g BID.
It has been pretty benign and easy to take for me -- as long as I take lots of probiotics. Even with the herxes, which at least let me know it is killing something!
I think often people take too little amoxy. I weigh 135lbs, and would never have gone up to 7g/day without a respected llmd leading the way for me. But this 7 g/day level helped clear neuro-symptoms that 3-4g/day did not. I herxed with every increase, but then felt better and better. I may go up to higher daily amounts.
Also started malarone, since I have all the babs symptoms and very strong positive tests for babs.
good luck!
Posted by Jon (Member # 9123) on :
Thanks for all of the replies, Just one more question:
Does anyone know which antibiotics are used with most success in Europe? (I'm 99% sure I have one of the Euro strains)
So many choices out there I dont know what to try next Posted by JeffM (Member # 8919) on :
Jon, Your LLMD should know what to do. A lot of protocols change depending upon symptoms. As symptoms change, so do antibiotics used.
I wonder too what they tend to use for european strains. I have heard from my doctor that the lyme here has been genetically modified and more resistant to treatment than european strains.
Posted by David95928 (Member # 3521) on :
Jon,
If you go through the archives, you will see that quite a number of people have had stable and significant improvement on a combination of Bicillin LA and a macrolide such as Zithromax or Biaxin. I would say that regimen is more indicated for people who are pretty chronic and are more focused on quality of life than cure.
Bicillin LA can be hard to get both here and in Canada. It's use was previously restricted to syphillis, in Canada. I don't know whether that has changed. If it's legal to do this in Canada, it's easy to order from Europe and is very inexpensive.
Posted by Lisianthus (Member # 6631) on :
My mother was bit in Germany in 1962 before me and my sisters were born. (We all have LD + co-infections) I believe I have a European strain but not sure how to test for it, or if they have to test for specific strains, but anyway.....
I have been doing very well on minocycline. I have Lyme, Bart H. Bart Q & Mycoplasma.
Hope this helps you, Lisi
Posted by ESG (Member # 4816) on :
I felt best on Doxycycline daily with Tindamax 3 days a week. Both get into the brain.
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