I am currently treating both for lyme and babesia, and my llmd uses plaquenil as a cyst-buster.
How long did you take plaquenil in your treatment?
I will get a baseline examination from an opthamologist before starting plaquenil, and watch for any effects on eyes.
Am a bit scared to do cyst-busting, because after months on amoxicillin, I figure I am chock full of cysts!! So, wondering how long folks take plaquenil for...
Thanks and best wishes to everyone!
Posted by ByronSBell 2007 (Member # 11496) on :
I took plaquenil for about 2.5 months in baby doses and pulsed it as well. I have heard about it being a cyst buster but it is not the same power cyst buster Flagyl is... Usually people dont take plaquenil alone, I took mine with Biaxin.
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
Hey there, VT! I'm taking plaquenil with Mepron, zith, and omnicef right now - not sure how long my LLMD plans to keep me on.
As far as cyst busting goes, it's been nothing like flagyl or tindamax - both of which blow me out of the water pretty fast.
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
3 years & I had frequent vision checks.
It did make me herx harder.
When I went off of it, thinking I didn't need it any more, herx's where slightly less.
Hope this meds works for you
blessings Dana
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
Thanks Byron, Cactus and Dana for your answers and information!
Yes, flagyl knocked me out of the water too. Not sure if I can ever take that for more than a few days, as my first experience on flagyl (500mg/day) for three days was incredibly rough.
My family actually insisted that I stop taking it, the first time they have ever intervened like that!
Sounds like plaquenil worked well for most.
Cactus, that sounds like a powerful combo that you are taking!
Byron, hope you are feeling well and that the low-dose abx is working well. I will continue with high-dose amoxy while on plaquenil, or switch to minocycline.
Hi Dana, thanks and I hope you are well! Always nice to 'see' you here on the net.
Posted by Got Lyme? (Member # 11109) on :
I took plaqenal for about 4 months along with Biaxin until I hit a plateau. The herxes were bearable. I can't compare them to Flag since I have never taken it. After the plaq I took Mepron & Zith for about another 4 months but it wasn't as good as the plaq.
Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :
I took plaq for about 8 months along with ketek and then biaxon. I believe it was very effective as a cyst buster, and has helped me a lot.
Good luck with treatment.
Posted by CatWoman (Member # 10900) on :
Where are people getting info. about Plaquenil being used for the cyst form? I can't find any info. on this. It is not in the Burascanno guidelines is it?
~catwoman
Posted by Sojourner (Member # 9424) on :
Primarily from this Brorsons' study done in 2002:
"An in vitro study of the susceptibility of mobile and cystic forms of Borrelia burgdorferi to hydroxychloroquine."
Posted by Julz (Member # 12678) on :
just looking for opinions...I did IV rocephin along with Dr. B's oral combo for a year and a half...then got rid of the PICC line and did Bicillin injections along with Septra / biaxin...until I had a seizure just when Dr B closed his practice. Its been a year and I have been on almost nothing looking for a new LLMD. (Except Topomax as an anti seizure med.) I totally relapsed. I mainly have neuro symptoms and have never done any cyst busters. I started plaq and biaxin 2 months ago and it is helping a little bit...nothing dramatic....heres the question...would you add mino to the plaq and biaxin OR would you change to flagyl and zith??? I am kind of afraid of the flagyl after reading what everyone says about it...survey says....
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
Julz, I have been taking mino since mid-June, working my way very slowly up from 50mg every 3 days to more often. I am taking plaquenil too, and once/week bicillin.
This seems like a very effective combination to me.
Posted by ldfighter (Member # 9405) on :
Keep in mind plaquenil is a cyst buster but it doesn't get in the brain the way flagyl and tindimax do. (Also means plaq = less herx) Might be a good way to start going after cysts if you haven't before.
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
I've been taking Plaquenil for 3 years now. It reduces the pain and stiffness in my hands. I tried to reduce the dose a few months ago, an my pain increased within a few days.
Posted by Julz (Member # 12678) on :
Thanks for the info... ??? ...Vermont Lymie...does the mino make you dizzy??? how long have you been doing the mino / plaq / bicillin combo? you getting results??
ldfighter...I know that the flagyl gets into the brain better than the plaq...thats why I think I should try that but everyone says how tough it is?? Any experiences to relate?
Thanks everyone!!
Posted by gambler (Member # 8441) on :
I've been on for a year and a half. My pain went away within a month, and my swelling went down around my hips and knees and feet. And my hip swelling continues to go down, losing the saddlebags.
The eye thing is scary, and I do think it has caused visual issues, like white stars, but it has really helped me (I think).
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
Hi everyone -- thanks for your answers on plaquenil. So far, I have been on it for less than 3 weeks.
Julz, I have been on mino since mid-June, working my way up from only 50mg/every 3 days. I think mino is a good abx to start very slowly and ramp up from there. Just last week I started to take 50mg every day, and I did get a bit dizzy, not complete vertigo, but occasional holding onto the walls and chairs.
But I also had increased brain fog and anxiety from taking mino every day, and so have cut back to 50 mg every 2 days. I will work up to a higher dosage when I can handle it and remain functioning out in the world.
I started bicillin 3 weeks ago, 1.2M/week, and think it is great. Seemed to clear my head and thinking very quickly.
I think that this combo is effective for me and killing something -- lyme, babesia (the plaquenil), or whatever! I have been herxing quite a bit, and taking welchol and chitosan helps with that. Only on this combo 3 weeks now. Good luck with your tx.
Posted by ChrisBtheLymie (Member # 8916) on :
I am thinking about asking my LLMD to try me on Biaxin and Plaquenil, but I am scared about the Plaquenil's side effects, especially visual problems because I already have many visual symptoms caused by Lyme.
What are the main side effects to watch out for? Is it a very toxic drug?
I might also add in Tinidazole after a while to the Biaxin & Plaquenil which I know Brorson recommended to a guy I spoke to recently - Brorson still thinks this reigme of Biaxin and Plaq is very good, but even better when Tini is added.
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
Chris, so far I have not noticed any vision effects, but I have only been on plaquenil for about 3 weeks.
It is essential to get checked out by an opthamologist first. The side effect of concern is some loss of peripheral vision. May be others, I am not sure.
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