I have gone from bad to worse over the past couple months and am looking to switch from Zithromax to Bicillin IM. I wanted to know if the herxes are bad and do they last forever/constant like they are with zithromax...? Right now I just dont think I can handle zithromax, have been worse ever since on it...
So if anyone could give some advice/info that would be great...
Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :
Hi,
I've had no herxes on Bicillin, but I went on it after two years of oral Lyme meds, so maybe my bacterial load is tolerable and I rarely herx on Lyme meds (but herx like crazy on Bart meds).
I felt that I improved slightly for the first couple of months on Bicillin, then it basically helped keep my stamina on a reasonably even keel. For me personally, the financial expense, and the hassle of going to see a nurse (I don't self-inject) and the pinpoint scars on my hips, aren't worth doing it much longer. But many people say it was among their most miraculous medication, so it's worth a try.
Like Cave said, the injections are easy. Definitely read the Newbie section - some of it is from a post I started right before beginning Bicillin and there were lots of good suggestions from the people I had interviewed as well as Lymenetters who added their experiences.
Jill
Posted by concerned mother (Member # 8128) on :
Bicillin has given my son his life back. He was on orals for over a year and now with the bicillin he is a new kid! I also take the injections and I find them painful. But then again I do not like shots. They seem to really be helping my son. He has his appetite back, the orals were hard on his stomach.
Good Luck
Posted by Cathy DeVoe (Member # 11271) on :
I just tried to get my bicillin LA
RX filled at Walgreens and they said that it is on
backorder and they have no idea when it will be
available or not.
Anyone else run into this? Skooch
Posted by lymebytes (Member # 11830) on :
Cathy, It seems to be where you are locatted in the US,no problems getting them in Northern California.
Try Longs and Costco, even Costco mail order or try calling the manufacturer directly to find out what they recommend:1 (888) 840-5370
Best of luck.
Posted by Rene (Member # 4870) on :
My Bicillin experience:
Worst herx I have ever had. Pain level at times intolerable. For me lasts 24 to 48 hours after the shot. Very potent stuff. Do not, I repeat do not start off gangbusters with this drug. One shot a week is plenty to begin with. If shots are given correctly, don't find them unbearable.
For the positive.
Has taken me farther along in my recovery then anything else. For me personally bicillin works better for me than the IV drug I took. I currently take 1.2 million units twice a week. It has taken a few months of building up to this , but I now walk almost daily, keep my own house, do my own shopping and lead a reasonably normal life after 3 years of misery prior to the bicillin.
Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :
I had a pretty bad herx when I started the shots, but I do believe this drug hit my lyme the best. Good luck with your shots and start slow. You can always work youself up to the full dose.
Posted by bettex99 (Member # 8109) on :
Start slow, the herxes for me lasted weeks but after the bicillin has been the best so far for the lyme. I have co infection issues to deal with now. I am highly functional thanks to the bicillin. watch for the yeast, go on a anti candida diet for sure. good luck
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
Why don't you just take them together? you can add Bicillin 3-4 times per week to the Zithromax for a stronger protocol. if you are herxing hard, that's good, keep it up, and maybe you can up the dose of Zithro to 1200 mg, or switch to Biaxin XL. Good stuff Posted by ByronSBell 2007 (Member # 11496) on :
250-500mg of zithromax over a 3 day period is enough to put me down and out!
I think I must have been sick alot longer than I thought... I just hate my symptoms!
Posted by Rianna (Member # 11038) on :
Bicillin gives me very severe Herx's but its worth it - I am 5 months in to Bicillin and still herx so bad it puts me in bed for days - But like Wildcondor says 'herxing is a good sign', I know its difficult and back off if it gets too bad but you really have to go through it.
I take Mepron/Ketek and Bicillin and as I said my herx is so bad every day but I hang in there.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[cussing]](graemlins/cussing.gif)
I just hate my symptoms!