Some people have used veterinary penicillin IM injections when they can't afford Bicillin.
I can't recommend this because it is illegal.
I also can't recommend this because it is very dangerous to use antibiotics without having dosages prescribed, diagnosed, and monitored by an LLMD physician checking liver enzymes regularly.
Using high dose or long term abx without monitoring liver enzymes can kill you.
Also, you can't get benzathine penicillin, which lasts longer, in veterinary intramuscular form without formaldehyde, so you would have to use procaine penicillin, and inject every two days, instead of every three to seven days.
The IM vet penicillins all contain preservatives not found in Bicillin. Other than that, the ingredients are essentially the same.
Some contain formaldehyde, that can make you go blind. Others contain phenol, which might be considered safer, but still probably isn't good for you.
There are some concerns about high doses of procaine being a carcinogen.
All IM vet penicillin in the US is made by major US human pharmacutical companies. The active ingredients are more reliable than generics from overseas would be, although there are no generics for Bicillin.
Pen-G Max is an example of procaine Penicillin G. Equivalent dosages of penicillin to Bicillin for a month's supply cost $15.00.
You can buy this over the counter at feed stores. You can't buy it online without a vet prescription.
Compare that to about $400. for the same dosage of active ingredients in Bicillin.
Some people without funds might be interested in taking the risk, rather than die of lyme complications, or live without a life. Others wouldn't consider self-treatment under any circumstances.
We all have our own stories, and our own choices. I think one of lymenet's jobs is to make sure people are informed about their choices.
Just some information to chew on. Correct me if I have posted any misinformation.
Now have at it if you like, or let this post float on by.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
Thanks for posting your information! Wow what a markup!
I'm upset that they are giving our animals these awful ingredients. If it is dangerous for us then it must be dangerous for them too.
Is the drug cheaper because they can put these nasty preservatives in it? Probably makes it last longer on the shelf or maybe it is easier/cheaper to handle?? OR is it cheaper because they know they can't get that kind of money for animal care?
I agree with you about the necessity of having yourself monitored while on these drugs. My liver enzymes are problematic but I didn't know that when I began treatment. They got really high really fast. Could have done some major damage if we hadn't caught it quickly.
Terry
Posted by bejoy (Member # 11129) on :
Terry, one differences with regards to preservatives is that lyme patients take many doses of these medications, whereas an animal may get one or two injections as a prophylactic or to treat an acute infection.
The reason for the preservatives is that veterinary medicine with large animals is performed outside, often in the heat, rather than inside a clinic next to the refrigerator.
The markup of the same medications made by the same companies says quite a bit about our pharmaceutical, insurance, and litigation industries.
If someone had good medical backup and blood testing, and they were willing to risk a small amount of phenol, they could get painless bicillin for pennies.
Makes you think.
Now, having said all that, I know people who have used it successfully, but I'm not mentioning any names, okay.
Editing just to say I'm still alive to tell about it.
Also you can look in to fish antibiotics for orals. They are more reliable than generic RX, because they are usually made by US major drug companies. It's possible to buy Fishzole for metronidazole (Flagyl). I wouldn't use penicillin without a good cyst buster.
Be careful if you choose to self-treat, okay. If you get high liver enzyes you can kill yourself quickly without realizing you are having a problem. You have to be on a serious candida diet and, or you will end up with fungus from hell.
For bicillin substitute, it's worth it to look into the powder reconstitute variety that can be ordered over seas. Find this info in posts labeled "veterinary bicillin", and "bicillin sources".
[ 19. June 2008, 07:47 PM: Message edited by: bejoy ]
Posted by annxyzz (Member # 20404) on :