Since I have unfortunatly developed C Difficile I have to drop my Abx for a while, might be a month. I will not set my life at risk continuing abx, so there is really no choice but stopping. I am on Rifampin and Zithromax.
Well, I know Rifampin is really hard to get on if you have ever stopped, you have to ramp up slowly, but my question is if anyone here knows weather bart develops resistance to it on the time I have to be off.
So that it will make no use any more?
Does anyone know? I have tried to search the web for answers, but I can find nothing on this.
Ah this disease...... Posted by chamade (Member # 11472) on :
All I can tell you is that my LLMD was worried when I had to stop it for a few days due to the stomach upset it gave me.
Posted by IMHisda (Member # 6998) on :
I had two strains of Bart and was on Rifampin but never had to stop it really so I'm not sure. There is a really good article in the latest Public Health Alert from a lyme doc on Bart. Just thought I'd pass it on.
Posted by Clarissa (Member # 4715) on :
Hi Swedish Bart friend,
I have had TWO LLMD's tell me directly that you CAN re-start Rifampin later on in treatment without any resistance, just like any other drug.
Another Lymeneter asked her LLMD and he, too, said it does NOT grow a resistance.
This is the opinion of 3 LLMD's. I'm sure there is an exception to every rule but I'm tired of the petrifying statements about this drug.
I've also personally pm'd with a woman who went off it for over 6 mos, is now back on and is still totally herxing.
I'm sure I'll catch a lot of slack for stating this but I'm tired of being "scared" to take an antibitic holiday because this is a "one time shot only".
I'm going to trust the ILADS LLMD's.
Hope that brings peace to your brain.
Blessings,
Posted by Boomerang (Member # 7979) on :
Clarissa, I'm glad you clarified the news about rifampin.
Hubby is supposed to start it again (with doxy and levaquin)...and he has been on rifampin in the past. LLMD didn't mention anything about resistance.
Thanks for your info.
Posted by swedish lyme sufferer (Member # 14579) on :
THANK YOU CLARISSA!!! This makes me feel a lot better!
Posted by Clarissa (Member # 4715) on :
'm glad I made you feel better...it made ME feel better, too, as I've been pulsing Rifampin with Zithro (alternating days) for 4 1/2 mos and am still herxing.
Take care of your c diff (sooo sorry about that) and then revisit your regime when you've straightened that issue out.
Do not fret. The treatment for Bart protocol changes weekly here in the US and by the time you're ready to go back on and treat, there will probably be something new, anyway.
One day at a time because the anxiety is too much for anyone poor Bart victim to bear.
Hang in there and take that off your worry list!!
Hugs,
Posted by ByronSBell 2007 (Member # 11496) on :
bart doesn't become resistent to drugs, it's the biofilm protecting them from ABX getting to them. They also go into the red blood cells, all the rumors of bart becoming resistant is hoohoo
Your going to need heparin and supplements to remove the biofilm
Posted by stormton (Member # 14412) on :
I don't think anyone can answer the bartonella resistance question because there is still so much that is unknown about bartonella.
Rifampin is mainly used to treat tuberculosis and that is where all the resistance issues began. There is published data about tuberculosis developing resistance to rifampin if prescribed alone. This idea has been applied to bartonella and rifampin treatment but there is no validity to the statement.
Some people can get a flu like syndrome when they stop and start rifampin but that does not always happen and it will subside eventually. Just taking rifampin for a long period and stopping, and then starting again would not really create an environment for resistance. However, if you did one week on and one week off rifampin repeatedly for months, that might be asking for trouble.
Regardless, i'm yet to see anyone eradicate bartonella with rifamipin. I'm still skeptical that levaquin is the answer.
Swedish lyme. It might be a good thing that you are taking a break. There is some new data that will be published soon about "the bartonella treatment break". Basically this time is most likely necessary to allow the bartonella to re-emerge back into the blood stream. Then you start back on abx and kill it off. This process will most likely need to be repeated. Stay tuned for further information.
Posted by Clarissa (Member # 4715) on :
Stormton:
Thanks for a very diplomatic post. It's so refreshing!!
One question: what do you think can wipe out the Bart if you're not confident about Rifampin or Levaquin?
Would be interested to hear your thoughts...
Best,
Posted by swedish lyme sufferer (Member # 14579) on :
Great postings! Thank you! You have all helped me and probably many more out there with this difficullt question.
We all must hope for better knowledge of treating bartonella infections in the future.
I have done a little research and there is Gentamicin, which seems to really kill these bugs, but I suppose this is not the frist drug to try, as it is a very strong Abx and has some bad ototoxic side-effects.
Although it "only" takes 14 days to eradicate bartonella with gentamicin in combination with another drug. (if this is true....)
Best to you all!
Posted by Boomerang (Member # 7979) on :
Bumping up for stormton.
Posted by ElaineC (Member # 9857) on :
Stormton,
Where and when will this new data be published about " the Bartonella treatment break "?.......Would be VERY interested in hearing more about this!
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
Thats why you need a second abx's with it.
Posted by Clarissa (Member # 4715) on :
Stormton's mentioning of this new Bart info probably refers to Dr. S's new Bartonella book coming out in 2 mos (but I've heard 2 mos for the last 4 mos).
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