What does it treat? I just started today but havn't been able to talk to my LLMD yet.....
Posted by Allie (Member # 10778) on :
I think it's also used for C. Diff.
Posted by ByronSBell 2007 (Member # 11496) on :
does it treat bartonella?
I am doing it everyday 1 gram a day for 28 days
Posted by JRachel11 (Member # 12891) on :
I am on Vancomycin as well, and to the best of my knowledge it does not treat any co-infections,it only treats Lyme disease, but when other antibiotics are added to it, they can have a synergistic affect, which can be effective against co-infections.
Posted by chamade (Member # 11472) on :
So how are you guys doing on vanco? This is supposed to be the biggest gun, the abx of last resort, no?
PS. I remember reading somewhere that when given in pill form, it is used to treat gut infections since it is not absorbed into the blood.
Posted by ByronSBell 2007 (Member # 11496) on :
It's a big gun, no doubt about that....
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
It's useful in cases that are resistent to other IV formulations and oral therapies.
1 gram, make sure to check the blood levels of the drug, as well as kidney and liver function (Just for kicks), the kidneys are most necessary to monitor. Anyway, if blood levels aren't reaching a therapeutic dose, 1.250 or 1.5 grams aren't uncommon.
Also, Vancomycin works well for Lyme when mixed with an extracellular drug, like something in the Penicilin family.
I did 4 and 1/2 weeks of IV Vancomycin. After that I developed line Sepsis. It was still the right thing to do, but be very cautious about your PICC lines. If you spike a fever and it climbs to 103 and won't decrease within a day or two, call your physician immediately. The issue can be taken care of quickly if you're vigilant.
Be on the look out for incredibly massive chills, and a feeling of freezing, even while under covers, as well as shaking episodes, and burning up following, with significant sweating and spiking fevers.
Line sepsis is a *****, especially if you let it go too long like I did.
Beyond that, IV Vanco, followed by IV Levaquin for a week or more(if possible) and Bactrim, and you'll beat the **** out of 90% of the co-infections you might have. Babesia of course and a couple others, like viral infections etc would need separate treatment.
These are of course only ideas. I'm not a health care provider in any respect. Talk to your doctor if you wish to consider anything here.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
No, Sepsis would be noticed. It would be significantly violent compared to Lyme. Acute symptoms, intense, extreme fevers in most cases.
No the site may not be red or unusual looking. The infecting bacteria can simply travel down the PICC to the heart, and there you go -- Sepsis beginning.
Just be aware of it. Watch for anything incredibly unusual that you don't normally experience -- you'll know it when you see it. Simply go to the ER or call your LLMD and try to get in if you see a fever of 104-105 or higher, and get tested and suggest the PICC as the possible source. Ask that the PICC be cultured as well as blood if it's necessary to remove it. They'll do that anyway probably, so you have to decide ultimately what is best.
Beyond that, try not to freak, line sepsis doesn't happen to most patients who take very good care of their PICC, and keep water out during showers, get it changed weekly (Nurse usually cares for this). Get yourself a special PICC cover, sold by medical suppliers.
Patients here have talked about high quality PICC covers for showers etc.
[ 14. May 2008, 05:36 AM: Message edited by: METALLlC BLUE ]
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
Just to clarify, oral(by mouth) Vancomycin is not absorbed into the blood, and it stays in the digestive system, so you cannot use it for Lyme. oral vanco is used for c.diff only. IV Vanco is used for Lyme as a last resort but should probably not be misused because it is one of the most powerful antibiotics in the arsenal.
Posted by LuLuFlorida (Member # 12066) on :
I was on IV vancomycin for 6 weeks at 1 gram twice a day. Some people say that its treats bartonella but my old doctor thought that it only treated lyme. This drug can help tremendously but can also be too stong to handle.
I experienced high fevers, chills, sweats, and high fever while on it from the drug being too powerful for me too take, My doctor thouht it was sepsis but all of my tests were normal and the symptoms did not clear up when I stopped the medication. This medication has worked the best for me so far so I wish you good luck!
Take care, Lindsay
Posted by ByronSBell 2007 (Member # 11496) on :
Word in from the LLMD and other patients at my clinic,
Vancomycin does treat Bartonella.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
That's interesting news. Treating Bartonella huh! I hope to hear more and get more data on that. I'll do some pubmed research today on it to find out more about that connection.
Posted by ByronSBell 2007 (Member # 11496) on :
"must be used with IV heparin to be more effective."
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
I'm pretty sure Heparin is used by default with IV Vancomycin as a result of keeping the line clear of clots as well as decreasing the likelyhood of clots.
IV heparin, as everyone knows has been implicated as a useful agent in getting "more medication where it needs to go, by thinning the blood and increasing viscosity."
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
Is there a specific amount daily that is being recommended for Heparin beyond the amount used for simply keeping the line clear?
Posted by ByronSBell 2007 (Member # 11496) on :
oh yes, we use heparin 3-4 times a day, not sure on amounts though...
Posted by Boomerang (Member # 7979) on :
Bump for more discussion about IV Vanco.
Thanks!
Posted by tickalert (Member # 7033) on :
I used it when I had C Diff. The one thing I do remember is it made me very bloated. Could be due to treating the C Diff.
I didn't know it could be used to treat lyme, interesting.
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
IV Vanco will NOT treat c.diff, and oral Vanco will NOT treat Lyme. Oral vanco is NOT absorbed , it stays in the gut. I wouldn't take IV vancomycin to treat Lyme unless I was severely ill and in a life or death situation, or allergic to all other antibiotics, because it's the strongest antibiotic available and if you ever need it for life or death, your messing around with possible resistance. Weigh your options before you go for IV vanco...someday you might really need it, and it can be more serious than your current situation is.
Posted by astriapage (Member # 17120) on :
I was on 1 Gram Vanco for 9 weeks and I have just recently relapsed very badly.
I do not think 9 weeks is long enough! But tell the doctors that!
Posted by designt1 (Member # 16568) on :
I'm on IV vancomycin right now. 1g twice daily.
It is a powerful antibiotic, but not the drug of last resort anymore, there are a few more that are more potent.
So far seems to be working well. I start 500mg flagyl 3x daily tomorrow for 2 weeks.
Posted by SL10 (Member # 12953) on :
Curious about whether any of you have been successful in getting your insurance company to cover IV Vanco to treat Lyme - or (if paying out of pocket) whether you've found it anywhere for less than $60/1G vial?
Posted by Boomerang (Member # 7979) on :
I'm curious about insurance info also.
Designt, glad to hear it is working well for you.
astria, what were your worst symptoms that the IV vanco helped?
thanks all.
Posted by Boomerang (Member # 7979) on :
Bump
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
How is Byron? Wishing you a happy new year.
Posted by soonermom (Member # 14494) on :
Vancomycin treats gram-POSITIVE organisms only.
Lyme and Bartonella are gram-Negative???
Posted by designt1 (Member # 16568) on :
Dr. B's Guidelines say it's highly effective for treating Bb. I can't do Rocephin, so my LLMD said Vancomycin.
Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :
Vancomycin can treat some gram negative organisms.
Bryron, didn't you try vancomycin before? I would not go on it until I had an explanation from your LLMD as to what it is for. Your LLMD works in the same building that you get your I.V.'s. Why hasn't she talked to you about it?
I would also find out how much heparin you are taking per day. I would suggest you daily write down your drugs, supplements, and how you feel in a journal.
Happy New Year! Hiker53
Posted by Boomerang (Member # 7979) on :
design, you are on 1g twice a day? Wow, you really hard hitting it hard!
Posted by designt1 (Member # 16568) on :
yep, 1g twice a day. From what I've read about vanco, that's pretty much the standard dose.
Posted by Boomerang (Member # 7979) on :
okay, just curious. Hubby is on 1.1 gram once per day.
Posted by SL10 (Member # 12953) on :
Is anyone willing to share info on out of pocket costs per 1 gram dose or whether you've been successful in getting insurance to cover the cost....????
Posted by JKMMC09 (Member # 15795) on :
We paid for it out of pocket for my daughter. It was a bit pricey, but all the IV meds are...
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