I was just curious on what it treats and why together?
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Plaquenil is given with many abx. It helps them to work better.
It's also a cyst buster and anti-malarial.
Posted by cleo (Member # 6646) on :
thank you I hope the herx isn't too bad. I am starting today.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
Does Plaquenil cross the BBB?
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
Does Plaquenil cross the BBB?
Posted by lymecaregiverNY (Member # 13287) on :
Hello;
As you may already know Borrelia lives in-between cells, insides cells, and inside cysts which themselves exist in-between cells as well as inside various cells of the body.
Medications that kill all of the different forms must be used either simultaneously or sequentially, otherwise many patients will forever be stuck in a cycle of improvement and relapse with this disease because as one form of the pathogen is killed off the other forms survive and are able to re-colonize the patient.
Medications such as Rochephin, Omnicef, and Ceftin are very good at killing pathogens living in-between cells but are not as effective at killing the pathogen living inside the cell. In addition, these medications do stimulate the pathogen to encase itself into a cystic form making it highly resistant to further anitbitoic killing. In some cases the patient goes and stays into remission, but in many cases the disease re-emerges to re-establish infection some time thereafter.
Biaxin and Zithromax are not as good at killing the pathogen in-between cells because the medication gets diluted, but can be very excellent at killing inside the cells where the pathogen hides and thinks it is safe from dangerous antibiotics. The problem is that inside so many cells the pH levels are acidic and this acidic environment acts to impede or diminish the killing potential of the already diluted Biaxin or Zithromax.
To counteract this effect Plaquenil is added to raise the pH level inside the cell from acidic to alkaline. Once this begins to occur, the Biaxin's killing power is enhanced and now the dreadful pathogen is vulnerable to a slow but sure extermination. The Plaquenil also in of its self acts to turn any Borrelia cysts to mush.
The end goal is to kill this thing where it hides and thereby effecting a real state of remission rather than a temporary remission as so many other patients have had to endure.
You can imagine this scenario as killing the enemy as they lay sleeping in their barracks, as opposed to other antibiotics that just kill the front line enemy soldiers. In this way you are depleting the enemy's ability to re-enforce and re-supply its front line fighting units and, in time, you will win the war for your life and health.
Godspeed.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Thank you Lymecaregiver, excellent information.
I'm curious, do you treat people with Lyme? In what way?
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
LymeCareGiver,
AWESOME info!!! I just started this combo and can't wait to kick some Lyme butt! How long to people typically stay on this combo?
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Jb, I added Plaquenil to Mepron/Biaxin after one month on the meds. I am currently taking Plaqeunil with Mepron/Zith.
Posted by lymeladyinNY (Member # 10235) on :
sixgoofykids, lymecaregiverNY is my wonderful husband! He knows more about Lyme disease than I do, and definitely way more than conventional doctors!
Several times he has figured out what was going wrong with me when no one else could (or would!). He is very smart and I'm lucky he lives with me!!
- Lymelady
Posted by trish4 (Member # 14156) on :
James..I am on zith mepron plaquenil and amox so Im sure it would be fine for you to add it in the mix ...but what do you mean by QT prolongation?
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...but what do you mean by QT prolongation?