LymeNet Flash: What have you heard about Rulide (Roxithromycin)? (not available in US)

This is topic What have you heard about Rulide (Roxithromycin)? (not available in US) in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :

Hey all. I am currently on Mepron and I need to take a macrolide with it, and am wondering it this Roxithromycin will do the trick. I read it can cross the blood-brain barrier better than the other macrolides.

Also, I just have this intuition that neither Zithromax nor Biaxin are the right drugs for me. If I have to take something to keep my Mepron working, I want it to actually be doing something. I have taken a lot of Zithro and Biaxin in the past and not seen progress with them.

Roxithromycin is available in other parts of the world, like Europe, and I could order it online. I have read of people that said it helped them, but others who said it doesn't work well for Lymies.

I would like more stories from anyone who has heard anything about it working/not working since there are conflicting opinions on this drug!

I also have a couple other Q's:

Would it be acceptable to take with Mepron as a way to prevent resistance in the same way as Zithro?

Is it terribly hard on the liver, because I feel like Biaxin was hard on mine?

If anyone knows....thanks so much!!!! [Smile]

Posted by GADaisy (Member # 12964) on :

My husband has been on Rulid/roxithromycin for 9 months in combination with several other antibiotics.

Some small data shows it is synergistic with Bactrim DS vs borrelia. It also has good MIC activity against borrelia. Roxithromycin has also been shown in a small study to cross the BBB fairly well.

It has been a good and well tolerated agent for my husband.

Oh by the way - he also took it with 6 weeks of Mepron - plus Bactrim DS and Rifampin.

Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :

Thanks for the info, GADaisy!

Could you tell any difference from this combo?

Posted by GADaisy (Member # 12964) on :

Yes - I believe it was very effective for my husband and brought about some clear improvement.

Posted by steven (Member # 13101) on :

i used it in 2002 in a very high dose (600 mg daily instead 300mg) - but it didnt bring any improvement.

Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :

I wonder if this could be taken with my Mepron to in place of Zithromax to keep Mepron from becoming ineffective? It sounds like it could based on what you said your husband was taking, GADaisy.