After 9 months of Zithro/Mepron, my LLMD is switching me to Lariam, once tablet every 5 days.
After doing a little research, the side-effects look more than a little scary.
I realize side-effects depend on the patient.
However, how many people have had negative results taking Lariam?
Are there specific things I should look for?
Thanks!
Posted by NWMonkeyGirl (Member # 19510) on :
Please,
I just need some feedback. I'm already 100% positive I can't do the Lariam.
I always seem to be in the 1% of people who have adverse reactions. I had a bad reaction to the bicillin LA (3 shots a week) After 5 weeks, I had started having horrific insomnia, panic attacks, depression, etc..
However, what are my alternatives?
I just don't want to go through another bad reaction.
Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
Have you tried Malarone?
I can tell you that I took Larium several years ago.
At first I took the high loading dose and it did make me whacko, like on the beginning of the edge of insane.
I stopped it and within a day of two the symptoms subsided. I waited, I believe two weeks and then went on 250mg twice a week and took it for a good length of time and had no problems at all.
However, as you know, it is a controversial drug so I am only giving you my experience.
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
I think Riamet is another option that has similar efficacy. You may want to run it by your dr.
I looked up the side effect of lariam for someone and your right the side effects look very scary.
Posted by NWMonkeyGirl (Member # 19510) on :
Abxnomore,
Yes, I did Malaron/Mepron and Zithro for 8-9 months and am still suffering from symptoms.
My LLMD thinks we need to switch up meds.
Are there other babesia meds I'm not thinking of?
Sorry, Lyme brain. I already put a call in to her and am looking into alternatives.
The Bicillin made me crazy and I really do not want to go thru that again.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
Research the username sixgoofykids and Lariam in the search feature.
I know she took it. I think she said it gave her some weird psych symptoms at one point, but that either they went away or she reduced the dose and then it was okay......something like that. Just look it up if you can, since I can't remember the specifics.
My previous LLMD told me that he did have some patients that did okay on it and that it can be a useful drug.
Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :
Well, there's the Clindamycin/Quinine route, but that seems to have a crappy adverse event profile as well. Then there's Artemisinin, which, from what I've read, seems like it can be neurotoxic.
Don't have experience with any of these meds, though, so don't know what to tell you.
Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
No two people will respond the same on a particular medication.
For me...Lariam was one of the few med's I couldn't tolerate over the two plus years of treatment now.
I know some have said it was their wonder drug, but for me, I was going a bit nuts.
Example....one time I kept hearing all this traffic and horn honking...major city traffic jams for sure, but I live on a cul de sac on two acres. No traffic here, so I knew it wasn't real, but it made me nuts.
There were other things going on that the doctor said I was being pulled off immediately.
If you have been prescribed it, I would say to give it a try, but be aware of possible side effects and report them to the doctor if they are troublesome.
Good luck. Cathy
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I took Lariam and had hallucinations the first two times I took it. They didn't seem to be any big deal to me at the time, so I didn't even tell my LLMD about them (probably not the right decision). One was that I kept hearing books be thrown onto the wood floor. I couldn't believe my husband didn't hear it. The second was my husband standing there talking to me when he was out of town.
Overall, it was a good drug for me. It hit babesia from a different angle than the Mepron. I took the Lariam with Malarone and Artemisia (and other drugs for Lyme/bart).
Other than the first two pills, I never had a problem.
Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
I have already posted above on my experience with this medication but wanted to add that I do credit this medication with eradicating babesia from my system.
If you do decide to try it, just monitor your symptoms closely and if you have any strange feelings like you are losing your hold on reality, stop it right away and talk to your LLMD.
I realize this is a very difficult and scary decision.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
I've been prescribed Lariam, and I am concerned too. How did things go NWMonkey?
Posted by JamesNYC (Member # 15793) on :
I have been on Lariam for a couple of months. I think it gives me some depression and makes me overly sensitive, emotionally, for a few days after I take it.
It was worse the first couple of times, now the reaction is mild. Certainly not bad enough to consider dropping it.
I was given Lariam after a trip to South Africa back in '98. I don't think I had any reaction to it back then.
I'm also on Mepron, azith, and artemisinin. I'm gonna git that babs!
James
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
MB, I've been anxiously awaiting your update on your appt. Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
I am on Lariam. the first couple of months I took five pills one day a month. Now I take three once a week for two weeks on, then two weeks off. I am also still on mepron and artemisnin.
I have not had much of a reaction to it, but mostly I herx, but no other bad reactions to meds. I know I am lucky!
Posted by Maryland Mom (Member # 2043) on :
I've been on Lariam a couple of times, and both times I took the initial high dose of five pills in a day, I had a severe reaction with my sense of balance.
The second time it happened, I read the package insert, and saw that Lariam sometimes caused irreversible damage to the part of your inner ear that controls your sense of balance. That scared me, but my sense of balance did return.
When taking just one pill at a time, I did fine.
Artemesinin is a good supplement to treat babs, and my LLMD claims Doxy treats it too.
Posted by NWMonkeyGirl (Member # 19510) on :
Just a quick update.
I did decide to do 3 months of Lariam this summer and had no adverse reactions, except ear ringing, which was quite bothersome, but a normal side effect listed on webmd.
However, my lyme has really effected my ears (constant traffic noise) and eyes.
If anything, it really helped boost my energy, after a gruesome week of herxing.
Thanks for all the help and support!!
Like tdtid said, no two people react the same to the meds. I'm always wary because my bad reactions to meds have ended up in emergency rooms trips...which get old after a while.
Thanks guys and good luck with the Lariam.
Posted by JamesNYC (Member # 15793) on :
Huh,
I'm taking one pill a week. I don't know why it's so different from others in this post.
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