I spoke to my LLMD today and we decided to quit Clindamycin/Quinine as I'm tolerating the quinine poorly. I can't sustain prolonged treatment and have to stop every 3 days and take 2-3 off. What's the point? I don't want to wind up in the ER.
I'm running out of options. He feels I have a genetic inability to detox (big surprise). I tolerated Malarone fine at low doses, but it was no cure. I couldn't tolerate Mepron/Zith. 1/2 tsp 2 day tore my stomach up.
I'm going to try Bactrim for Babesia. What dose is most appropriate? How brutal are the herxes?
I'm considering taking Rifampin AND Bactrim at the same time to try to treat Babs and Bart (not sure if I have it) concurrently. My Rifampin dose would be 300 mg daily.
Anyone try these at the same time? Am I in for a scary ride? Am I making a mistake taking nothing for Lyme? I'm kind of winging it here. I feel like I'm playing Russian Roulette with drugs and I DO NOT like this. It's always SO SO SO hard to treat unknowns (no positive test results for coinfections).
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
I took Bactrim DS (double strength) two times a day and got rid of babesiosis that way.
I ate fresh lemons squeezed into water, lots of water, all day long as a natural cleanser. Doctor's orders. (You can make it warm water in the morning if you like.) This helps with herxes.
Also raw garlic 2 times per day (or Kyolic) and a Burrascano type exercise program. These 2 things boost the immune system which is essential to get well.
My herxes were sick times that lasted 48 hours each week. I just lay there not talking, not eating, not getting up for anything, and feeling like I was doomed. But everyone is different, as you know.
When I told my doc about the sick times, he added artimesinin two times per day on an empty stomach Friday through Sunday (encompassing the sick time). That immediately cut the sick time down to 6 hours the first weekend, then 2 hours, and eventually down to nothing. That art worked wonders.
Burrascano says artimesinin should be added to babs treatment in all cases. Your doc may have you add it further down the road. If he doesn't, you may want to suggest it.
Never took rifampin with the Bactrim, so I can't comment on that.
I did not take anything for lyme for the 11 months I did Bactrim. I had treated the lyme prior to the babs, so maybe that's why it did not cause me a problem.
My doc thought maybe we would have to go back and treat lyme again at the end of babs treatment, but that proved unnecessary in my case.
It's natural to worry. Usually, what I worried about never happened, just like in all of life.
You can always let your doc know if problems arise. But, I think this treatment sounds OK.
Posted by charlie (Member # 25) on :
I took one Bactrim DS 2X/day. It may be even more effective if you add artemisinin, say 300-400 mg/day, most people now seem to pulse the art 3 or 4 days on and 3-4 days off.
Bactrim seems to hit lyme too, especially if paired with a macrolide.
Charlie
Posted by Michael_Venice (Member # 17254) on :
Seek, you and I seem to have some similar issues.
For example, when I took mepron (even at the same small dose as you), after about 3 days, it was like I'd taken drano.
My doc's got me on Alinia for the babesia (and this art/cryptolepsis/teasel cream....it's pretty strong too). And a ton of detox stuff.
I haven't beaten it, as TF has.....we'll see where the Alinia puts me. More and more LLMD's seem to be using it.
The herxes, or whatever, have been pretty terrible at times, but less so than other things I've tried. And I can eat, most of the time, without it being a horrific experience.
Posted by Marcie (Member # 10070) on :
I took Bactrim, Zithro, and 1 Malarone a day for a long time. Then I did just Bacrim and Zithro.
I found this to be a really good combo for me, but when I took out the Malarone I slipped a
little. I am like you I took a very small dose of Mepron and herxed like mad, but I also herxed
on 1 Malarone a day, which is a small does. Why don't you go back to Malarone and work your way to a good dose? I would even try Mepron again
and just start out even slower. Once you get your Babesia load down you will probably start to see the biggest improvements.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Because Marcie I'm doubtful my Rx insurance w/pay for Malarone or Mepron w/o positive blood smear. I used to have BCBS and they were less strict. I would surely go back to Malarone if possible. I like your combo too. I would've been open to it.
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
How about anxiety with Bactrim? I am starting it soon and have read that it can cause anxiety.
Has anyone had a problem with that?
I am on IV Doxy, Malarone, Zithromax, Artemesia, and will be starting Bactrim.
Just concerned about the anxiety.....
Posted by charlie (Member # 25) on :
....yep it can make some of us wired for awhile....I don't mind it, I like the speedy feeling but it bothers some others.