for Bartonella? And if so, what is the normal amount of time to be treated with Levaquin. I read that people have been treated for up to a year. Is that so? What about taking breaks from treatment...does that mean you are starting all over again when you begin taking abx again?
Posted by Leigh Rivera (Member # 21801) on :
While talking to my MD about antibiotics and all of my allergies I had mentioned that Levaquin was something that was prescribed to me often. HE told me long term use of Levaquin can cause ruptured tendons.
He said he was treating someone for that problem. So that may be something to discuss with your Dr. Good luck!
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I had great improvements on Levaquin. I was on it about three months, then switched to Rifampin for 6 weeks.
Posted by garunner (Member # 19474) on :
I had some nice improvement on IV Levaquin....just 4 weeks, pulsed. I had some tendon and bone pain, but it helped with Bart symptoms. I wanted to continue, but my LLMD said it was too strong to continue. Tendon issues subsided after several weeks off Levaquin.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
I finished my lyme treatment 4 years ago and I am still symptom free, enjoying my life--the same life I had before lyme disease.
My doc put me on levaquin for bart. I took it for 30 days.
Then, he switched me to Bactrim DS. I took that for babs, but he said it hits bart also. I was on the Bactrim for nearly a year.
It worked for me.
My friends who are in treatment now say their doc says that it now takes longer treatment to get rid of bart--like 3 months of levaquin.
I don't know. Maybe it worked for me because I went on Bactrim DS for so long right after the Levaquin.
There is the possibility of tendon problems with Levaquin, so you have to let the doc know if you start getting any tendon type pain.
I would not take breaks from treatment unless I had to.
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
Tumbleweed, I'm running levaquin now for at least a month with Omnicef, Mepron, and Rifampin...
Dr. B claims taking extra Magnesium while on Levaquin may prevent some of the tendon issues from arising but you still should watch for sides obviously...
Space the Magnesium away from your meds to avoid lessening the effectiveness of your abx...
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
It killed my Bartonella when combined with Biaxin XL, take the magnesium, Levaquin was great for me.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
Don't know if bart is gone but I took it for a long time. I had major tissue changes during that time.
Terry
Posted by Dawn in VA (Member # 9693) on :
I had tendon issues- was on crutches for a few weeks- after taking levaquin the first time BUT it was before I knew to load up on magnesium b/f, during, and after taking it.
I have since taken two more periods of it and have had no problems as long as I keep that Mg way up high.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
How much Magnesium is necessary? What type of Magnesium?
Posted by jkmom (Member # 14004) on :
I am on my 3rd or 4th month of Levaquin. I have some tightness in my tendons so I tried to go off to see if it was from the Levaquin. I got rapidly worse. Worse than I have ever been. When I started the Levaquin back up, I had immediate improvement.
It is definitely helping me.
Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :
I took it for 4 months oral and then a few doses IV. It worked initially and then stopped working. I don't think it's the magic bullet for everyone.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
The important question here is, are we curing it, or lowering the load of the infection only to see it sprout again when the drug is removed?
What other options are required? I hear a few options here. Bactrim (I can't take), and Biaxen, which I had no results with. However, combining it as XL with Levaquin could potentially help.
What other ideas do we have?
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
mike, consider combining with roxithromycin
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
derek,
Have you ever combined it with roxithromycin? Did it help?
Posted by Myco (Member # 9536) on :
Rifampin and Zith worked for me.
Posted by amjrn (Member # 18996) on :
Was on it last year for 6 weeks. Ripped up the tendons in my foot. A year later after months of physical therapy I still can't walk with out pain. I was on loads of magnesium at the time. Be very tuned into your body for any type of foot pain. I tried to bear with it to get the benefit of the medication and I have regretted waiting too long to let my MD know.
Posted by aMomWithHope (Member # 19255) on :
Myco,
How long were you on the Rifampin and Zith for Bart?
Did you take anything else for the Bart? How long?
How did you know the Bart was no longer an issue?
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
Yeah, my achilles' tendon was sore for about half the time I was on levaquin. I didn't consider it to be a huge deal though. You just have to watch and not push yourself too hard. It will go away once you stop treatment providing you don't push to the point of damage or rupture.
Overall, I felt a little better after using levaquin.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
I don't think it's the magic bullet for everyone.