Hi All, I've been on a low dosage(250mg) 1x day Azithromycin for a couple of weeks now and I'm miserable... many of my symptoms are worse (very bad lower back pain, panic attacks)and a burning sensation in my bottom that I've never experienced before and overall feel pretty rotten. I'm wondering if this is possibly a herx or just a side effect of the meds? I'm taking a probiotic, but I just can't get any relief from the discomfort.
Would really appreciate your insight...I'm uncomfortable, but will continue taking the meds if you guys think it is for the best. BTW, I'm seeing my doc next week for a re check and will discuss with him, but thought I'd get your thoughts. Also, is this low a dose even going to touch lyme?
Thank you again for listening, Kim
Posted by AliG (Member # 9734) on :
Zith has a long half-life so it might take a while to build up to a level where you would notice a herx response.
Oral Zith doesn't have very good BBB penetration to my understanding and really did nothing to help my neurological Lyme.
When I had been put on 250mg/day Zith, I had a steady decline and progression of neuro symptoms.
If it were me, I'd stick with it because something's better than nothing. I do wonder though if lower back pain/burning bottom sould be UTI or kidney infection.
What day do you go?
Have you ever tested for/treated Bartonella? The panic attacks COULD be Lyme-related but Bart/BLO also causes a lot of anxiety.
Posted by KLSS (Member # 7763) on :
Hi Ali, Thanks for helping me. I have been on the Zith
for 2 weeks now. I see the doctor on Thursday
and he mentioned that he'd be checking to see
how I tolerated the meds. I'd really like to
try to stick it out because I believe he's going
to retest my WB when this course is over since I
only had a few bands come up positive and I'm
hoping that it will increase my chances of
having a positive test. (He's unsure if the
positive bands are due to previous infection or
current)
He ran a PCR panel through MDL and I believe he
did test for coinfections, but I will double
check when I see him next. I'm guessing that
testing for co's isn't always accurate too?
Thanks so much for your help,
Kim
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
That is such a low dose. Why are you on such a gentle dose? It may be too gentle to even touch the Lyme. Makes no sense whatsoever to be on that low dose.
Posted by IckyTicky (Member # 21466) on :
It does make sense. Depending on how long you have had this disease undiagnosed. I was started on that low dose, and yes it made me herx. Right now I am on 250mg 2Xdaily after over a year of mono-therapy. I do think that is a bit too low after this long, but it is helping.
Then again, my 6 yr old just started tx and is on 250mg daily of zith. He tolerated it a lot better than I did.
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