After being on Mepron, primaquine, doxy, and roxithromycin for over a year with some improvement, I just switched to Malarone on Monday. I could feel improvememt after the first day. Now, just a week later, my head is clear for the first time in 5 years. I still have other issues, but it's so nice to be able to think without that foggy, dull ache.
I'm still on roxithromycin, but the Mepron, primaquine and doxycycline have been discontinued. I also started Diflucan the same day, and then added chloroquine the next day, but I'm sure that the Malarone is mostly responsible for my improvement.
This regimen has made me feel better than I have in 5 years.
I'm still doing the vit c infusions, and they've definitely helped, but this new drug regimen has just put me over the top.
[ 09-20-2009, 10:41 PM: Message edited by: psano2 ]
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
awesome psano! I would like to switch to this from Mepron. I am on my 4th bottle.
Wishing you continued improvement!
Feelfit
Posted by SUNMAID (Member # 18115) on :
how many Malarone do you take a day? glad it is working.
Posted by psano2 (Member # 11711) on :
one tablet twice a day.
Posted by IckyTicky (Member # 21466) on :
Is it very expensive?
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
I'm guessing it's about $350-$400 a month for 60 tablets.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Funny,I just switched to Malarone from Mepron too, after a couple years, and am shocked to see how much better it is working for me.
For the first time in years, sometimes I have NO FEVER!!! Night sweats some nights are non existent; and I am a little less fatigued.
I am only on one pill a day; I'd like to increase.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Great to hear some good reports.
psano2, I wonder if you might consider adding "Babesia" to your subject line for those searching in the future to find this thread right off the bat? -
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
Malarone is the only drug that I've tried in 9 months that's decreased any of my symptoms. It significantly decreased night sweats and shortness of breath. Unfortunately neither of these symptoms was hindering me in my daily life. It's EVERYTHING else that isn't getting better that happens to be hindering me.
Nothing seems to work on the other symptoms except Tetracycline but that won't get me past 40-45% function, I keep hitting this brick wall and just can't seem to pass it and say past it.
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
HI Psano,
I have a question. Did you have a positive test for Babesia or did your doc just decide to treat you with this medicine?
I was diagnosed 6/10/09 with Lyme and Bart. I am currently waiting for tests from igenex for Babesia, Ehrlichia and Ricketsia.
I really wan to know what is causing my brain damage (fog would be an understatement). This symptom is my biggest concern.
thanks for the positive post!
Posted by Cold Feet (Member # 9882) on :
Interesting. Here's a few links - the first one from GSK:
Atovaquone-proguanil (malarone): an effective treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in travelers from Denmark.Thybo S, Gjorup I, Ronn AM, Meyrowitsch D, Bygberg IC. Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
BACKGROUND: Previous experience with unacceptable adverse effects with mefloquine as treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria prompted an evaluation of the effectiveness and side effects of atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone) in a hospital setting.
METHODS: Atovaquone-proguanil was given as standard treatment (1,000/400 mgq.d. for 3 days) to 50 adults who had traveled in Africa and returned with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Half of the treated patients were African and had lived outside Africa for varying periods of time; the other half were Danish-born persons without any previous immunity towards malaria.
RESULTS: All patients treated with Malarone were cured without complications. The mean fever clearance times differed among the groups and according to various degrees of prior exposure to malaria and ranged from 1.3 to 2.2 days. Adverse effects during treatment were mild, and were likely to be due to the malaria itself. Fourteen people who had acquired falciparum malaria in spite of taking proguanil-chloroquine prophylaxis were also cured uneventfully without recrudescence.
CONCLUSIONS: Malarone appears to be an effective, safe and acceptable oral treatment for uncomplicated malaria.
Posted by Cold Feet (Member # 9882) on :
Is it possible that the "BLO" responds to anti-malarial treatments? This seems to be true for an appreciable number of patients?
P, let's catch up some time...it's been a while!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
If you started them the same day then how do you know your improvement is not from the Diflucan?? I would place my bets on it.
Malarone did nothing for me, but then that's me!
Posted by psano2 (Member # 11711) on :
IckyTicky, a months worth cost me about $170 w/insurance.
Haley, I originally was treated symptomatically, but a couple of months ago, I retested positive.
Lymetutu, you have a good point, but I'm assuming so because the Diflucan is only once a day, and I take Malarone twice a day. After the 2nd dose of Malarone, I herxed again. (my morning herx had worn off by then).
Tracy, isn't it nice to not have to take that yellow liquid anymore?
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Hooray!
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I took Malarone for 2 months and felt better during those 2 months. Yet my doc thinks my problems are from Lyme. I wonder about the mystery bug on this one.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Many with babesia have negative tests.
psano.. well, I'm just glad you're feeling something with the malarone. Keep a watch on the Diflucan to see what it is doing for you.