I just started taking Rifampin and Ceftin the first week in September. It has been about two months. What is the time frame I should expect? 3 months to a year? Longer? I have friends with experience on this medication but I wanted to see what others have experienced on the road to recovery.
Thanks.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
That is a good question. I hear it can be both easy and hard to clear. I know some have cleared it in 1-3 months with aggressive treatment (Levaquin or Rifampin), but have also heard it is THE MOST difficult one to clear (Per Dr B's )
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
So I guess it can be a long time.
Wow, you are taking Biaxin, Amantadine, Rifampin, Flagyl, LDN, Nystatin??? Should I be doing more? I am on Nystatin, Rifampin and Ceftin.
Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
I thought Rifampin needed to be taken with Zith?
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
quote:Originally posted by 17hens: I thought Rifampin needed to be taken with Zith?
Who told you that!?
Posted by billclo (Member # 12939) on :
I'm on month 6, and am not done. Probably 3-5 more months if things continue to go well.
Rifampin and Zithromax, with Boluoke.
Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
I thought Rifampin would stop working after a few days if not taken with another drug like zith or biaxin (whatever kind they are?).
Maybe I'm wrong.
My LLMD has had me, my husband and now my daughter on periods of Rifampin and Zith, always together.
Posted by missing (Member # 22437) on :
I did Rifampin and Mino
then Mepron and Zithro
anyone on malarone and amox? thanks
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
I've been in Biaxin w/ amantadine since June. Amantadine is used with Biaxin for lyme (per Dr. B's protocol.)
I did Rifampin for 3 weeks but had to stop last week due to high liver counts. Getting new liver tests on Monday and will most likely restart Rifabutin and / or Bactrim DS next week.
Rifampin can be used with either Zith or Biaxin.
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
quote:Originally posted by bcb1200: I've been in Biaxin w/ amantadine since June. Amantadine is used with Biaxin for lyme (per Dr. B's protocol.)
I did Rifampin for 3 weeks but had to stop last week due to high liver counts. Getting new liver tests on Monday and will most likely restart Rifabutin and / or Bactrim DS next week.
Rifampin can be used with either Zith or Biaxin.
Rifampin can be used Ceftin or Bactrim as well.
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
Not sure who told you all that Rifampin can only be used with either Zith or Biaxin. That is false.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
Dr B and Dr S mentioned it is "best used when combined with a macrolide." There are other combo's as you point out.
My main point was it doesn't need to be taken with Zith.
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
Thanks! So do you think Ceftin is OK? Or Bactim? My doctor knows Dr. B well and trained under him for years and still visits him often so I would hope she would know. Posted by cleo (Member # 6646) on :
My dr. has me on rifampin and doxy...is that okay? Maybe I should ask to add in zith. How long before I should notice improvements? The depression is pretty bad but I know I get depressed with herx's. Yes I am detoxing ...charcoal,water and cholestyramine.
Posted by jackie81 (Member # 27031) on :
I am intersted in this Charcoal for detoxing. How do you buy it? Is it a pill?
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
My only detox is exercise, sauna, lots of fruits and vegetables and lots of water.
Posted by cleo (Member # 6646) on :
Jackie, You can get it at any pharmacy but buying it there is expensive. It is pill form. Check online for the cheapest prices it's called activated charcoal.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
So how long? I just stopped Rifampin after 6 months. I think it did wonders for me. I did take it with zith about half that time. Did I treat long enough?
Posted by FuzzySlippers (Member # 13658) on :
I've come across some mainstream medical articles that say that when the infection becomes chronic, it isn't known how long it might take to treat.
One article referenced a treatment time period of up to 4 years for severe cases.
Relapses can be common.
So, I guess at this point in time, we treat until we feel better and when we stop treating we remain on the lookout for relapses?
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
I have been treating it for almost two years but 8 months of that time was herbs only, which don't get rid of it.
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
quote:Originally posted by nefferdun: I have been treating it for almost two years but 8 months of that time was herbs only, which don't get rid of it.
Bart for two years? I thought the Bhurner protocol of herbs only was supposed to be good?
What is your Bart protocol?
Posted by aileenhome (Member # 3960) on :
I am just on zithromax - not enough? My symptoms are relatively mild.
Posted by SmurfyMom (Member # 13688) on :
I've been taking abx for bartonella for right at 2yrs now, (with a break of about 2-3mo around a yr ago) and while much improved, I am definitely NOT done.
My son has been treating bart since Jan... same story. LOTS of improvement, but still a ways to go.
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
Well I just want to see SOME improvement treating Bart. I have seen none in over two months.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
Richie...what are your symptoms for Bart?
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
I first treated Bart with Levaquin in Feb 2009, which was very effective but after five weeks I had tendonitis and could not tolerate any drugs such as Rifampin. I got very dizzy with headaches and upset stomach. Now I look back and wonder if it was not just babs emerging.
So I switched to herbs to try to control things. I used 12-20 HH capsules plus Cumanda and clove bud oil for the Bartonella. I used TOA free cat's claw and grapefruit seed extract for lyme, which was pretty much under control prior to bart treatment.
I began to slide downhill but did not realize what was wrong until I was in a complete relapse 8 months later. I had headaches, hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, feeling detached and out of it, pain in shins and swelling around bottom of legs to name a few symptoms.
So I began the Rifampin I could not tolerate before along with biaxin or zithro. I took that for three months but felt horrible the whole time with no light at the end of the tunnel.
I switched to Bactrim DS and a macrolide which slowly brought me back. I also took cysteine, resveratrol and lumbrokinase. I tried andrographis but could not tolerate it. When I had a bout of air hunger I added in artemisinin which I took every day.
I was feeling pretty well but had insomnia from the drugs and decided short breaks allowing me to sleep would be helfpful, so I tried four days on abx and three off. I went very downhill in one month.
I resumed full every day schedule including some left over rifampin trying to regain ground. The rifampin ran out in a couple of weeks but I was coming back up and continued with the Bactrim DS and zithro.
Finally three weeks ago, I had a black tongue from the yeast and my mouth was burning. I could not get rid of it and I was having a lot of dizziness so I decided to stop all drugs again and just use herbs until my LLMD appointment on the 23 of this months.
Now just for bartonella, I am taking cysteine, lumbrokinase, resveratrol, artemisinin, and huge amounts of cumand and quina three times a day along with all my supplements including olive leaf extract, bee royal jelly and glutathione.
I take nystatin every day and the tongue is better. Emotionally I have plunged into depression but my son was just diagnosed with diabetes so that doesn't help. I am having more babesia symptoms now than bart; air hunger, dizziness, weakness, no stamina and feeling like "walking off a mountain top into the clouds".
The bart is under cover emerging now and then.
It goes on and on, doesn't it? I don't know how to get rid of it and I hope the LLMD does.
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
quote:Originally posted by bcb1200: Richie...what are your symptoms for Bart?
burning feet, soles, crushing foot pain, left arm pain, arm twitching, discolored hands. Right foot pain is worse when sleeping on right side. Left arm pain is worse when sleeping on left side. My doctor says the bacteria combined with the immune system is irritating the nerves and I could be lying on irritated nerves making it worse.
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