These are some insights from a recent LLMD consult for hubby.
For babesia duncani -- Mepron just doesn't work. Malarone works better but needs to be combined with artemisia in some form.
Current suggested doses for artemisinin -- much higher than in the past. When hubby saw the Dr B in 2003 the suggested dose was 100 mg 2 or 3 times daily. New doses need to be 300 mg up to 3 times daily or even 600 mg 2 times daily. And the art needs to be pulsed.
Clindamycin (especially IV form) is one of the best drugs but must be combined with other babs meds to work.
Bea Seibert
Posted by skigal (Member # 7443) on :
Thank you for the b. duncani info.
Posted by beths (Member # 18864) on :
Bea-can you PM me where you heard that malarone works better?
My LLMD told me that too, but now I'm on mepron
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
beths -- The LLMD who we consulted actually discussed this question with several other LLMD's and the consensus seems to be that malarone is more effective than mepron. But the malarone dose needs to be 4 or 6 pills daily which is pretty high.
Stillwater -- don't think there is anything in the medical literature that lists different symptoms for different strains of babesia. But most docs think duncani is harder to treat. It also seems like most patients report worse night sweats with microti than duncani.
Hubby does not have air hunger as a symptom -- used to have a cough. Not sure if the air hunger is more common in one strain over another.
Bea Seibert
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
Great info!
My LLMD also said Mepron doesn't work well for Duncani. I"m currently on 200mg of Artemisinin 2x / day. I will ask about adding Malarone next time.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
Bringing this up again in case anyone else has anything to offer.
I just switched to Malarone/zithro for B Dunani. I am upping my artesunate - buying zhang's this time.
And I am doing a round of coartem.
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
Did your husband's LLMD say which Babs meds that clindamycin should be used with, besides art?
Posted by willbeatthis (Member # 31111) on :
Bringing this post up again as it is great information for those of us treating Babs... Thanks Bea!
Posted by nanaaaaa (Member # 30529) on :
clindamycin is usually used along with quinin but is the worse choice in comparison to mepron or malarone treatment and is also more toxic for the gut. artemisia should be used along, no matter which variety is considered -regards
Posted by Maradona (Member # 24552) on :
Which artemesia works the best can anybody post the site where to order it.
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
Maradona,
When I finish my last bottle of A-Bab (it has artemesia in it) I'm going to order from hepalin.com. They have pharmaceutical grade artesunate and artemether.