Being treated for Lyme and co-infections and targeting Babesia now. Started Quinine and Clyndamyacin and noticed hearing issues after one day.I experienced severe ringing in ears and diminished muffled hearing in the good ear. I lost hearing in one ear two years ago and have concerns about continuing the Quinine. Anyone have any experience with this combination or other suggestions for Babesia treatments? Many thanks!
Posted by Anthropologista (Member # 35483) on :
Evidently you're not alone with this side effect, Lucy. Here's a quote from Dr H at an ILADS conference: "Clyndamyacin and Quinine, when do I use it? Well, only for patients I don't like. Why? If you want to give patients nausea, vomiting, a rash, and ringing in the ears, go ahead!"
Mepron and Zithromax are alternatives, but they have side effects too. Plus Artemesia. Other members will be more knowledgeable about these than I.
Posted by mceline (Member # 9235) on :
I don't have experience with it, but I just read this information on the American lyme disease foundation:
"Atovaquone and azithromycin were compared with clindamycin and quinine in a prospective, nonblinded, randomized therapeutic trial of 58 adult patients with non–life-threatening babesiosis. Atovaquone (750 mg every 12 h) plus azithromycin (500 mg on day 1, then 250 mg per day thereafter) was found to be as effective in clearing parasitemia and resolving symptoms as the combination of clindamycin (600 mg every 8 h) and quinine (650 mg every 8 h). Both drug combinations were given orally for 7 days. After 3 months, there was no evidence of parasites on blood smear or amplifiable B. microti DNA in either group.
***Significantly fewer adverse effects were associated with the atovaquone and azithromycin combination. Three-fourths of patients receiving clindamycin and quinine experienced adverse drug reactions, and one-third had to decrease the dose or discontinue the medication. In contrast, only 15% of patients in the azithromycin and atovaquone group were noted to have adverse effects from the drugs, and only 1 patient required a decrease in dosage or discontinuation of medication.
It was concluded that the atovaquone and azithromycin drug combination was preferable to the combination of clindamycin and quinine because of improved tolerability. For immunocompromised patients with babesiosis, successful outcome has been reported using atovaquone combined with higher doses of azithromycin (600–1000 mg per day).
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
From the Burrascano Lyme Treatment Guidelines:
"Treating Babesia infections had always been difficult, because the therapy that had been recommended until 1998 consisted of a combination of clindamycin plus quinine. Published reports and clinical experience have shown this regimen to be unacceptable, as nearly half of patients so treated have had to abandon treatment due to serious side effects, many of which were disabling. Furthermore, even in patients who could tolerate these drugs, there was a failure rate approaching 50%.
Because of these dismal statistics, the current regimen of choice for Babesiosis is the combination of atovaquone (Mepron, Malarone), 750 mg bid, plus an erythromycin-type drug, such as azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), or telithromycin (Ketek) in standard doses. This combination was initially studied in animals, and then applied to Humans with good success. Fewer than 5% of patients have to halt treatment due to side effects, and the success rate is clearly better than that of clindamycin plus quinine." (pages 23-24)
In addition, Burrascano says that artemesinin must always be added to babs treatment. See this quote:
"Artemesia (a nonprescription herb) should be added in all cases." (page 24)
Posted by mlg (Member # 35383) on :
I've been on both protocols. Mepron and Zith herbs rotated Art and crypto for like 7 months then added Bactrim.
I am now on clindamyacin and quinine. herbs rotated Art and crypto. pulsed tindimax. It is very difficult to tolerate. I have severe nausea and fatigue.
Definetely check with your doctor if problems with hearing.
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Parasite treatment has helped me with babs more than anything I've done. If I knew back when I started treating what I know now, treating parasites would have been at the top of my list.
Posted by mlg (Member # 35383) on :
I forgot to mention. I was on anti-parasitics for about 7 months rotating. It seemed to help with babs/proto. Alinia, Alnenza, etc.
Here is a link from the other day. Someone posted it. I found it very useful. I did some of the combos without even knowing the protocol last year. I just thought treating parasites was key. http://protomyxzoa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Protomyxzoa_rheumatica.pdf Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Hubby thought for 10 years he was allergic to mepron so he had to use alternative babs treatments. For him the quinine and clindamycin was one of his best treatments. But he also took malarone with that combo as well.
He said it sounded like people were talking from down in a barrel when he was on the quinine. Pulsing the meds -- 10 or 21 days for severe infections helped. He only had hearing issues when he was taking the quinine and they went away in a couple of days off that med.
He stayed on the malarone and clindamycin continually but pulsed the quinine.
There are many other meds to try -- lariam is good if there are no neuropsych issues. Also herbs artemisinin and cryptolepis. Buhner has another new herbal protocol I have posted about. Search for Buhner Conference Notes.
Coartem or Daraprim or Bactrim or Alinia are all possible meds. Also Doxy and Zithromax. Severe babesia infections will require multiple med combos and possibly rotating between different meds and combos.
Flagyl can also help but IV may be too strong. Try low dose oral first.
Ivermectin is another really good choice. And the horse paste from Tractor Supply is really cheap.
Be sure to take enough magnesium while on quinine and if I remember correctly I think taurine protects the ears as well.
Bea Seibert
Posted by Littlesprout (Member # 7406) on :
I was told by Dr K in CT yrs ago that zithromax and plaq would treat babs, lyme and cysts
Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
I had to go through many many rounds of treatment for Babs. The most common one my doctor would use was Mepron (nicknamed yellow paint) and Zith. Some use Malarone instead. I've been on both and the Mepron was stronger.
With those they also added things like artemesia and crytolepis.
My doctor felt you change up the meds so also used things like Coartum. That one is pulsed.
I was never put on the combo you are discussing so I can't comment on that. I would ask your doctor if you could try other options....the most often used, perhaps Mepron and Zith. See if that starts you on a productive path.