Hi. I've been on and off a host of antibiotics and antimalarials for years both orally and by IV. Some rounds have helped and others failed, but I'm still mostly bedridden from pain and severe exhaustion. I have Bb and bartonella, but have been treated for babesia as well. (positive Igenex Western blots for Lyme and Bart).
My doctor just started me on oral Levaquin for the Lyme and Bart. Here are my questions: Is Levaquin bacteriostatic or bacteriocidal? In other words, does it just halt pathogen growth or does it actually kill the spirochetes?
Does it kill the cyst form too? Does it kill intraceular spirochetes? (Spirochetes hiding in our own cells) Does it cross the blood brain barrier to treat neuro-Lyme too? What Herx reactions should I expect? Has anyone known Levoquin to end a severe 17 year long headache or to stop joint pain or to increase energy/ stamina?
Thanks in advance! Love you guys. Ellen
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
My lyme doctor cured me of lyme, bart, and babs. That was over 8 1/2 years ago and I am still symptom free, enjoying my life.
My doc gave me Levaquin to treat bart. I took it for 30 days. That was it. Then, he went on to give me Bactrim DS which kills both bart and babs. That is how I got rid of bart and babs.
As far as I know, Levaquin does not treat lyme disease.
I didn't herx at all on Levaquin.
Do you have any reference to Levaquin killing lyme or treating lyme? I would be interested in seeing it.
I got rid of lyme by taking amoxicillin (with probenecid) and flagyl. The amoxi kills the spirochete form and the flagyl kills the cyst form (and likely the spirochete form also.)
In addition, flagyl kills various parasites and other germs per my lyme doctor.
Posted by Ellen (Member # 42834) on :
Thanks! "Quinolones (Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox and Factive) can also be very helpful in cases of resistant neurological Lyme disease." p. 322 of "Why Can't I Get Better? By Dr. H.
[ 03-05-2014, 07:34 PM: Message edited by: faithful777 ]
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Hmmm.. that is very interesting Ellen! I didn't know that either! My doc gave me levaquin for bart also... and it worked!
That's great news about lyme as well!
Posted by Ellen (Member # 42834) on :
Thanks. Still would love to hear answers to my other questions too... Blessings.
Posted by Carmen (Member # 42391) on :
levaquin interferes with two different enzymes process of the microbe which prevent it from reproducing. It is capable of creating resistent microbes.
Marcozymes, a digestive enzyme, can break open the cyst. Antimicrobial should be taken one hour after the enzymes. I did this three times a day.
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
I was prescribed Levaquin twice, by 2 different and very good LLMD's, and never for Lyme, strictly for Bartonella.
Yes, the intensity of my headaches is gone, and before treatment I had almost daily beginnings of headaches-
that has greatly diminished. Can't pin that soley on Levaquin, tho.
I am sure you know how careful to be on Levaquin- adequate dosing of magnesium, and I personally never exercised while on it, and did nightly baths with 3-4 cups Epsom salt, etc.
Never heard of it used to specifically go after borrelia.
Posted by bigstan (Member # 11699) on :
Levaquin bacteriocidal.Levaquin is a potent intracellular antibiotic. Yes it kills LD. Yes it crosses BB and good penetration in the nervous system. You have to be careful about tendon ruptures. See black box warning on Levaquin.
I know this is an old thread but I just came across it while researching whether Levaquin works again Lyme. Wanted to add that I found this where LymeMD says that yes, it does have effect on Lyme:
- The blog entry above is from 2009. IT may not be used today since the warning are now so much better known. The trick would be to figure out how to achieve a goal without damage. Considerations:
Fluoroquinolones (Levaquin, Cipro, Gemifloxacin / Factive, etc.) - LINKS set
For a more detailed look into this topic, it's alarming that so many have experienced devastating effects. It's not unusual at all. -
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
It can add to joint pain. That's what happened to me.