This drug is making me completely stupid. I think it's helping with the nerve sensations ( a little) but not only have I become stupid I am also just filling up with a bone-whistling, soul crushing depression.
I HATE it.
I was doing ok at 50mgs a day and sortofok at 100mgs a day but I don't know if I can handle this without, seriously, becoming a vegetable.
I was working out today how long I can be on it without a break without, like, having to form a sentence or pay a bill or something.
Am I going to break through this if I keep going?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
When I was in treatment, my Dr's mantra was "The turtle wins the race." You cannot go faster than your body will allow or you will lose ground in the long run.
I think I could only handle 100mg a day and I don't think I lasted more than a month on it. I had to move on to another drug.
Posted by Jordana (Member # 45305) on :
Thanks Lymetoo. I haven't been able to swallow another dose since Friday morning.
I'm not concerned about getting better *fast*. Obviously that isn't going to be possible. I'm just afraid of "undertreating" and getting nowhere.
Posted by plexus62 (Member # 47326) on :
I am currently titrating up on mino. I hate it too but hope I can tolerate it this time around. Have to go slow. For me, it's the only one I can take that will pass the BBB right now due to other meds that conflict.
Best of luck.
Posted by Jordana (Member # 45305) on :
Good luck plexus. I felt human when I woke up today.
I think my plan is going to be 50 mgs at night for now.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Allicin passes the BBB. If I recall correctly and I'm nearly certain that I did read that in the book here. I also did exceptionally well when able to manage (budget) this approach:
Zhang Protocol -
Posted by Jordana (Member # 45305) on :
I have some Allimax here. I've tried it at low doses and had pretty much no response. Then again Zhang is an absolute true believer in it;but the dosages are HIGH for allicin. It would be worth trying again.
All these protocols get so confusing sometimes.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Zhang's Hepapro Allicin formula (actually allitridi) is far better, in my experience with both brands.
Not at all the same - at least not for me. I got no effect from Allimax.
Hepapro Allicin / Allitridi [passwords: clinic . . . and then "clinic" again] -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Berberine and also Andrographis might (each?) pass the BBB. I can't look into that now but am pretty sure I read that (I'm slipping when I use "pretty sure" but you can read up on it).
With Berberine, though, the dose would need to be close to every six hours to achieve high enough (of course, never set an alarm to wake up to take it). There is one article, likely further down that mentions this:
ANDROGRAPHIS paniculata - LINKS SET -
Posted by nyclymedout (Member # 45977) on :
What does Allicin and Berberine treat specifically and what forms? I was really hopeful for Berberine but I'm Zithromax and saw this:
Berberine is an inducer of CYP3A which would cause drugs that are processed by that liver enzyme to build up and potentially cause toxic effects particularly to the heart.
In terms of interactions, the most noteworthy is the potential interaction with macrolide antibiotics like azithromycin (Zithromax) and clarithromycin (Biaxin). The interaction between the two has the possibility of causing cardiotoxicity. Berberine also inhibits enzymes CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 which has the potential to affect how many other drugs are metabolized by the body.[35] For this reason, it is very important to discuss berberine supplementation with a healthcare professional to ensure no dangerous interactions will take place.
It's true--everyone has to be on the lookout for drug/herbal interactions. The only thing I wouldn't say that about are the buhner herbs since he's made sure that you can take abx with his stuff.
Berberine does sound extremely promising though if it isn't contraindicated.
Posted by bluelyme (Member # 47170) on :
Mettlin crosses the bbb... have hopes for Andrographis. ..
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
When I first began at LymeNet, I read all that Dr. Zhang had about Lyme on his site. I decided to do his protocol, but substituted Coptis for Allicin, as he suggested. I had pretty good results, but stopped after three months.
Years later I investigated Berberine, and tried that. I had good results with Berberine, and then realized that the active ingredient in Coptis is Berberine!
I started slowly, to make sure it was not going to interact with my prescription meds. It reduced headache, joint pain, body pain, indigestion, stress incontinence.
I was taking two capsules daily for about five months, then stopped for a month. Symptoms began to return, and when I woke up aspirating stomach contents, I decided to restart Berberine. I'm presently taking one capsule daily.
Posted by Jordana (Member # 45305) on :
That's interesting.
It seems like the longer time goes on my protocol is getting almost fully herbal. This has something to do with lack of guidance from this LLMD but also I just feel bad enough. It doesn't seem like the herxes ever end with abx whereas with herbals I feel like I'm getting nutrition from them.
And sort of hitting things that are unknown problems the herbs seem to handle.
I should probably be looking for an LLND.
I've aspirated stomach contents before. I think it was around January last year, in the "something is really wrong here"phase.