It's finally been approved by the FDA. Has anyone tried it?
There's a study on Pubmed from 1997 that concluded it was very effective against Babesia, and New York Medical College is doing a Babesia study with it.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Hmmm. Nice to hear of some investigation for babesia.
I've not tried it though it does pique my interest. Just passing along some links for those wondering more.
The study link, itself, would be good to see, too. Hope they consider more than just one dose or even just three as babesia can be so hard to eradicate. I'm wary of short doses that are supposed to make the world right again. Still, starter links:
. . . Like primaquine, tafenoquine causes hemolysis in people with G6PD deficiency.[2]
Indeed, the long half-life of tafenoquine suggests that particular care should be taken to ensure that individuals with severe G6PD deficiency do not receive the drug.
The dose of tafenoquine has not been firmly established, but for the treatment of Plasmodium vivax malaria, a dose of 800 mg over three days has been used.[5]
In 2018 United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved single dose tafenoquine for the radical cure (prevention of relapse) of Plasmodium vivax malaria[6]. . . .
[paraphrased] . . . anyone who considers certain kinds of higher / IV Vitamin C therapy also needs to first rule out G6PD deficiency . . . . -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I thought I might look up the study but ran out of steam. Quite a few links pop up in this search at Google for:
Babesia, Tafenoquine "New York Medical College" -
Posted by Charles12 (Member # 24729) on :
It’s scheduled for release in 2021, if I remember correctly.
There’s a study on pub med, dating back to 1997, when it was still an experimental compound. It was the most effective substance tested.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Thanks for bringing this to our attention. -
Posted by Charles12 (Member # 24729) on :
There are two formulations. One is a low dose designed to be taken over several days if you’re traveling through Malaria country.
The other, Krintafel, is sold as two pills, and is used a single dose cure for people who already have Malaria.
There is no dosing guideline for Babesia. Although a study is under way.
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It clearly works, I feel better, but it seems unlikely that taking two pills, once, would put Babesia into remission.
One more thing, the pharmacy had to order it through Anda which is a speciality supplier. Cost was 55 without insurance.
Posted by Dan455 (Member # 51881) on :
quote:Originally posted by Charles12:
It clearly works, I feel better, but it seems unlikely that taking two pills, once, would put Babesia into remission.
One more thing, the pharmacy had to order it through Anda which is a speciality supplier. Cost was 55 without insurance.
Wow, I'm blown away that a LLMD would even try prescribing it, you have to be one of the first lyme patients to ever receive treatment with Tafenoquine.
I know I had a lot of success with rotating between coartem and primaquine, but I'd never do it again due to the side effects suffering from the lyme seizures and psychiatric effects from this protocol, I ended up in the hospital. But I feel primaquine was the first antiparasitic to really knock back the Babesia infection quite well for me.
I also used Stevia to erradicate the biofilms as well with primaquine... I know Dr. J in DC uses xylitol and lactoferrin with his antiparasitic drugs for Babesia. Biofilms could be a major problem why Tafenoquine didn't put your Babesia in remission.
After 8 years of antibiotics and antiparasitics, I decided to go strictly down the herbal route.
I've even tried Disulfiram, which a new study is suggesting could be the cure for lyme, 2 out of 3 patients getting cured from babesia/borrelia infection. https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/8/2/72
I've made some huge strides with these drugs, but there comes to a point where you can tolerate so much side effects from these drugs, that you want to just switch to something else less harmful.
NPR even reporting that Tafenoquine can have some extreme side effects where the drug causes red blood cells to burst open and die, which can be lethal for some patients. Sucks, I guess there's always a catch.
quote:Originally posted by NPR: In certain people, tafenoquine can cause red blood cells to burst open and die. As a result, people can become anemic, and in some instances, this can be lethal.
I only took Disulfiram for 3-4 weeks before I couldn't tolerate the fatigue and psychiatric effects from the drug, remind you I was treating with this drug by myself without doctor supervision, so I quit. But I suspect Disulfiram could be a lot safer.
And really, I never treated Babesia effectively because of the poor LLMDs in my home stage Michigan. They aren't educated in handling this coinfection at all.
One of the first improvements I made treating Lyme as a whole when it was the 3rd year in treatment with a new LLMD in Saginaw that he used flagyl+zithromax+malarone. Sad to say, the LLMD claimed Babesia only need to be treated for 2-3 months and that's it. And what's scary is he had a ILADS certificiate in his office.
So for many years, I thought I was done treating Babesia, until I listened to what more lyme patients were saying on the forums, how it can take up to 6-12+ months or more to reach remission with this coinfection.
quote:Originally posted by Charles12: They also tested four current drugs that are used to treat the disease and found that the parasite has low susceptibility to these therapies.
It's very scary considering I think most LLMDs aren't educated in handling this parasite/coinfection of lyme and that most antiparsitic drugs don't work effectively against it.
Probably a major reason why lyme patients stay chronic, along with borrelia persister cells, biofilms, and other coinfections like bartonella, mycoplasma, and possibly rickettsia.
[ 07-01-2019, 07:34 PM: Message edited by: Dan455 ]
Posted by Charles12 (Member # 24729) on :
quote: NPR even reporting that Tafenoquine can have some extreme side effects where the drug causes red blood cells to burst open and die, which can be lethal for some patients. Sucks, I guess there's always a catch.
It’s caused by a genetic disorder, G6PDD, that’s more common in Malaria zones. G6PDD is like sickle cell, in that it provides some protection against malaria, which is why people carry it.
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I’m a believer in Tafenoquine.
The literature says it works the best out of any of our medical therapies. And in my own experience over the last few days, it’s the only intervention that’s really made a dramatic difference. And it worked immediately.
If you have Babesia, I would talk to your doctor.
The second formulation Arakoda might be the best option though. It looks like they tested it for periods of up to six months at a time. It’s exactly the same drug, with different dosing, and packaged differently.
In my own case taking two pills has made a massive difference, the drug has a 14 day half life, but who knows, longer term treatment might be required. And that’s what I mean by putting it into remission. There’s just no data, so we don’t know how long to take it. Maybe two pills is all anyone needs. Maybe it’s two months of treatment.
Posted by Charles12 (Member # 24729) on :
quote:Wow, I'm blown away that a LLMD would even try prescribing it, you have to be one of the first lyme patients to ever receive treatment with Tafenoquine.
I showed him some of the recent literature.
He was willing to experiment.
I also don’t have a history of dramatic herxes.
Posted by Newday (Member # 35868) on :
Charles12 -Have you taken Tafenoquine and/or Antabuse? If you took both, can you compare your reactions and results? My doctor is willing to prescribe either one and is recommending Tafenoquine. He did the genetic test and there's no problem with me taking it.
Posted by Charles12 (Member # 24729) on :
TQ works, but there are no dosing guidelines for Babesia yet. Your best bet would be to takes the Arakoda formulation, in the absence of other information.
Antabuse has been shown to kill malaria, and I’ve experienced the symptoms of Babesia die off while taking it.
To answer your question directly. I could be taking either Antabuse or TQ right now, but I’m taking Antabuse.
Posted by Charles12 (Member # 24729) on :
For a number of reasons I’m currently taking Primaquine instead.
It appears to work, and it’s just 16 dollars a month.
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
Charles12,
If you see this: Are you still taking Primaquine? At what dose? With another Babesia med? for how long?
What are your results?
I am really needing to put Babesia to bed, if that is ever possible. I've had it! Currently off treatment and back to drenching sweats and all the rest.