posted
Hi all! I just switched to Clindamycin from Doxycycline this past week. I only started with half of my prescribed dose out of fear (doxy knocked me on my butt).
I'm having ALOT of neuro symptoms. Dizziness, head zaps and a general off balance feeling.
Has anyone else experienced this? I take Bactrim as well and have been on that for a year.
Any stories or input is greatly appreciated! :-)
Posts: 132 | From Central New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2012
| IP: Logged |
phyl6648
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28522
posted
Same thing happened to me switched from Doxy to Clindamycin. What dose are you on and how many times a day? Mine was 150 every 6 hrs but I had to cut back. The LLMD told me to break the capsule apart and pour some out and only one a day, then two never did get up to the full dose but the amount I took did help for awhile.
Like all oral abx after awhile I get terrible indigestion and the runs and the nausea.
When I was on the full dose I think it caused a lot of anxiety and weird head feelings but they didn't last. Back when I took the full dose for a dental problem the clind. didn't bother me at all.
Its so weird how meds effect us. I finally just stopped all abx..but thinking of going back on them as my symptoms seem to be coming back and lasting.
Good luck and keep us posted. It was one of the better meds for me.
Posts: 1058 | From VA | Registered: Oct 2010
| IP: Logged |
Ellen101
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35432
posted
I was prescribed clindamycin after a tooth extraction several months ago. I started having severe dizziness, feeling very off balance. I went back to the oral surgeon and he advised me to stop taking it right away as it is a side effect. When doing a search myself I remember reading that people had experienced this as well and for some it took a very long time to get rid of even after stopping the drug. My symptoms disappeared within 24 hrs of stopping it.
Remember not everything is a herx..
Posts: 1748 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks guys! It's so frustrating to try and distinguish what's a reaction, side effect or herx!!! I can't figure it out.
I don't know if a herx would set in within 48 hours of my first dose.
I'm prescribed 600mg twice a day. I've been taking 300mg twice a day for now and until I either adjust or decide I can't stand the odd dizzy and unsteady feeling anymore, I won't increase it. If it persists or gets worse, maybe I should stop it and see if it resolves quickly?
That's the trouble, I can't figure out if it's a herx, reaction or side effect!
GRRRR!!!! lol
Posts: 132 | From Central New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2012
| IP: Logged |
Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Clindamycin is one of the best meds for me.
Do you have Babesiosis? It is effective for Babs. The symptoms you describe can also be from Babs. You can definitely herx shortly after switching meds.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
You are on a good combo of meds. I never took doxy during my treatment at all and am in remission using IV Clindamycin. Orals work fine for a lot of people. I took Bactrim as well and a few other oral abx.
All the dizziness and head zaps are the meds doing their work. Fatigue sometimes is overwhelming in the beginning of treatment. I hope you are on some good detox supplements and probiotics.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
| IP: Logged |
Ellen101
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35432
posted
quote:Originally posted by faithful777: You are on a good combo of meds. I never took doxy during my treatment at all and am in remission using IV Clindamycin. Orals work fine for a lot of people. I took Bactrim as well and a few other oral abx.
All the dizziness and head zaps are the meds doing their work. Fatigue sometimes is overwhelming in the beginning of treatment. I hope you are on some good detox supplements and probiotics.
Faithful there is no way you can say that for sure. The dizziness could definitely be a side effect and the possibility should be brought up with the doctor. I'm amazed sometimes what people are willing to withstand on treatment with medications thinking everything is a herx and they must suffer through when in fact sometimes they are not herxes at all but side effect which can be dangerous.
posted
Yes, side effects can be from meds but die off causes the same symptoms. Certainly tell your doctor about it. Nothing any one says here is a definite. We are just suggesting from our experience.
How long have you been in treatment?
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
| IP: Logged |
desertwind
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25256
posted
I switched over to Clindamycin from Doxy last week. On 300 mg.s four times a day and no problems at all except a small headache.
I am taking it for a sinus infection and it does wonders for that. Also on Malarone and Liposomal ART pulsing Alinia.
I agree that it is down right dangerous to assume everything we experience from a med is a herx. I know we all want to get better but never assume anything as doing so can have dire consequences. Check with your doctor! .
Posts: 1671 | From Tick Infested New Jersey | Registered: Apr 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
The two main explanations I would explore -- candida and babesia.
There are a number of LLMD's who will not even prescribe clindamycin because of its potential to cause c. difficile. It is one of the worst antibiotics to alter the gut flora in a bad way.
Also in combo with quinine it is one of the best treatments for babesia.
I see you are taking Bactrim for babesia. If you do in fact still have a significant babesia infection those 2 meds alone are probably not strong enough to eradicate a persistent babs infection in my opinion.
Yes, drugs can cause side effects. But in the majority of tickborne patients if you are doing at least a minimum of detox things, then in my opinion herx or die off reactions are much more likely than true drug side effects.
Of course it depends on the actual symptoms -- but in many cases the symptoms or "side effects" occur because the pathogen is hiding out in whatever organ the symptoms originate in -- heart, brain, liver, G.I. etc
This is not medical advice, just my opinion based on hubby's experiences.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Repeatedly on this group are posts that say you should be taking 100 billion cfu of probiotics daily if you are on abx.
I was on Clindamycin for over a year with no issues with c.diff. My husband is on it too and no issues with c.diff either.
I make sure I take lots of probiotics and do the required blood work so we all know what is going on.
If you think you are having an allergic reaction, the first thing you should do is call your doctor or your pharmacist before you look here for suggestions from laypeople who are sharing from experience only.
No need to throw stones if you don't agree with what someone says.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks everyone for all the input! It's always good to hear others experiences and opinions.
My doc did expect me to herx quickly with the change (I was warned). I just didn't realize that it would be so quickly.
It's just annoying. It's not severe in any way or else I'd be on my way to the ER and calling my doc. I notice that it's more intense within the few hours after I take the clindamycin and then seems to subside a bit.
I have bloodwork drawn every 4 weeks by my LLMD.
I also take ADP, magnesium, vitamin C, glutathione and probiotics. Though from reading all advice, I will be increasing my probiotics from 20 billion. I've been in treatment for a year and went 7 years undiagnosed prior so I'm left with cardiac problems as well.
I don't think it's an allergic reaction because years ago, I took clindamycin for illness and dental work with no issues at all, but I realize our chemical make up changes due to this insane disease so it's always possible.
Going to play it day by day and see how I do. I refuse to push myself to a bed ridden state. I'm fortunate and I still am capable of functioning reasonably on most days. Though the heat and humidity is ramping up and boy, do my bones feel it!!!
Anyone have a lot of stomach bloating on clindamycin? This is the one thing I have noticed and it's annoying!
What does everyone do for detox? I do the lemon water, dry skin brushing, probiotics. What else can I do? I tried finding an infrared sauna to use, but no luck in my area.
Posts: 132 | From Central New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2012
| IP: Logged |
posted
You can herx within hours of taking a new med. That said, do run this by your doctor.
If you are having bloating and other neuro symptoms, then FOR SURE make certain that you are on a high dosage of probiotics and taking s.boulardii also.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96237 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
If you are having boating then the new med is definitely upsetting the balance of your G.I. flora.
I agree with lymetoo -- you need both acidophilus and s. boularrdi.
Depending on how imbalanced things are you may also need to take diflucan or nystatin or herbal things such as olive leaf or aloe vera gel. Everyone is different and it takes time and trial and error to get things back in balance.
Adding in betaine HCL to increase stomach acid could help or increasing oral vitamin c. A vitamin c flush can flush out candida so increase the dose gradually unless you are prepared to deal with what could end up an a candida skin rash.
Good luck.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks Bea and everyone for your wonderful advice! I will add in the s. boularrdi and slowly increase my vitamin C intake. I will immediately increase the acidophilus. I truly, truly value and appreciate it!
:-)
Posts: 132 | From Central New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2012
| IP: Logged |
posted
It's interesting how differently we all respond to meds. For me, clindamycin is a miracle drug. It treats everything for me - finger infection, tooth infection, and Lyme!
It was my Lyme med for five years. 150mg 2x/day. I never got c diff. Then it stopped working for Lyme, but has continued, thankfully, to treat anything else I get.
Re detoxing, I'm doing it through sweating in a portable FIR sauna every five days. I also take takesumi activated charcoal, a scoop every couple days in a liquid.
Posts: 13134 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic