This combo started to work pretty well about 5 days after starting it, prior to which the babesia symtoms where quite noticable. It is easier to take then mepron since they are all tablets.

Also, the publication regarding the trials of mepron + zithromax did not give the periods over which single drug therapies developed drug resistance. If I where you I would not fool around with a single drug regime as once you have resistance you will be in a bind.

Also the macrolides have always resulted in increased Lyme symptoms for me, maybe that is what is going on with you (ie zith hard to take???). The first time, I was on mepron + zith for 7 months. Babesia cleared up at 6 months. It took aobut 3 weeks to relapse once the meds were stopped.

Hope that helps.

I took Mepron with low-dose Zith (100mg bid) in an oral suspension for 5 months. My gut became so torn up from Zith. I had diarrhea, cramps and constant candida. My MD and I agreed to try the Mepron without a macrolide. It has been nine months and I continue to hold steady - no setbacks. I also take Artemisinin 1 month on, one month off. The manufacturer recommends a break from Artemisinin. You can become resistant to it and it can cause some liver & kidney problems if used for too long.

Zith nearly destroyed my gut. It was worse than the Lyme symptoms. Try the oral suspension. That is much kinder on the gut. But, you will love this, it has sugar in it! Ugh, don't they get it? Same with Nystatin - how dumb is that?

Chris is on mepron again after several months off to flush the remaining Babs out, hopefully. He was highly positive for babs and has done tetra with it both times.

His next bottle will be while he is in Florida so he will switch abx to Biaxin to avoid sun problems.