LymeNet Flash: opinion on zithro vs ketek

LymeNet on Facebook

LymeNet on Twitter

Follow @LymeDiseaseNet

The Lyme Disease Network receives a commission from Amazon.com for each purchase originating from this site.

When purchasing from Amazon.com, please
click here first.

Thank you.

Dedicated to the Bachmann Family

LymeNet needs your help:
LymeNet 2020 fund drive

The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations.

»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » opinion on zithro vs ketek

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: opinion on zithro vs ketek

flygirl
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6669

posted

my doctor has me on ketek but it's 435 a month. since it is so good I'd like to stay on it if I can, but she also mentioned zithromax.

any opinions on the two? is ketek better?

I'm on mepron and plaquenil also.

thank you!

------------------

Posts: 167 | From Ashburn, VA | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged |

burnbitter
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 7088

posted

zithromax is 935 for 60 500mg pills (2 per day) so it is actually more expensive.
though thinking about it out of pocket before insurance covered it, they charged me 21.25 per 500mg pill at walgreens. So I'm not sure where the 935 without insurance number came from (but they have that "without insurance you would have paid xx.xx" thing on the receipt.

Posts: 207 | From san francisco, ca | Registered: Mar 2005 | IP: Logged |

flygirl
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6669

posted

well, presumably my insurance will cover zithro. it won't cover ketek. but thank you!

Posts: 167 | From Ashburn, VA | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged |

zipzip
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6226

posted

ketek is a superior medication, hands down.

zithromax is a macrolide.

ketek is a ketolide which is a structurally advanced chemical combination of a macrolide.

Posts: 795 | From nyc | Registered: Sep 2004 | IP: Logged |

flygirl
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6669

posted

ok, I've been hearing how good ketek is. which is why I wanted to stay, but wasn't sure if the zithro would do anything. prior to the ketek I was on biaxin, which has been making me feel a lot better but my numbers have not budged.

thank you for the info!

Posts: 167 | From Ashburn, VA | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged |

NP40
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6711

posted

Can ketek be given through a PICC line ?

Posts: 1632 | From Northern Wisconsin | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged |

zipzip
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6226

posted

quote:
Originally posted by NP40:
Can ketek be given through a PICC line ?

as of now, to the best of my knowledge, ketek is only available as an oral solution.

but it has very good tissue and cell penetration even in its current form

Posts: 795 | From nyc | Registered: Sep 2004 | IP: Logged |

flygirl
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6669

posted

what is a PICC line?

my doctor is going to try to give me freebies when she can, the drug rep sometimes gives her a fair amount but she has other patients who need it too.

I guess if she can even give me one free week for every month I buy on my own, it's down to 40 bucks a week through Canada versus 100 bucks a week through the US system. a lot better!

Posts: 167 | From Ashburn, VA | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged |

Printer-friendly view of this topic

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, NJ 08534 USA
http://www.lymenet.org/