posted
My daughter has been through a myriad of symptoms - severe headache, fatigue, nausea,tics,joint swelling and pain. But this one is driving her over the edge and causing her to beg to be rid of her body! She has a feeling in her chest and back that she describes as butterflies flutttering. Yesterday, she began to feel it in her arms and calves. This symptom started with her recent return to ketek. As we raised the dose, the fluttering increased. The only thing that calms it down is oxyIR. She is afraid she is becoming dependent and tries not to take it until night. She also takes zanax, but that doesn't touch it. Does anyone have a suggestion for taming this? Do you think it is a herx? This one is about to put her over the edge!
Posts: 422 | From Herndon, Virginia | Registered: Oct 2005
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Is she taking complex b vitamins? and cq10,magnesium,and a muti. It helps
Dose her LLMD know about the heart flutters palpitations if not make sure they know.
Heres some stuff on Ketek
Ketek Active Ingredients: Telithromycin Representative Names: Ketek
What are telithromycin tablets? What should my health care professional know before I take telithromycin? How should I take this medicine? What if I miss a dose? What drug(s) may interact with telithromycin? What side effects may I notice from taking telithromycin? What should I watch for while taking telithromycin? Where can I keep my medicine?
What are telithromycin tablets? (Back to top) TELITHROMYCIN (Ketek�) is an antibiotic. Telithromycin kills certain bacteria or stops their growth. It treats lung, sinus, and throat infections. Telithromycin will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Generic telithromycin tablets are not yet available.
What should my health care professional know before I take telithromycin? (Back to top) They need to know if you have any of these conditions: *diarrhea *heart disease *irregular heart beat or abnormal heart beat *kidney disease *liver disease *low blood potassium (hypokalemia) or magnesium (hypomagnesemia) *myasthenia gravis *stomach problems (especially colitis) *other chronic illness *taking cisapride (Propulsid�), pimozide (Orap�), or certain medicines known as antiarrhythmics (such as quinidine, procainamide, or dofetilide) *an unusual or allergic reaction to telithromycin or macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, or dirithromycin), foods, dyes, or preservatives *pregnant or trying to get pregnant *breast-feeding
How should I take this medicine? (Back to top) Take telithromycin tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Take the tablets with a full glass of water. You may take telithromycin tablets with or without food. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Finish the full course prescribed by your prescriber or health care professional even if you think your condition is better. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber's advice.
Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
What if I miss a dose? (Back to top) If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
What drug(s) may interact with telithromycin? (Back to top) *alfentanil *alosetron *astemizole *carbamazepine *certain benzodiazepines (alprazolam, diazepam, midazolam, triazolam) *certain heart medications (digoxin, diltiazem, disopyramide, dofetilide, felodipine, metoprolol, nifedipine, procainamide, quinidine, verapamil) *certain medicines to treat fungal or yeast infections (itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole) *cisapride *cyclosporine *donepezil *ergot alkaloid medicines, like ergotamine *lidocaine *medicines to treat viral infections (delavirdine, indinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir, saquinavir) *methylprednisolone *norethindrone *phenytoin *pimozide *rifampin *sirolimus *some 'statin' medicines for reducing cholesterol (examples: atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin) *tacrolimus *terfenadine *theophylline *trimetrexate *zonisamide
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines that you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
What side effects may I notice from taking telithromycin? (Back to top) Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible: *difficulty breathing *fainting spells *jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or eyes) *redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth *severe or watery diarrhea or persistent diarrhea *skin rash, itching *swelling of tongue or throat *vomiting
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome): *diarrhea *dizziness *headache *nausea *vision problems such as blurred vision, difficulty focusing, and objects doubled
What should I watch for while taking telithromycin? (Back to top) Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your symptoms do not improve in 2 to 3 days. Make sure to take all of this medicine as prescribed, even if you begin to feel better.
If you get severe or watery diarrhea, do not treat yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional for advice.
If you have vision problems while taking telithromycin, avoid driving, operating heavy machinery, or engaging in otherwise hazardous activities. You should also avoid quickly looking between objects in the distance and nearby; this may help to decrease these visual difficulties. If these vision problems interfere with your daily activities, contact you healthcare provider.
Telithromycin has been reported to cause liver problems. If you notice a yellowing of the skin or eyes, stop taking telithromycin immediately and contact your healthcare provider.
If you have fainting spells while taking telithromycin, contact your healthcare provider. Telithromycin may be affecting the way your heart beats.
If you have a disease called myasthenia gravis, telithromycin may worsen your symptoms. If you experience any worsening of your symptoms (such as muscle weakness, difficulty breathing) while taking telithromycin, stop taking telithromycin and contact your healthcare provider immediately.
If you are going to have surgery, tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking telithromycin.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
posted
Treepatrol, Thanks for the info! She is on a huge set of supplements, including magnesium and mulivit. No co-q. Oddly, when she does vitamin B12 and folate sublingually, she becomes very irritable, so she hasn't been doing that lately. We are working with two LLMD's. I have discussed it with one, who recommended taking two days a week off of ketek. I am touching base with the other today. I am always so hesitant to contact them in between visits; but management of this disease/treatment is too complex to handle with monthly visits alone!
Posts: 422 | From Herndon, Virginia | Registered: Oct 2005
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lymie tony z
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5130
posted
I personally had some concerning issues(symptoms) with my heart while on ketek also...I almost stopped it as a result...but I eventually got better and I believe it helped some with my bilateral neuropathy...
Taking a break is all we can do when we're a little afraid of what's happening to our bods...
I think the ketek did some good in the long run around my heart as I have fewer palps and less severity now than I did prior to the ketek..
zman
-------------------- I am not a doctor...opinions expressed are from personal experiences only and should never be viewed as coming from a healthcare provider. zman Posts: 2527 | From safety harbor florida(origin Cleve., Ohio | Registered: Jan 2004
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