Mathias
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5298
posted
I know an LLMD that has used it for Bart. I personally have no experience with it for Bart but I have been on it for mycoplasma with EXCELLENT results. If you can tolerate floroquinlones I recommend it.
-------------------- Mathias Posts: 1242 | From New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2004
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I'm not sure how I would handle Levaquin or Factive for the long term that is required for Bart, but I did just fine on a 2 week course of Cipro a few years ago. But 2 weeks is a far cry from the three to four months that is required for Bart. Factive seems like it is easier on the tendons than Lev/Cipro. I wish that ILADS were keeping stats on all these different drug combos and just how effective they have proven in vivo. It sure would help us all.
-------------------- You're only a failure when you stop trying. Posts: 945 | From U.S | Registered: Oct 2004
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-------------------- You're only a failure when you stop trying. Posts: 945 | From U.S | Registered: Oct 2004
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
Hi Micul,
I have not been on Factive but my LLMD mentioned that it's usually easier on the tendons than Levaquin or Cipro. We were trying to figure out how to treat me for Bartonella given that I already developed tendon problems from the quinolones.
So Factive is out for me. Wish I had known it was easier on the tendons, maybe we would have tried that instead of Levaquin.
Take care, Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
Hey there Jill E., or should I call you Ms Bartonella?
Nice to see you again. I did some research on the Quines and it is really a very small % that have tendon problems on them. It's only around 2%. The odds go up with age, esp above 50 yrs and older.
The other bigee is magnesium depletion (as well as concurrent steroid use). The normal population doesn't have this problem like lymies do. Any chronic lymie/Bart patient is going to be very low on mag. That's probably the biggest reason why so many of us have such problems with the Quinalones.
I would really appreciate it if you would get yourself healthy enough to give Factive a try, and then give me a full report. It's got to be better for you than that nasty Rifampin!
I believe that it is easier on the tendons, but I would like to find out what the LLMD's think about it; whether or not it is as effective as Lev against Bart. No sense in taking it if it isn't going to do the job. I think that I will do fine on the Quines because my mag levels are good.
-------------------- You're only a failure when you stop trying. Posts: 945 | From U.S | Registered: Oct 2004
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
Hi Micul,
Yes, you may call me Ms. Bartonella. Doesn't it sound like some pretty Italian or Spanish wine or something, rather than the nasty critter it is?
Of course I was on magnesium when I was on Levaquin, although I did not do a big pre-loading of it like Dr. B. recommended on his DVD (which I saw AFTER I had damage).
The other thing that was tricky with me was that the tendon damage continued worsening dramatically after I was off the drug. I've read that can happen. So stopping it at the first twinge of pain doesn't always get you out of danger.
The sense I got from my LLMD was that Factive was not the first choice - Levaquin, then Cipro, then all other quinolones in terms of effectiveness. But like you say, no one seems to be keeping a tally on the effectiveness of one versus the other.
Is Factive a newer quinolone? I can't remember. After the disaster I had on Ketek, I refuse to be a guinea pig for newer medications. Anyway, once a person has a problem with one quinolone, I believe there is increased risk with any quinolone. So I'm leaving the quinolones alone (hey, that almost poetic!)
Rifampin is the pits but I'm hoping it will help.
Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
Yes Factive is newer than Lev. It's a 4th generation Quine, where Lev is 3rd generation. Your Dr probably didn't mention it for Bart because he may not be that familiar with it. Dr's are hesitant to try new drugs sometimes until they get enough evidence on their effectiveness.
-------------------- You're only a failure when you stop trying. Posts: 945 | From U.S | Registered: Oct 2004
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