I posted something a week or so ago asking the difference between doxy and mino and had some great responses. Thanks guys.
Well my next LLMD appointment is on the 20th but before I get there I ran out of Doxy so I called my LLMD and asked them to call in a script. They did but they changed it from Doxy to Minocycline.
A women from the office just called to let me know and that they called it in for 100mg twice a day but to start it only once a day for 3-5 days then go to full dose if everything is ok after.
I'm a little freaked out because when I asked her why she said just because its new. ok fine I get that but from my previous post I know some people have had issues with Minocycline.
I was wondering what are reactions I am watching out for?
Also, is it the same rules for Mino as Doxy?
Take on full stomach?
Not within 2 hours or dairy?
No Antacids within 4 hours?
One more thing why is the dosage so much lower?
Thank you all for your feedback, when I started questioning the girl that called me she said I don't know and sounded annoyed and said she'd have to ask the doctor and get back to me but I need to start taking it very soon like tomorrow morning.
Melissa
-------------------- When the going gets tough. . . I'll keep fighting! Ms. Geet3721
New LLMD, New abx, New life coming right up!!!! Posts: 714 | From La La Lyme Land | Registered: Jun 2008
| IP: Logged |
Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
The usual dose seems to be 200mg per day for Minocycline......who knows why it is less than Doxy.
I started out at 50mg per day. The drug will probably give you dizziness in the beginning.....sort of like that almost floating, drunk feeling. For me that wore off in about 5 days, but that is probably because I was only taking 50mg.
Then, I increased to 100mg, then 150, then finally 200mg per day. If you don't have 50mg capsules, you could always open up the 100mg caps and dump half out.
I think that people that get severe side effects make the mistake of not slowly building up their dosage. But then again, minocycline has been an easy drug for me, no real herxing (odd, I know).
Mino has the added benefit of being an anti-inflammatory....I believe it is an anti-inflammatory for the brain. Good luck!
PS---I take mine twice a day (100mg X 2 per day)....I take it on an empty stomach, but that is because I take Rifampin wtih it. Not sure about if Minocycline is absorbed better on an empty stomach or not.
You may also want to look in to whether you can take mineral supplements or multi-vitamins containing minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, etc with your med. You might not be able to.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thank you Hoosier for the information, its nice to hear that someone did well with it.
Melissa
-------------------- When the going gets tough. . . I'll keep fighting! Ms. Geet3721
New LLMD, New abx, New life coming right up!!!! Posts: 714 | From La La Lyme Land | Registered: Jun 2008
| IP: Logged |
Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
You're very welcome! I think it's a great drug......a lot of doctors are using it, it seems.
Also, it helped reset my sleep patterns......which was an unexpected benefit. I now don't need sleeping pills!
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
| IP: Logged |
Just wondering considering one of my biggest symptoms is dizziness do you think it will eventually help with that?
Thanks
Melissa
-------------------- When the going gets tough. . . I'll keep fighting! Ms. Geet3721
New LLMD, New abx, New life coming right up!!!! Posts: 714 | From La La Lyme Land | Registered: Jun 2008
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
-
Minocycline is know for inducing vertigo. But some things can help. This drug has the potential to be of benefit to the brain, so if the ears can be protected, it's worth a try. Still, if you experience severe vertigo from it, call your doctor.
While some people do okay, some even do quite splendidly, many have some serious reactions from Minocycline to the inner/middle ear, known as the vestibular system. According to some researchers (such as Bauman), Minocycline can be ototoxic and vestibular toxic. However . . . starting SLOWLY - very slowly - and taking other precautions may help.
B-6 may help, as may NAC, but it's no guarantee. If you experience any ringing in the ears (tinnitus), any sort of vertigo or other hearing side-effects, this can be a sign of toxicity for you and you should ask your doctor for a replacement.
Again, for reasons that are not clear, not everyone seems to have this problem. For those who do, it can be serious and attention should be paid.
Best of luck in whatever path you select. But I sure hope you'll start the B-6 before the mino. I'm not sure of the amount, though.
Antivertiginous action of vitamin B 6 on experimental minocycline-induced vertigo in man
=======================
The Road Back Foundation at www.roadback.org may be a place to see what helps others. I talked to someone there a while back and they said that the pelleted, time-released MINOCIN was easier for some.
Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
I used to have moderate dizziness that went away in the course of treatment, though I can't say what got rid of it. This was before taking Minocycline.
For me, it may have been babesia-related, and the Mepron/Zithromax might have wiped it out.
I would say though, that anything is possible. If the dizziness is due to brain swelling, the minocycline may make it better. I'm not sure.
Otherwise, I think it's just a matter of experimenting with different drugs over time to see what works. Good luck!
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
| IP: Logged |
Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
I used to have moderate dizziness that went away in the course of treatment, though I can't say what got rid of it. This was before taking Minocycline.
For me, it may have been babesia-related, and the Mepron/Zithromax might have wiped it out.
I would say though, that anything is possible. If the dizziness is due to brain swelling, the minocycline may make it better. I'm not sure.
Otherwise, I think it's just a matter of experimenting with different drugs over time to see what works. Good luck!
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
| IP: Logged |
kelmo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8797
posted
My daughter has been on it for over a year now.
She had to start with 50mg once a week. I'm serious! It hit her hard.
We were prescribed 100mg capsules, so I opened them and put half in a gel capsule from the health food store.
It brought her farther ahead than any other.
Posts: 2903 | From AZ | Registered: Feb 2006
| IP: Logged |
treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
I took it with other abx's 200mg aday unless really highly infected then it was more. But 100mg morning then 100mg evening.
No vitamins or antacids or probiotics within at least 2 hrs of taking minocin .
I have done minocin with Rifampin,Biaxin,Mepron,Cedax,and some others. whoops yes plenty of water too and stay upright 1 hour.
Minocin is a smaller molocule than doxy or tetra so penitrates deeper.
Watch for the herxs sometimes they can be bad. But I always just slugged through them lots of water and anti inflammatories
-------------------- 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.
thank you for you advice on the b6 im going to take some starting today. I'll start the mino saturday.
im a little worried because I have ringing in my ears now I just don't want to confuse symptoms with reaction.
I will be taking the other drugs still too the biaxin planquenil and bicillin.
thanks again for all you replies
melissa
-------------------- When the going gets tough. . . I'll keep fighting! Ms. Geet3721
New LLMD, New abx, New life coming right up!!!! Posts: 714 | From La La Lyme Land | Registered: Jun 2008
| IP: Logged |
lou4656
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10300
posted
Melissa -- You have gotten some very good advise from other posters.
My dizziness on Mino lasted for 2 weeks and then subsided. Take mino with a big glass of water. Sit upright for one hour after taking mino.
If you are going to cut the dosage, make sure that you put the other half in a gel cap. Personally, I wouldn't recommend cutting it.
I'd like to pass along some encouragement. I took mino for one year, and it was my cure all. I've been off abx for almost a year now, and have been very healthy. No return of symptoms.
When I started mino, I felt worse at first. Then I slowly started to feel a bit better. At about the 3 month mark, it felt like I walked out of the fog . . . and I progressively felt better and better.
Hope this drug is helpful for you too.
-------------------- LouLou Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Oct 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thank you Lou for the words of encouragement now I'm giddy to try it
Melissa
-------------------- When the going gets tough. . . I'll keep fighting! Ms. Geet3721
New LLMD, New abx, New life coming right up!!!! Posts: 714 | From La La Lyme Land | Registered: Jun 2008
| IP: Logged |
tickled1
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14257
posted
I just started Mino as well.
Lou, did you only take Minocycline for that year? My current LLMD only prescribes one abx at a time and have wondered if I can get better this way.
Posts: 2541 | From Northeast | Registered: Jan 2008
| 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!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic