posted
My doctor said he would try Intravenous out of his office this month if I didn't get better.
That would take 2 hours driving there and 2 hours driving back everyday with a job so I spoke to another doctor close to home.
This doctor told me that he wasn't able to do the intravenous out of the office, but he said due to the arches of my feet being in pain and other symptoms that he thought I had Bartonella.
He told me to do the intravenous but if if I still felt ill to come back to him and he would give me Levaquin.
Well I drove up to see my doctor upstate and told him what the other doctor said about Levaquin.
He said he would try the Levaquin instead of intravenous, after previously stating he didn't use it. I was flabbergasted.
I got home and got the prescription. It was for 500mg twice a day.
I was like whoa isn't that too much for levaquin? So I called his office. He wasn't there and I got the nurse practioner.
She said no don't take it twice a day. Take it once a day at night with a large glass of water.
Tonight I'm going to try once a day. I'm 180 lbs so I don't think I get extra dosing for weight.
Could he possibly have meant twice a day? Even Burrascano says 500 mg once per day. I'll call again on Monday.
Posts: 743 | From New York | Registered: Apr 2009
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Twice a day sounds far too mach. I have heard of dosing up to 750 mg max. If it is Bartonella 1000 mg will blow your socks off, and also throws you into dangerous ground straight away for side effects such as tendonitus.
I would start on 500 mg and then talk to your doc.
Take care
Neil
-------------------- Pos BB and Bart(Q & H IGG pos) Began treat 1 year after start of illness. Diagnosed Feb 2007. Posts: 648 | From Ireland | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
I have been on it for chronic sinus infection for a month now and the max i take is 750mg 1x I never took 2x before it sounds like maybe there is some miss communication there..
i would check before i take it because levaquin has to many side effects to just mess with..
good luck to you.
Posts: 47 | From maryland | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
I forgot to say John its a great drug for Bartonella. I made great strides very quickly on it. Good luck and take it handy.
-------------------- Pos BB and Bart(Q & H IGG pos) Began treat 1 year after start of illness. Diagnosed Feb 2007. Posts: 648 | From Ireland | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
Hmmmm. Today is my first day starting on Levaquin for Bart. I can already tell that it's going to be an adventure. I'll be taking 250 mg for 5 days, then I up it to 500 mg once a day, for 4 weeks.
Posts: 135 | From Orlando, Florida | Registered: Feb 2009
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lymeHerx001
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
LLMD wants me to start on this for mycoplasma.
I told him that I was worried about the tendon issue. He said only if I were climbing mt everist would I need to be concerned about that.
HUH?
Anyway , Im kinda scared, dont want a ruptured tendon.
Anyone?
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
sorry, but i know several people who literally babied their legs and still have problems and had to stop.
also i don't think it is a "rare" reaction. I started having leg pain after several weeks and had to stop.
i'd keep an eye out for leg pain.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
I was taking tiny, staggered doses of Levaquin. I still got hit with terrible achilles pain. It's been 2 mos, and it still often interferes with my walking.
Look up my thread from about 2 mos ago. I was warned to stop taking it.
At the first sign of achilles pain, STOP it. And start with small doses.
Posts: 175 | From SW PA | Registered: Mar 2008
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lymeHerx001
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
oh my god, I will start small.
Chances are thats all I need anyway.
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I am back on it 4 days now and herxing like crazy. My eyes are throbbing, joints aching, short fused, tinnitus up.... Its like I am starting bart treatment all over again.
Three months on Bactrim and Zithro and it did nothing for it. I ain't staying off quinalones for more than a month from now on until they are all dead.
On my off time I will use mino and rifampin at high doses. So sick of this bartonella sh*t!!!!! F***ing going blind from it!!
-------------------- Pos BB and Bart(Q & H IGG pos) Began treat 1 year after start of illness. Diagnosed Feb 2007. Posts: 648 | From Ireland | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
Sorry needed to vent a bit. Just saw the word levaquin and I couldnt help myself... Its a love hate relationship
-------------------- Pos BB and Bart(Q & H IGG pos) Began treat 1 year after start of illness. Diagnosed Feb 2007. Posts: 648 | From Ireland | Registered: Jan 2007
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lymeHerx001
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
ADR? whats that, and ibuprofen? On that one daily.
Maybee this is not a good idea?
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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lymeHerx001
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
thats site reads like the mercury sites.
We are all damned if we even look at that drug.
Is this for real>?
Why would I ever even want to try it?
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I took an ibuprofen last night to help quench the herx headache from the levaquin. Worked a treat!!
-------------------- Pos BB and Bart(Q & H IGG pos) Began treat 1 year after start of illness. Diagnosed Feb 2007. Posts: 648 | From Ireland | Registered: Jan 2007
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Alv
Unregistered
posted
I would recomend you to watch out your tendons.
I personaly wished I never took it.Even though my bart load was very high damaged it did not eradicate it but in my case ruptered the meniscus on both kness( even though the bart and infection have done the damage before levaquin but it increased it by 10 fold when levaquin is used) .
I want you to be prepared that will not eradicate BART.Can you add some HH capsules if you can and do not stop them until you fel is not there anymore ?
They work perfect..You can take LEVAQUIN 750mg not 1000mg ( even though I tried it for 3 days ) wont kill you but will eat up your cartilages..and will not eradicate bartonella.
I am not a doctor but I have chased this BUG for almost 2 years and HAVE USED every metod on EARTH you name it. HH , Rifampfin , azith , Doxy are more gentle...also KETEK works on it as well...
I know the liver is questionable ( in my case that I cleaned it well enough before using any drugs NONE of medications cause any liver issues ever and I am talking for EXSTRA high dosages )...but the cartilages of the knees do not generate...liver cells can.
Watch out and also you will become an emotional wreck when you take it..insomnia also will take place.
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posted
I am moving to Factive 5 days on 5 off with mino next week.
-------------------- Pos BB and Bart(Q & H IGG pos) Began treat 1 year after start of illness. Diagnosed Feb 2007. Posts: 648 | From Ireland | Registered: Jan 2007
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lymeHerx001
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Then again some said that Flagyl was terrible for them, for me it was great. I took it for months no problems.
BIAXIN was the worst for me and the one that I felt left me with permanant (please no) damage.
You see after going through the terrible biaxin herx I developed MCS and chronic vertigo that even has the doctors at yale confused.
I wish I never took the damn drug!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cant tell you how much I wish I never treated this way with abx. Now I am screwed because If I go off them I relapse.
But I cant be on a full dose either cause it makes everything worse.
Its like my whole body is made out of the bug!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IM SREIOUS PEOPLE> I WISH I NEVER STARTED TREATMENT.
As sick as that sounds, I needed some detox or something. Else.
MCS is the worse, maybee 2nd to going blind or blowing your tendons, you might be right.
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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lymeHerx001
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posted
^
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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lymeHerx001
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posted
THIS DRUG SOUND HORRIBLE, WHY WOULD ANYBODY TAKE IT! I DRINK COFFEE EVERY DAY, MY LLMD SHOULD HAVE WARNED ME
ALSO I TAKE ADVIL EVERY DAY!!!!!!!!!!
Levofloxacin has been reported to interacts with a significant number of other drugs, as well as a number of herbal and natural supplements. Such interactions increased the risk of cardiotoxicity and arrhythmias, anticoagulant effects, the formation of non-absorbable complexes, as well as increasing the risk of toxicity. [7]
Some drug interactions are associated with molecular structural modifications of the quinolone ring, specifically interactions involving NSAIDS and theophylline. The fluoroquinolones have also been shown to interfere with the metabolism of caffeine[75] and the absorption of levothyroxine. The interference with the metabolism of caffeine may lead to the reduced clearance of caffeine and a prolongation of its serum half-life, resulting in a caffeine overdose. Ciprofloxacin has been shown to interact with thyroid medications (levothyroxine) resulting in unexplained hypothyroidism.[76] As such it is possible that levofloxacin may interact with thyroid medications as well.
The use of NSAIDs (Non Steroid Anti Inflammatory Drugs) while undergoing fluoroquinolone therapy is contra-indicated due to the risk of severe CNS adverse reactions, including but not limited to seizure disorders. Fluoroquinolones with an unsubstituted piperazinyl moiety at position 7 have the potential to interact with NSAIDs and/or their metabolites, resulting in antagonism of GABA neurotransmission.[77] Whether or not such reactions occur after completion of therapy is a matter of considerable debate. Patients have reported reactions to NSAIDS long after completion of fluoroquinolone therapy, but there does not appear to be any research that would either confirm or deny this association other than these anecdotal reports.
Some quinolones exert an inhibitory effect on the cytochrome P-450 system, thereby reducing theophylline clearance and increasing theophylline blood levels. Coadministration of certain fluoroquinolones and other drugs primarily metabolized by CYP1A2 (e.g. theophylline, methylxanthines, tizanidine) results in increased plasma concentrations and could lead to clinically significant side effects of the coadministered drug. Additionally other fluoroquinolones, especially enoxacin, and to a lesser extent ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin, also inhibit the metabolic clearance of theophylline.[78]
Such drug interactions appear to be related to the structural changes of the quinolone ring and the inhibitory effect on the cytochrome P-450 system. As such, these drug interactions involving the fluoroquinolones appear to be drug specific rather than a class effect.
Current or past treatment with oral corticosteroids is associated with an increased risk of Achilles tendon rupture, especially in elderly patients who are also taking the fluoroquinolones.[79] This effect seems to be restricted to people aged 60 or over, and within this group concomitant use of corticosteroids increases this risk substantially. Though technically not to be considered a drug interaction, mention of this is made here due to fact that the etiology of such ruptures remains elusive and further research may confirm such a drug interaction may play a role in this particular reaction.
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
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posted
i wonder if 20 mg cortef counts as steroids
maybe i didn't have trouble the first time i was on cipro cuz i wasn't on the cortef then
i was always on ibu tho
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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lymeHerx001
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posted
darn
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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lymeHerx001
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posted
_
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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lymeHerx001
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posted
took a micro dose last night, felt some herxing actually.
Im going to be starting slow and taking MAGNESIUM
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
Wow I'm surprised this post generated so many comments,especially off the topic.
So far I haven't felt anything adverse with the Levaquin, but I think my muscle twitching has gone down and I haven't felt anything vibrate for awhile, like my eye or lip.
On the other hand my joint pain is up. Go figure.
Posts: 743 | From New York | Registered: Apr 2009
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lymeHerx001
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posted
its a contraversial topic
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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lymeHerx001
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posted
some people have blown out tendons on this, also Ive read that if take it with Advil you can poison the CNS!!!!!!!!!
I take advil all the time.
I want to get better from mycoplasma however.
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I knew about the tendons, but the advil thing is new. I knew the risk about the tendons and was willing to try.
I hope to God they don't blow, but Lyme/Bartonella sucks.
Posts: 743 | From New York | Registered: Apr 2009
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lymeHerx001
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posted
NSAIDS (advil included) combine with levaquin and cipro and act as GABA antagonists!
That means that your brain is firing more and it could lead to seizures.
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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adamm
Unregistered
posted
Yep--no NSAIDS on any fluoroquinolones!! Recipe for brain damage.
check out fqresearch.org for info on what else to look out for on Levaquin. I have no personal experience with the drug, but I do know someone who got neuropathy from it.
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lymeHerx001
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posted
adam it sounds so terrible why would it be legal?
you take atovaquone, isint that in the same family?
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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lymeHerx001
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
im herxing from it and now feeling better.
I took maybee 20 milligrams.
Can you believe it?
Science needs me! I want to be rich,.
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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lymeHerx001
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posted
any sleeping problems on this?
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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richedie
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posted
I am starting Levaquin this Friday. I had a long talk with my doctor and she said not to worry. She hasn't had any patient have a bad reaction to Levaquin and most don't herx with Bart treatment for some reason so we'll see. I am just soooooo tired of blue, painful arms and hands! I want to cut it off along with my feet! She thinks the Bart is the final trick, we'll see....otherwise I can't keep going on in this life as is.
-------------------- Mepron/Zith/Ceftin Doxy/Biaxin/Flagyl pulse. Artemisinin with Doxy/Biaxin. Period of Levaquin and Ceftin. Then Levaquin, Bactrim and Biaxin. Bactrim/Augmentin/Rifampin. Mepron/Biaxin/Artemisinin/Cat's Claw Rifampin/Bactrim/Alinia Plaquenil/Biaxin Posts: 1949 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Feb 2008
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lymeHerx001
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posted
why again does levaquin eat up cartilages?
Does Mg really help?
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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