"As the duration of antimalarial drug use climbed from 6 to 11 months to more than 2 years, mortality fell from 3.85 to 0.54 deaths per 1000 person-years of follow-up. The mortality rate in non-users was 3.07 per 1000 person-years. After accounting for possible confounders, antimalarial use appeared to reduce mortality by 38%."
So they seem to advocate long term use of antimalarials for Lupus. Can anyone shed more light on this?
Posts: 472 | From New Jersey | Registered: Dec 2007
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lymielauren28
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13742
posted
Well, I certainly have my opinion on it. I believe that ALL auto-immune diseases are caused by "unkown" bacterial, viral or parasitic infections, be it Lyme disease or something else.
I'm not surprised at all that anti-malarials help these people. Antibiotics often do too. If we can see the writing on the wall why can't doctors and reasearchers????? I guess it's just easier to give them steroids and send them on there way.
-------------------- "The only way out is through" Posts: 1434 | From mississippi | Registered: Nov 2007
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
Why does it not say WHICH anti-malarials they took? I assume Plaquenil?
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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quote:Originally posted by seekhelp: Why does it not say WHICH anti-malarials they took? I assume Plaquenil?
I imagine they did not conduct a study, but simply collected data on patients. So it would have been patients on different anti-malarials.
Posts: 330 | From Colorado, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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I think this may be important to consider in regards to anti-malarial treatments for things that don't seem like obvious malaria.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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Is LymeMD saying that people with other diseases may really have a parasite (and not necessarily Babesia or Malaria) which is killed by anti-malarials?
Posts: 472 | From New Jersey | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
I'm just happy that doctors are being told to prescribe anti-malarial drugs long term.
So people with Lyme and co. just have to get a Lupus diagnosis along with acne and we are all set with long term treatment from any doctor.
Posts: 472 | From New Jersey | Registered: Dec 2007
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
It seems there may be a babesia-like organism... That's what I got from reading the article...
It's probably not easily to detect. So, if one has Fibromyalgia type symptoms - if may be worthwhile to try anti-malarias.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
Could be Quinine-which is Quinidine now. And
only 1 company that I know of is making it.
Price has shot through the roof.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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this has absolutely nothing to do with the topic, but I had to post, because I saw your name. I LOVE cockapoos! They are some of the cutest dogs out there! I grew up with a standard poodle.
Posts: 503 | From Alberta, Canada | Registered: Jun 2009
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posted
Aww, thanks. I picked her as LymeNet name because she was (and is) always by my side.
Posts: 472 | From New Jersey | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Pinelady, could you please explain what the Quinine/Quinidine is for? How does it help in the treatment of Lyme?
I was dxd with Lupus when I first became ill 10 yrs. ago then the rheumy changed it to RA after doing a radio-active dye test on my bones and seeing the film lit like the skies of Vegas.
Just finished 28 days IM Clafaron and can't get IV Rocephin in Texas. I'm desperate right now as my pain is so severe and in the bed 24/7. I had my nervous breakdown yesterday and it was not my first. My body is worn out and so am I.
Posts: 245 | From Texas | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
Ladyjenie.. it's for babesia, which many Lyme patients have.
Are you seeing the LLMD in Denton? Please tell me you have one.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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karenl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17753
posted
ladyjenie,
I have bad bone problems with lupus. What could they see on the pictures of your bones and was it helpful for treatment? I want to do a thermagram scan next.
Posts: 1834 | From US | Registered: Oct 2008
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My/Our mistake was getting off the Enbrel -- DONG! Please don't anyone else out there make this mistake, it will add extra suffering to what you're already experiencing. I could be wrong but I think this type of bone pain is very similar to end-stage cancer pain. I know my Oxymorphone and the breakthru med didn't even touch it.
karenl, the scan confirmed the level of inflammation in my body and especially at the joints. My rheumy named off joints that were severely deterioated but at the time I wasn't able to recognize how severe the pain could be in those areas because the Enbrel was helping the pain more than I imagined.
The test is simple but done in 2 steps. The first part I had a very short IV and was told to go eat and return in a couple hours. Then I was put back on the table and given something else and she did a few film clips and that's all.
I need several joints replaced and can't because of this darn lyme.
Karenl, good luck on your scan. I'm sure the scan is helpful for treatment unless you're like me (God forbid) and can't take some of the newer biologics because I have COPD (non-smoker) and can't take them.
Posts: 245 | From Texas | Registered: Jul 2009
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
The post said "Antimalarials for all Lupus Patients"
Quinidine is antimalarial.
Yes, me too -Lymetoo. It used to be dirt cheap.
I call it hogging the bottle. If you know someone
over in say Pakistan---They can buy it at the drug
store for a couple of bucks.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
Thanks for posting this. My sister has been diagnosed with lupus (comes and goes) so I forwarded the article on to her.
Rheumatologists used to prescribe long term plaquenil (an antimalarial drug)for rheumatoid arthritis including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and some auto immune illnesses.
They apparently now use a newer class of drugs called biologic DMARDS (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs)such as TNF (a cytokine) blockers and other biologic DMARDs. If those don't work, they may still prescribe plaquenil.
They claim that these conditions are not related to infection and yet they found antimalarials and drugs that affect TNF to be very helpful. DUH!!!!
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
karenl, another thing that concerned my lyme dr. was my TNF factor result.
If I'm not wrong, norm is somewhere around 0.0 - 8.0 and mine was like 267.0. Lyme doc liked to have choked when he showed us the result. He said it was the highest he'd seen and he knew now why my pain was so severe from the rheumatoid.
The thermagram of my bones and the TNF number were consistent with mass inflammation.
I've not been on the Plaquenil but I have a friend with fibromyalgia and she said it changed her life for the better. She is now able to do just about anything she wants.
Since I have COPD I probably wasn't a candidate for it.
It is so overwhelming to have so much at once. With all the meds and supplements for this and that I'm ashamed for anyone to come visit, pill bottles everywhere.
Posts: 245 | From Texas | Registered: Jul 2009
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MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128
posted
hey, I looked up quinidine on pharmacychecker.com and of course there are loads and loads of overseas generics available through internet pharmacies. I odn't know how those prices compare to what you're paying in the US but it might be helpful information for some people.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
karenl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17753
posted
ladyjenie
if you have COPD and are a non smoker you have alpha one anti trypsin deficiency. Do you get treatment at the moment?
Posts: 1834 | From US | Registered: Oct 2008
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
There's a Chinese anti-malarial drug that I read about but I never heard of here in the US. It's based on artemesia & they claim it has a 96% cure rate for malaria.
posted
karenl, seems like my pulmonologist said I was NEG for alpha-one anti-trypsin deficiency.
Not sure how the doc interprets all that so I don't fully understand what it is. What treatment would I be getting? I'm on Advair & Pro-Air.
This sounds odd but the pulmo doc said I got the COPD because of being bedridden 9 years and my lungs weakened. I couldn't buy that theory but couldn't argue his point. I haven't been around asbestos or similar agents.
I was in denial until the CAT confirmed the aveoli (not sure if small or large) were flattened in the lower chamber of my left lung.
Posts: 245 | From Texas | Registered: Jul 2009
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
Lyme very much attacks the lungs. About a year into being sick with my depression, and vitamin D
deficiency, I has sudden acute asthma attacks. For which I saw a Pulmonologist for lung nodules,
while at the same time showing her my red hot burning toes. All tests neg. except Ana at low
titer. She diagnosed as Histoplasmosis. Not It was Lyme. I do think it can improve, but lungs
can be tricky.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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