posted
I see many of you mention different forms. How do the doctors know what to treat us with and when? sick
Posts: 538 | From Iowa | Registered: Apr 2006
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
From pages 12-13 of Burrascano:
"L-FORMS (SPHEROPLAST)- It has been recognized that B. burgdorferi can exist in at least two, and possibly three different morphologic forms: spirochete, spheroplast (or l-form), and the recently discovered cystic form (presently, there is controversy whether the cyst is different from the l-form).
L-forms and cystic forms do not contain cell walls, and thus beta lactam antibiotics will not affect them. Spheroplasts seem to be susceptible to tetracyclines and the advanced erythromycin derivatives. Apparently, Bb can shift among the three forms during the course of the infection. Because of this, it may be necessary to cycle different classes of antibiotics and/or prescribe a combination of dissimilar agents.
4. CYSTIC FORM- When present in a hostile environment, such as growth medium lacking some nutrients, spinal fluid, or serum with certain antibiotics added, Bb can change from the spiral form (``spirochete'') into a cyst form. This cyst seems to be able to remain dormant, but when placed into an environment more favorable to its growth, Bb can revert into the spirochete form. The antibiotics commonly used for Lyme do not kill the cystic form of Bb. However, there is laboratory evidence that metronidazole and tinidazole will disrupt it. Therefore, the chronically infected patient who has resistant disease may need to have metronidazole (or tinidazole) added to the regimen. More details are provided in the section on treatment options."
As Burrascano says here, you have to use combination antibiotics or cycle different classes of antibiotics to kill lyme in all its possible forms.
Also, metronidazole (flagyl) is known to kill the cyst form.
So, for example, since my second lyme doc had me only on high-dose amoxicillin, when I got to my third lyme doc, he said to me, "Congratualtions. You have succeeded in converting all of your lyme to the cyst form."
So, he had me stop all meds for a week and then put me on zithromax and flagyl to kill the lyme in both spirochete and cyst form.
Evidently, lyme will come out of cysts within a week of stopping all antibiotics (an environment favorable to its growth).
It is one smart disease.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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CherylSue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13077
posted
Will ceftin and flagyl work too? If I just take Flagyl by itself, after 6 weeks, I start to relapse. It seems I need an extra abx to go with the Flagyl.
CherylSue
Posts: 1954 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2007
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