posted
Are there antibiotics that are BEST used for LYME be themselves? Perhaps ones that you don't need to combine with other things? (besides support like probiotics etc.)
TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Based on studying the Burrascano Guidelines, I don't believe there are any. That is because, in the presence of one antibiotic, lyme will change into another form to protect itself from being killed by that antibiotic.
It has at least 2 forms, possibly 3 that it can take. So, you must treat it with meds that kill each form. There is no med that kills more than one form.
You could start out treating only the spirochete form (for example, with Ceftin), but eventually, to erradicate lyme, you will have to add a cyst buster (like flagyl--generic name, metronidazole) to the ceftin. Otherwise, the lyme is just getting away from the med but not being killed.
Here is what Burrascano says (pages 12-13)"
"COMBINATION THERAPY Treatment of chronic Lyme usually requires combinations of antibiotics. There are four reasons for this:
1. TWO COMPARTMENTS- Bb can be found in both the fluid and the tissue compartments, yet no single antibiotic currently used to treat Bb infections will be effective in both compartments. This is one reason for the need to use combination therapy in the more ill patient. A logical combination might use, for example, azithromycin plus a penicillin.
2. INTRACELLULAR NICHE- Another reason, discussed below, is the fact that Bb can penetrate and remain viable within cells and evade the effects of extracellular agents. Typical combinations include an extracellular antibiotic, plus an intracellular agent such as an erythromycin derivative or metronidazole. Note that some experts discourage the co-administration of bactericidal plus bacteriostatic agents, thus the recommendation to avoid a cell wall drug combined with a tetracycline.
3. 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."
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
By the way, I wasted 2 years on lyme monotherapy.
It got me to a certain level of wellness, but I had to stay on the meds and never stop them to maintain that. As soon as I stopped the meds, in 2 weeks I was just as sick as I ever was.
So, I would have been on meds for the rest of my life if I had settled for that treatment. (In fact, that lyme doctor said to me, "Well, maybe you are just one of those people who will have to stay on meds the rest of your life." That's when I changed doctors and got well.)
I believe it takes 1 week for the lyme to come out of the cyst form when it senses that you have stopped taking your one lyme med.
My next lyme doctor put me on 2 lyme meds together and in 2 months I was done treating lyme. I then moved on to treating coinfections. In one year, I was finished. In March, it will be 6 years since I completed my lyme treatment and I am still symptom free, enjoying my life. I have exactly the same life I had before I got lyme disease.
I went undiagnosed for 10 years! I praise God for my Burrascano doctor every day.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
i have tried a lot of antibiotics but was on a biaxin/plaquenel combo and noticed muscle twitches SEEM down, was going to possibly try biaxin by itself and see what happens, tried zithro by itself before with no results.
Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
XXX my thoughts are many start off on single to prevent herxing..
I do believe more than what I started with would have killed me...
Plus many other considerations. Severity/age/INS./hospitals/recognition by others of what is going on if you do herx to need hospitalized...
-------------------- 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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quote:Originally posted by XxDarkEuphoriaxX: [QB] i have tried a lot of antibiotics but was on a biaxin/plaquenel combo and noticed muscle twitches SEEM down, was going to possibly try biaxin by itself and see what happens, tried zithro by itself before with no results.
I think the plaq is used to make the biaxin more effective.
I had 42 yrs of bacterial load when I first got treated. I agree with Pinelady that a heavy load of meds would have put me in the hospital. ... And actually I ended up in the ER twice in 10 days while treating for babesia.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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