Topic: really upset-how long before feel better from malarone?
beths
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18864
posted
So frustrated. Not sure if I should be hitting bart or babs.
Symptoms-nausea (gastroparesis), POTS fatigue, feeling like I'm burning up in the am, occasional mild night sweats, weak arms and legs plus a "weird feeling" in them. Occasional feeling like I need to breathe harder, occasional waking up with palpitations.
Occasional pain in the bones of my shin-Bart?
On malarone 3 weeks-still feel awful.
Bactrim worked great last time...but I developed an allergy to it, so frustrated. It hits both-now I can do rifampin or malarone. My LLMD isn't sure either
posted
Some people are on malarone months before feeling better..my daughter has been on Malarone, zith and rifampin to hit bart and babs.
deb g
Posts: 499 | From Malta, NY | Registered: Dec 2008
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beths
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Member # 18864
posted
I take 2 malarone a day plus zith-can only tolerate 300mg/day (i'm a little person-106 lbs) and art 2x/day
Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Jan 2009
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nefferdun
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posted
Usually you don't take rifampin with mepron - they interact - and malarone has mepron in it.
But you could take levaquin with it. That would be a heavy herx though.
Sounds to me more like babesia than bart so I would start treating that first.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
I think you have to take more malarone than that. But .. you could be herxing and just not feeling BETTER yet.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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beths
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Member # 18864
posted
I took that combo before and got into remission. I think after I feel better, I will try a heavier dose, and see if I still herx.
Some LLMD's use 2 malarone, but make sure you take ART.
Is the feeling feverish when I when wake up babs?
How about heavy/weak arms legs?
The breathing isn't really air hunger-more like I'm breathing heavier
Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Jan 2009
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Sammi
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posted
To me your symptoms sound like Babs. Treating it can take some time. I don't think it is unusual to feel crummy when treating Babs.
I took Malarone only once, but I think it was four pills daily. You may want to see what is typically prescribed.
Many people herx during week three. It sounds like the meds are helping, but I am sorry you are feeling so bad.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Neff...I dont believe Rif interacts with Malarone as my daughter has been on this for months...
Where did you get this info?
Also, I know some people who take 4 daily and I know some who take 1 daily like my daughter....our LLMD feels that better to take 1 daily and if that does the trick continue with just 1 and only increase it that dosage doesnt work...
As we know its not one protocol fits all....
Deb
Posts: 499 | From Malta, NY | Registered: Dec 2008
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beths
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Member # 18864
posted
Deb133-Rifampin lowers the amount of malarone. If you google drug interactions-and list both meds, you will see. They both are hard on the liver.
I'm on week 3 now actually...maybe it's herx time. I started art 2 weeks before...my LLMD thought it would lesson the herx.
Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
Well that just SUCKS now doesnt it? Im wondering why my drug store didnt catch the interaction. They have before...hmmmm...also why didnt our LLMD say something...
Thank you....
Deb g
Posts: 499 | From Malta, NY | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
ok..feeling a little better...just called our local pharmacist who I have dealt with for 20 years and although he will do more research into this tomorrow for right now he said
when you treat a condition like meningitis you would definetely not want to use both drugs together but for treating lyme etc that there would not be a significant weakening of the malarone to make a difference in not using the drug.
Geez..for now I'm breathing a little sigh of relief with that basic explanation and also because she is just getting better on this protocol but I will feel better when I get more info.
Posts: 499 | From Malta, NY | Registered: Dec 2008
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beths
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18864
posted
Dr J also prescribes malarone and rif together-so I don't know. However, he pulses it 3x/wk to give your liver a break.
I usually look up my meds-I'm really concerned about protecting my liver while being on these high dose meds.
Your daughter is doing better...so it works for her!
Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
haha beths we posted at the same exact time !
Posts: 499 | From Malta, NY | Registered: Dec 2008
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beths
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18864
posted
Wow- a lyme literate pharmacist...I'm impressed! I always wonder what they think of me at my local drug-store LOL
Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Jan 2009
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