So I just began flagyl in addition to the ceftin that I've been on for quite some time. Within 2 or 3 days, I seem to have developed a lot of back pain and achiness. Back pain has never been one of my symptoms. Also, shoulder aches have worsened as well as headaches.
What do people make of this?
Thank You,
-Brett
Posts: 30 | From New York | Registered: Jun 2011
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lululymemom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Definitely sounds like a herx.. You're waking up all the cyst form of lyme so you will feel the die off pretty intensely. This was a very good combo for my daughter..
Remember if it becomes too intense, you can back off a bit.. lower your dose.. no need to suffer.
Although Flagyl is a good drug, you shouldn't stay on it for more than 2 months..
Also, my doctor wants to add in biaxin if I can tolerate this combination. YIKES!!!!!
Question - Since adding flagyl I have also experienced more achiness and pains in forearms and wrists. Anyone else had this experience?
BTW - I have not had a positive test for anything. Closest I've to a positive are two "indeterminate" bands in WB from igenex.
Posts: 30 | From New York | Registered: Jun 2011
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lululymemom
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posted
Those were the three meds my daughter was on for the majority of time. If you can tolerate the combo it's a good one. The way I see it, if you weren't positive for lyme, you wouldn't be having this die off reaction.
Lyme is a clinical diagnosis after all, so a good LLMD would know that.
The thing to avoid is neuropathic pain, which can be caused by Flagyl.. It's important to distinguish the type of pain you are having and if it subsides after a few hours. That is more consistent with a herx reaction.
posted
Headaches that I've had at the very back of my head have gotten worse as well as just overall headaches. This is in addition to severe shoulder and back pain. Headaches getting worse a herx?
Posts: 30 | From New York | Registered: Jun 2011
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I took Flagyl and Ceftin together (along w/ Rifampin--for Bart). I remember ramping up the doses slowly but did OK. I do believe though that Flagyl caused my candida issues.
Good luck!
Posts: 376 | From New York | Registered: Jan 2011
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lululymemom
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Yes, frontal headaches for me were a definite herx..
posted
flagyl causes neuropathy! b careful. if u get numbness and tingling you should call your doc and let them know. You can damage your nerves.
Posts: 105 | From Ca | Registered: Mar 2011
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BackinStOlaf
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But what if you have numbness and tingling FROM LYME? How would you know if the flagyl was affecting nerves, or if it is a herx of your normal symptoms??
-------------------- First Symptom 9/09 Multiple docs, negative Labcorp test LLMD: 1/10 Positive Igenex/CDC test Treatment 2/10 2/10-8/10 Amox, ceftin, zith, flagyl Currently: Bicillin, Minocycline, still dealing with severe breathing issues
Posts: 1121 | From New York, New York | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
Flagyl neuropathy will begin in hands and feet, and will generally be symmetric, occuring on right and left sides at same time. Numbness, sharp stabbing pain, tingling or even itching can be indicators of neuropathy. I know from personal experience. For me this is dose and time dependent and predictable so I keep interrupting and restarting the flagyl for good effect eg herx/ progress of treatment while limiting the neuropathy risk.
-------------------- Ideas not advice. Posts: 448 | From Downeast Maine | Registered: Jul 2009
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BoxerMom
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posted
If the back pain feels like it originates in the neck and spine, it's meningeal swelling. This is actually good. You're getting central nervous system penetration with your antibiotics.
Keep going. It sounds like your combo is working!
I always have headaches when I herx. Never had a single headache during 18 years of undiagnosed Lyme. Now, I'm one big headache.
posted
I have not taken Flagyl....but my LLMD did put me on Ceftin in addition to Mepron and Azith that I already was on for several months + Amox. Amox was dropped-- thus the Ceftin.
After three days on Ceftin I got a ramping up of my stiff neck, upper back and shoulder pain. But after a week this started to disappear.
For the first time in nearly 8 months, I was pain free!! I owe this all to the Ceftin.
Unfortunately I got some gut/yeast issues with the Ceftin and had to stop it until I addressed these issues with more probiotics.
As soon as I started back on the Ceftin-- all the pain returned. But once again-- after about 4 days-- the Ceftin made the pain go away.
I would agree that the pain you describe is probably a herx. If you can tollerate the Ceftin you hopefully will see results.
I really believe Ceftin is what gets me over the hump to being pain free/symptom free.
Posts: 29 | From New York | Registered: Dec 2010
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posted
Thanks for this info! I appreciate it. I really hope the flagyl is helping. It seems to be, new symptoms seem so severe that herx is very possible. Also, has anyone experienced lower back pain or even abdominal cramps when herxing??
Thanks.
Posts: 30 | From New York | Registered: Jun 2011
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