I , personally, found malarone not at all effective. Mepron/zithromax was better, but after 2 yrs it quit working all together.
Below is a copy of treatment protocols someone from this site posted, to give you an idea of the differences in treatment. Though I caution you that this information may be out of date, everyone is different, and you reallly need to talk this over with your LLMD
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posted 01-25-2011 11:14 PM I have the book, The Treatment and Diagnosis of Human Babesiosis by Dr. S. I find this book helpful (although I do not like his book on bartonella). This book was published in 2006.
He gives treatment protocols from the three doctors. Most of it addresses treating babesia and not the co-infections. I have the book open now so I can copy the information more accurately for you.
Dr J protocol for lyme and babesia:
Mepron *** mg twice a day with fatty meal Zithromax *** mg twice a day Take both medications 5-7 days a week for 3-4 weeks followed by a week long break. The week prior to the break patients take ***mg flagyl or tindamax twice a day for 3-5 consecutive days.
*** mg Ketek can replace Zithromax but should not be taken with zithro. Ketek is very active against lyme and is a macrolide that prevents Mepron resistance (like zithro).
In some patients he also prescribes artemisinin. A 150 lb person would build up to *** mg twice a day with a one week break.
If this does not work he adds IV Clindamycin. For resistant babesia he prescribes Lariam, Doxy, Zithro and Flagyl or Tindamax. When he is using more difficult to tolerate drugs he pulses the tindamax (flagyl) 3-5 days a week.
Dr. H's treatment for Bb, bartonella and babesia:
Bactrim DS **** Macrolide - he prefers Zithromax ***mg twice day Mepron *** mg twice a day *** mg artemisinin 3 times day (Allergy Research Group) He does not use a cyst buster in this protocol.
Another protocol Dr. H uses is Malarone, Levaquin, Plaquenil and Doxycycline.
Dr. B's protocol:
Mepron 750 mg twice a day Zithromax 600 mg per day Artimisinin 100 mg three times a day
2nd option if first fails: Malarone 3 pills twice a day Bactrim DS twice a day Flagyl ER (extended release) 750 twice a day Macrolide - prefers zithromax
You can't take Rifampin with Mepron as they interact. Doxy lowers the serum levels of Mepron. Posts: 1819 |
For those who are worried about drug resistance, I think the best approach is to use meds which work by different means -- combine meds from more than one category.
Blood schizonticides -- includes chloroquine, quinine and mefloquine (larium)
Antifolates -- includes pyrmethamine (daraprim), trimethoprim (bactrim), and proguanil (2nd ingredient in malarone)
Not sure how flagyl, alinia or ivermectin work -- or even if they do work on babs. Anecdotal evidence that these meds may be beneficial as they are all antiparasitic.
There is little research explaining the mechanisms of how herbs work on malaria -- but there are many many herbs which may be of some use. But in my opinion for them to work the dose would have to be extremely high. Most Western (U.S.) herbalists do not prescribe anywhere near the doses used by Chinese herbalists and personally I think that is one of the reasons herbs often fail.
As for supplements -- lactoferrin may be of use to keep the iron away from the babesia parasites.
Hubby says that the only time he actually thought his dizziness was actually going away was when he treated with an extremely high dose of cryptolepis tincture in combo with lactoferrin.
***Please do not post dosages or protocols of current LLMDs***
-------------------- "few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example" - Mark Twain Posts: 1008 | From US | Registered: Dec 2007
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annxyzz
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20404
posted
I have read this same scenario a thousand times.. which causes one to question whether the organism keeping someone sick is really babs .
If it were me, I would try the ivermectin and parasite protocol . It could not hurt you and it may hit the organisms making you sick .
Some lyme patients in Europe are improving when their docs try ivermectin, according to Dr Eva Sapi .
-------------------- annxyzz Posts: 1178 | From East Texas | Registered: May 2009
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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jackie51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14233
posted
What actually worked for me was pulsing the Mepron, 3 wks on, 1 wk off. I was also on Ceftin.
At one time or another, I was also on Zithromax and art.
Sorry to hear. For me, the more Babs was gone, the more Bart came up. I would have never believed that was going to happen until it did.
I can't remember if I ever asked you if you've been tested for Brucella and/or Mycoplasma. These two infections can present very similar to Babs.
At least you're with a really good LLMD. I wonder why you're not on A-bab too and not just A-bart. Truly, these magical drops definitely have an effect.
Posts: 1374 | From Crazy Town | Registered: Dec 2007
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RZR
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20953
posted
quote:Originally posted by annxyzz: I have read this same scenario a thousand times.. which causes one to question whether the organism keeping someone sick is really babs .
If it were me, I would try the ivermectin and parasite protocol . It could not hurt you and it may hit the organisms making you sick .
Some lyme patients in Europe are improving when their docs try ivermectin, according to Dr Eva Sapi .
Parasites are definitely a huge problem. I have taken ivermectin several weeks at a time....also Vermox, albendazole, and Parastroy and rotating.
-------------------- Tick bite May 2009 Diagnosed June 2009 Posts: 2329 | From SouthEast | Registered: Jun 2009
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WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33581
posted
I saw Amanda's post that "Doxy lowers the serum levels of Mepron."
Does mino do the same thing?
I'm on mino, mepron, zith and Art.
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
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