Summer3
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35286
posted
For the last 4 weeks I have been unbelievably weak. Especially in the morning. It takes me hours to get going and then between 11 and 4 I am near collapse again. That's along with all my other numerous symptoms.
The only recent changes I've added are taking Flagyl in one big dose instead of 3 small ones and adding artemisinin pulses.
I'm on other meds. A pretty strong combo, but I got noticeably weaker with more chills, irritability, anxiety, muscle pain and spasms etc. when I added artemisinin. Even though it has a short half-life, the negative effects of it last pretty much until my next pulse (I do two 3-day pulses per month).
On a side note, I know that artemisinin works by attacking the diseased cells that contain more iron than others. So what happens to the iron in the cell when it's attacked by artemisinin? Does it get depleted? I ask because I don't eat much meat or iron containing foods. Maybe the weakness could be attributed to a deficiency of iron that's occurring due to either Babesia itself or Art.
annxyzz
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20404
posted
I have the same question and experience ! I started taking a little bit of iron , and extra potassium, and zinc and have felt a bit better . I was not anemic , but felt very anemic and weak. Adding extra minerals was just an intuitive move, but seemed to help me feel less lifeless.
-------------------- annxyzz Posts: 1178 | From East Texas | Registered: May 2009
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posted
I also felt the same way from Art. But my doctor told me to stay away from antioxidents and I believe iron on the days I am rotating art 2-3 days then 7 days off. I do a lot of juicing green veggies and was doing NAC with glutathione on the off days. I think some people add iron.
Posts: 697 | From CA | Registered: Dec 2011
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CherylSue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13077
posted
Sounds like herxing. You might want to pulse or back down on your dosing. Also, detoxing is helpful. (Lemon water, activated charcoal, etc.)
Posts: 1954 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2007
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Summer3
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35286
posted
I would back down, but I severely worry about resistance developing if I do that. Particularly because I am not able to take Mepron due to the drastic increase it creates in my liver enzymes. I really want to continue pulsing it this way because I know it's hitting something, but physically it's very tough for me to take. I've taken a lot of different meds and herbs. The reaction I get to this one is drastic.
I also go off antioxidants while taking it. I believe taking iron WITH artemisinin can also deactivate it's mechanism of action.
TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
I got rid of babesiosis by taking Bactrim DS and pulsing art. I was told to take the art on an empty stomach twice per day. It worked wonderfully for me! I took it for 3 days in a row each week.
The art practically stopped my weekly babs flares which were horrible. It was like a miracle.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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