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Posted by jwenny (Member # 8831) on :
 
How common is it to take ABX for both lyme and babesia at the same time (not alternating)? For instance, doxy/mepron/zith.

Consensus seems that babesia should be treated first. But would that allow lyme to advance even more. What are some standard protocols for this?
 
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
 
It's pretty common to always treat the Lyme, while you are treating different coinfections.

I know mepron/zith is common, and i've heard others on doxy/mepro/zith. Ketek is emerging as a potential babesia treatment. But it's kind of a hunch some LLMDs are following. It appears that ketek/artemisinin/plaquenil worked for me, but i had a light babesia load.
 
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
 
I agree - it seems reasonable and appropriate.
 
Posted by lucy96734 (Member # 8372) on :
 
My LLMD is having me do Ketek and Mepron at the same time. I had started the Ketek first but the bloodwork just came back to confirm his hunch that I also have Babs.

He said that Ketek wouldn't get the Babs.
 
Posted by liz28 (Member # 4946) on :
 
I think the drugs have gotten good enough over the past year--which in some cases means better than nothing--to make dual treatment possible without taking twenty antibiotics at once. I also have responded well to ketek, combining it with omnicef for Lyme and mepron, primaquine and artemisinin for babesia. If you can tolerate it, ketek is miles ahead of zith.

As you have no doubt heard a million times, mepron and ketek are so harsh on the liver, they can cause as many problems as the disease you are treating. Especially mepron. So don't just take one flimsy milk thistle a day [tsk] , pile on liver supplements with religious devotion, and extra probiotics and yeast control.
 
Posted by trails (Member # 1620) on :
 
BUT be careful of milk thistle with mepron! It lowers the blood levels of mepron. Some people have taken it opposite their mepron dose...Dr B doesnt advise against it during mepron use...but check out the link below:


Below I copied the info from this website: http://www.catie.ca/supple-e.nsf/0/7b09aa55a412896c85256c6e0070bf60?OpenDocument

2. Milk thistle and other medications
Below is a short list of some other medications that are processed through the CYP3A4 enzyme. Based on the effect of milk thistle on liver enzymes in the lab, it is possible that levels of these medications may increase if taken by people who are also using milk thistle. This list is not exhaustive:

* methadone
* heart drugs - Tambocor (flecainide), Rythmol (propafenone)
* antibiotics - erythromycin, rifampin
* anti-seizure drugs - carbamazepine (Tegretol)
* antidepressants - Zyban/Wellbutrin (bupropion), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Luvox (fluvoxetine). Serzone (nefazodone), Zoloft (sertraline), Effexor (venlafaxine)
* St. John's wort
* antihistamines - Hismanal (astemizole), Seldane (terfenadine)
* antifungals - itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral)
* gastrointestinal motility agents - Prepulsid (Cisapride)
* ergot drugs - Ergonovine, Ergomar (ergotamine)
* anti-psychotics - Clozaril (clozapine), Orap (pimozide)
* sedatives/sleeping pills - Ambien (zolpidem), Halcion (triazolam), Versed (midazolam)
* erectile dysfunction drugs - Viagra (sildenafil)
* street drugs - ecstasy (MDMA)
* lipid-lowering drugs (statins) - Lescol (fluvastatin), Mevacor (lovastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), Zocor (simvastatin)
* transplant drugs - cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), ProGraf (tacrolimus)

Milk thistle also has the potential to lower levels of the following drugs in the blood:

* anti-parasite drugs - Mepron (atovaquone)
* sedatives/sleeping pills - Ativan (lorazepam)
* hormones - estrogen
 
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
 
I agree with the caution and stopped milk thistle entirely with Mepron and Artemisinin.
 
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
I'm not taking mepron or artemisinin at this time, but if taking any of the other drugs, can you just take the milk thistle several hours later or earlier??
 
Posted by liz28 (Member # 4946) on :
 
Yeah, I don't actually take milk thistle at all. My liver supports are Zhang's Hepa Formula 2, phosphatidylcholine, CoQ10, and NAC.
 
Posted by jwenny (Member # 8831) on :
 
Thank you all for your great responses...I learn something new everyday. Glad to know about the milk thistle and mepron.
 
Posted by robi (Member # 5547) on :
 
I was told no Coq 10 with Mepron.

robi
 


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