I was just wondering who had some experience with Levaquin for Bartonella. Like how long were you on the Levaquin before you noticed a changed? Even if that change felt worse in the beginning. And what other side effects might I expect with it? Also how long were you on the Levaquin before you felt it had cleared the Bart? I'm still new to this and I searched around the site but couldn't specifically find this. Plus I have to say as hopeful as all of you make me feel that I can get past this it's still so overwhelming reading how this has hurt so many people. I just can't say thank you enough for providing a place for all of us to come together. Thanks for your help and I look forward to chatting often.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I almost immediately felt worse from the Levaquin. My cognitive symptoms increased and my knee hurt very badly.
After six weeks of this herx, I started improving and was taken off Levaquin after 12 weeks because I was well. It took care of all my remaining symptoms.
It was my miracle drug.
After the 12 weeks of Levaquin, my LLMD put me on Rifampin for six weeks to see if it stirred anything up or caused a herx. It may as well have been sugar pills because it did nothing ..... the Levaquin had taken care of it all in only 12 weeks.
I have now been off the Rifampin for over 2 months and am still bart-free. I am off all abx after a year of treatment, but am still on babesia meds and Cowden herbs. Expept for some random babs symptoms (mainly air hunger), I am symptom-free.
Posted by justag (Member # 11145) on :
I've been on IV levaquin 500mg a day (plus IV rocephin 2g a day) for three weeks - since last week I feel over tired and brain stuffed and my night sweats came back (fortunately not drenching soaking wet).
Posted by bernieb4 (Member # 14654) on :
Are both levaquin and rifampin only available in IV form?
Is there anything that'll fight bartonella that's oral?
Posted by viva (Member # 8183) on :
Bernie,
Both are available as oral medications.
Posted by 1tickedlady (Member # 14907) on :
Thans so much for all the answers. I thought I might be making stuff up in my head when the night of starting the Levaquin (oral) I couldn't sleep because the pain was so bad. Then over the next week my cognitive functions worsened. Speaking a complete sentence without having to stop and think really hard about the next word was/is very frustrating. Never mind the memory thing - that's gone (hopefully not for good. I'm seeing changes and I knew that they may not be good ones at first, so I'll just keep trying to sit tight. Thanks again! Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
You describe my experience perfectly! The only time I took Vicodin was the first couple weeks on Levaquin! I also found that epsom salt baths helped.
My cognitive issues eventually went away with it, and I can even read normal paragraphs again, grocery shop without a list, not get disoriented in the grocery, not get lost while driving, remember someone's name, etc.
![[confused]](graemlins/confused.gif)
reading how this has hurt so many people. I just can't say thank you ![[bow]](graemlins/bow.gif)
enough for providing a place for all of us to come together. Thanks for your help and I look forward to chatting often.
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)