I've been on it 3 wks. and no herx yet. Anyone else experience this? The only thing I have going on is fullness in my ears and some visual motion problems as well as my bad ear going deaf for a few seconds followed by a few seconds of ringing and then it dissipates. I don't know if any of that can be part of a herx.
I have constant ear/sinus/neck/eye issues on the right side anyway but I haven't had this fullness since last year. Maybe it's seasonal allergies or something. I also suspect a perilymph fistula but I've been to 2 ENT's and they look me over for about 5 min. and send me on my way.
Posted by pamoisondelune (Member # 11846) on :
I think it might take several months for the Plaquenil to build up levels in your blood high enough to herx. I didn't check the accuracy of this idea.
On one round of Biaxin-Plaquenil, although i can't remember offhand about sooner herxes without checking my notes, I do remember feeling pretty bad all during the 5th month, then the last week suddenly improving; but that was before i started herbals to remove most of those bad feelings.
Posted by Peck (Member # 14526) on :
I wanted to die within the first week of treatment. I actually stayed on it another 4 months. Not pretty.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
I experienced zero results with that combination.
I did 3 cycles in total.
Cycle 1: 8 months long Cycle 2: 8 months long Cycle 3: 8 months long
My doctor kept hammering away thinking it would eventually work. It was a lot of wasted time.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
Hmmm...I wonder why some don't get herxes with this. I had terrible pain on Zithromax which I believe to be a herx. I started the Biaxin/Plaquenil at the end of a flare though so maybe in a couple weeks it will happen. I also think I had a bad herx on Diflucan. Same w/Ceftin. Doxy definitely did something too.
Hopefully my herx won't be as bad next time around. That would be nice.
How strange huh? I'm feeling pretty decent and I'm complaining about not feeling bad!
Could the ear thing I described be a herx?
Posted by Clarissa (Member # 4715) on :
I had the total opposite experience with this combo. I started herxing within a few hours.
I had this horrific metal taste in my mouth, felt dizzy, couldn't feel my arms, incredible stomach pain (but that could have been yeast).
Then the painful headaches came forehead and lower skull/base of neck. I was in bed for 2 mos with a heating pad on my lower back and stomach and ice bags on my forehead and neck. Worst herxes EVER!
Then again, I believe I am a congenital Lymie and this was at age 33 and the first time I attacked these buggers.
Maybe it's a good sign that you're not herxing...meaning you don't have a lot to kill? OR, maybe you have a coinfection that's causing your symptoms and this combo isn't hitting it.
I think Biaxin/Plaq primarily hits Lyme cysts and spirochetes.
Hang in there...it will become clear soon! A lot of this is trial and error but you'll get to know your body and its various responses (or lack there of) over time.
Furthermore, I've heard that not everyone has to herx to get better...that certainly wasn't MY story but what a lovely version of a Lyme treatment it sounds like to me! Posted by Sojourner (Member # 9424) on :
It took a good 4 weeks on that combo (plus mino) for my husband's herx to really get cooking and then, "watch out"
Ah, but everyone is different. Our doc usually tries to keep one on this for at least 12 weeks because the plaq can take a while to start cyst busting.
Posted by kmm215 (Member # 15666) on :
Hi Laura,
I was on that combo a few years ago and never herx'ed...I've been back on now for about 8 weeks and so far no herx. I also alternated with Minocycline in the past as well. The only reaction I had and currently have was the awful metal taste! Which the dr suggested sipping diet soda and/or chocolate to take away the metal taste. It actually seems to work, although the chocolate sure does pack on the pounds!
I did eventually stop the Plaquinal, as I was worried about the color blindness side effect, that would be a horrible effect for my job and I didn't want to risk it.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
Oh great! I didn't know color blindness was a side-effect. If you notice it coming on and stop will it resolve?
I'd like to continue w/the plaquenil b/c it's a cyst buster and my LLMD doesn't Rx Flagyl.
Posted by kmm215 (Member # 15666) on :
Hi Laura,
I saw my eye dr, every 6 months when I was taking the plaquinal. But after a while, I was just a little too nervous.
I'm a graphic designer and just didn't want to take the chance? Its a possibility, but thankfully isn't always an issue.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
The herx has arrived.......
Posted by Clarissa (Member # 4715) on :
Did it bring flowers and chocolates when it arrived? Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
HA! I wish! Nope, just lots of pain, fatigue and nausea.......
I woke up feeling like I had morning sickness but I know for sure I'm not pregnant. Would be immaculate conception (poor hubby)!
Posted by Clarissa (Member # 4715) on :
Congrats on your first Biaxin/Plaq herx. It some weird way, it's probably validating because it feels like it's killing something, right?
I hope it doesn't get too bad!
Hang in there.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
I knew it would arrive sooner or later. I go on vacation in a month. I hope I'm not too bad then.
Posted by RoadRunner (Member # 380) on :
For me, this combo almost killed me. Prior to biaxin/plaq. I had been on 200mg doxy/day for a month. 2 weeks into biaxin/plaq treatment I thought for sure I would die.....ended up in the hospital for a week.
The hospital gave me a PICC and I did rocephin for a month. After the rocephin, I did another 2 months of the biaxin/plaq and never experienced such a herx again. However, I felt awful and ended up switching LLMDs and medications.
That herx from hell was 10 months ago and I'm doing much better today...
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
I'm actually now having a return of "POTS" symptoms as well (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). The littlest bit of activity makes me sweat and my heart race and I just feel very weak and my limbs are so heavy.
Has anyone had a return of "POTS" after being symptom free for it for awhile? I haven't had "POTS" symptoms in about 6 mos.
I guess I should do a separate post for this also...
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