I got these two meds prescribed together but I read in the description that Biaxin may influence the effectiveness of Amantadine.
I only took one pill of Amantadine yesterday morning with Biaxin and nearly became suicidal. Since then I'm on Biaxin alone and I'm okay.
Is this combination okay? Did anyone else have it? I'm only reading of combinations with Zithromax.
Gabrielle
Posted by KirstenS (Member # 15146) on :
Hi, I am on the same combo as you are and have been on it since the beginning of May.
It hasn't made me feel that way at all. How long have you been taking the Biaxin for before adding the Amatadine?
I'm trying to remember the exact words that my Dr used when explaining what the Amantadine does in works with the Biaxin but right now my brain isnt working.
Posted by moosejive (Member # 14545) on :
It's thought by some that Bb evades intracellular antibiotics like Biaxin by hiding inside acidic cellular vacuoles which inactivate the pH-sensitive macrolides. Amantadine is supposed to raise vacuolar pH, rendering Biaxin and Zithromax more effective. Plaquenil can also be used, I think.
Suicidal ideation is a known side-effect of Amantadine. I would consult with your doctor about it immediately.
Posted by Gabrielle (Member # 5329) on :
Kirsten and Moose,
Thank you for your answers. I'm glad to hear that the combo can be given together - I started to doubt my doctor.
And I was afraid that the effect of the Amantadine was increased by the Biaxin because I had such a strong reaction depressionwise.
I started both, the Biaxin and the Amantadin, together yesterday morning and after the first pill I stopped the Amantadine and now I take only the Biaxin.
I took Plaquenil and Biaxin before and was doing very well on it - except for the nights - as the Plaquenil didn't let me sleep.
During 6 weeks I only slept about 2 hours per night and was a wreck afterwards.
Yes, I will have to call my doc and tell her, I'm just disappointed that obviously I cannot take Plaquenil nor Amantadine and I think I should add something.
I will do one more try with Amantadine on the weekend. If I'll get depressed again then maybe I'll try to take Plaquenil only in the mornings - this could help with the sleep problem.