My Doc feels levaquin too risky because of tendonitis side effects, so i am treating Bart with biaxin.
I respect his judgment---especially since i am prone to tendonitis.
Has anyone else treated Bart with biaxin (clarithroymcin)? If yes, did it work/help?
thanks for your reply.
Posted by VB (Member # 16824) on :
I haven't heard of this, but do like Biaxin very much.
I feel better when taking that vs. any other antibiotic. Not sure what it is killing though... just know that I feel better.
I would like to know if it helps bart... that would be good.
I do believe it helps both the intercellular form of lyme as well as babesia when taken along with mepron/malarone, but not sure about bart.
Posted by kitty9309 (Member # 19945) on :
I am on it for Bart. I take 1000mg/day all at once.
After I worked my way up from 250,500,750 and then 1000, I started to feel much better.
Lots of energy and an improvement in the dizziness.
Herx reactions too. I see my doc next week and he is adding Plaquenil to this to get at the Lyme as well.
Posted by bv (Member # 9578) on :
VB---that is interesting because i also feel better on Biaxin
At various times over past 3 years i have taken doycycline, ceftin, alinia, flagyl, mepron, biaxin & minocycline for LD, Babs & now Bart.
Biaxin is the only abx that "feels" like it is making me better.
Posted by VB (Member # 16824) on :
Yes, when I go off of Biaxin (like now, because I added Levaquin and you're not supposed to take both at the same time), I always seem to crash.
I take a bunch of other things with it, but for some reason when I remove Biaxin from the mix, I can always tell.
I don't know what it is about that specific antibiotic that helps.
The same thing happened when I stopped it to take Zithromax and Rifampin. You'd think it wouldn't matter since Zithromax and Biaxin are in the same family, but it does.
Does anyone else take Biaxin for Bart? If so, I would like to stop taking Levaquin and go back to Biaxin.
Posted by btmb03 (Member # 18394) on :
Sorry can't comment on the question re: bart but I do know that Biaxin has pretty powerful anti-inflammatory properties...could be one of the reasons people feel better on it? Posted by bears1985 (Member # 17271) on :
What is SO ironic is, when I came off Biaxin one time I literally crashed...completely. It is the best drug I have ever been on.
Does anyone think it helps Bartonella...or is herbs the answer?
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
I think it helps (it did wonders for me) but I'm not convinced it will bring us to remission. I'm not entirely sure what the answer is for my Bart - not Levaquin (dr says no) and my liver crashed on Rifampin (but it worked great)
Posted by denise scharf (Member # 20360) on :
Taking both Biaxin and Plaquenil for 6 weeks. Started 1of each for a week, then 2 biaxin 1 plaquenil, then week 3,2 and 2. was doing great then had either the flu or some gi event and couldn,t tolerate the plaquenil. So have been off med for 3 weeks, my gut is still not right LLMD wants me to stay on the plaquenil, but I cant tolerate it, Ive lost 20 plus lbs. already since November. Has anyone ever had a prob with plaquenil. I know its potent stuff.
Posted by bears1985 (Member # 17271) on :
I havent...it seems like an easy drug as long as you eat food when you take it.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
welcome denise,
please UPDATE YOUR PROFILE and go to bottom to ENABLE PRIVATE MESSAGES; that's how we send members llmd, lyme literate md info to all plus other things NOT TO BE POSTED PUBLIC BOARD. thanks!
Welcome; i'm so glad you found us!! You've come to the right place for education and support!
Betty's suggested POSTING GUIDELINES . many of us have neuro lyme where we can NOT read long solid block text and be able to comprehend and read it as is.
please edit your post by CLICKING PAPER/PENCIL ICON to right of your name. that opens up BOTH subject line and body text.
now please break up your WORDY SENTENCES into one sentence paragraphs. Then hit ENTER KEY ``TWICE`` after each paragraph; we need that space for comprehension.
then go to left hand corner and mark box to receive ALL REPLIES, and click EDIT SEND
we thank you for helping us; otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me. ------------------------------------------------------
People seeking doctors might be able to get help from their state online information and support group. Nearly 3,400 people belong to state groups. Some of the groups are small but more than 20 of them have 50 or more people and seven have over 100.
The groups are moderated and you have to apply. Most don't allow doctor names, but once on the group, you can ask for doctors in a certain area and ask people to email you privately. *******************************************
This explains the medical politics around lyme WHY you need an ILADS-educated or ILADS-member LLMD (and there are also some ILADS-member LL NDs (naturopathic doctors):
You should also be evaluated for coinfections. Not all tests are great in that regard, either, but a good LLMD can evaluate you and then guide you in testing. One of the top labs is:
"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both. Some antibodies against the borrelia are given more significance if they are IgG versus IgM, or vice versa.
Since this is a chronic persistent infection, this does not make a lot of sense to me. A newly formed Borrelia burgdorferi should have the same antigen parts as the previous bacteria that produced it.
But anyway, from my clinical experience, these borrelia associated bands usually predict a clinical change in symptoms with antibiotics, regardless of whether they are IgG or IgM." ===========
ILADS The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) provides a forum for health science professionals to share their wealth of knowledge regarding the management of Lyme and associated diseases.
Posted by radfaraf (Member # 11909) on :
Been about three weeks on it so far for bart.
I had one break week due to it messing with my sleep. I think i'm dealing with it ok now by taking my second dosage 30 minutes before going to bed. However I still need to work back up to 500mg twice a day, stick with 250mg for a while before going to 500mg.
Posted by Alv (Member # 15192) on :
MOJO! Mino , Clarythromycin,BACTRIM and herbs HH( up to 20 a day ) Rizols MY, Olive LEAF exstract , Knotweed..do a search her ...plenty of option.I would not sugest LEVAQUIN.
Rifampin if you can tolerate -but HH has same efect as RIFAMPIN and is best OPTION you need to stay on high dosages long enough to put it in remision.It depends on your load !
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
Yes, I was on Biaxin and IV Clindamycin for Bart for 4 months.
I didn't notice much of a change in symptoms so was switched to Levaquin which seemed to pound it.
Every few months I go on and off the Levaquin.
It IS very hard to tolerate and it is sad that you cannot take it because it is one of the top drugs out there for Bart.
Let us know how the Biaxin helps!
Posted by njlymemom (Member # 15088) on :
I have been on Biaxin for years now (more than 3). Cannot stop without serious symptoms starting again. This med has been a life saver for me.
I used Levaquin way back at the beginning (more than 6 years ago) and it worked for some time. Then it was not giving me the results anymore. I have not tried it since.
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otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me.