I've been on rifampin and bactrim for bart but heart troubles caused me to change bactrim to zith.
I'm afraid to go back on bactrim now.
LLMD apt is coming up and I want to talk to him about cipro for bart. I know about the potential risks of cipro but I have taken it in the past with no trouble.
Is cipro better for bart than rifampin?
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Levaquin is best, IMO. Levaquin is stronger than Cipro. Worked wonders for me. I took it three months, then switched to Rifampin, but by that point the bart was so much better that taking the Rifampin was like taking sugar pills.
Posted by Melanie Reber (Member # 3707) on :
There actually are many meds that will get at Bart, but I do think they work best when used in combination.
Minocycline, Levaquin, Cipro, Septra (Bactrum), Azithromycin, Rifampin, Doxycycline, Factive, Mycobutin, Gentrimycin and others. There are also a few newer meds that I don't know much about but are showing promise.
For me, at least the first time around... I made the most progress pulsing IV Levaquin with orals of Minocycline, Plaquenil and Septra.
Good luck, M
Posted by mazou (Member # 15319) on :
I loved Cipro. It helped with the mental clarity aspect of Bart.
Rifampin helped with the emotional component, but threw everything else out of whack. I was happy but dumb.
Given the choice, I would take Cipro. But that's just me...
Posted by kellyb2411 (Member # 15467) on :
I'm on rifampin, but it isn't quite enough. Have levaquin ready to go, but scared about the tendon issues and all the terrible stories on here.
Posted by anemone (Member # 19995) on :
I just tried Levaquin, hoping it would be the best choice for my brain fog, muscle twitches and occasional red spots. I started it last Friday and every day since then I've had a fine-grained rash on my face that is slowly spreading outward. This morning after getting out of the shower it included my ears, and it was warm to the touch, slightly itchy and red.
I only took 250mg a day to ease myself into the 500mg/day dosage, but decided to stop taking it today and call my doctor on Monday as there are warnings about any type of skin rash with this type of drug. I, too, was worried about the tendon issues, but so far have no issues with that.
I'm not sure what to do now, but I guess my LLMD will try Rifampin if I'm able to tolerate it. I'm also going to try the Dr. Z herbal protocol.
Good luck Kelly
Posted by tickedoff2wice (Member # 35693) on :
Did the Bacrim cause the heart troubles?
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Levaquin is in the same family as Cipro, but stronger. I believe Levaquin is considered to be better than Rifampin ... my LLMD had me take Levaquin, then when we got the bart beaten down, we switched to Rifampin.
Posted by ktkdommer (Member # 29020) on :
I had no problems with levaquin. Got lots of relief from that and now switched it for rifampin. I am better every month.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
So Cipro has less chance of causing tendon issues like levaquin?
I had to stop levaquin after 2 days at half dose. Unbearae knee and ankle pain. Thought my knees were going to explode!!!
Posted by lyme in Putnam (Member # 11561) on :
What dose of cipro anyone on or did? Thanks
Posted by Laura_W (Member # 31491) on :
I'm currently on 500mg once a day. But I don't think that is a normal dose. I think that its normally dosed out twice a day. Anywhere from 250mg-500mg twice daily being a normal. But, it could go up to 750mg a day I believe.