any opinions appreciated......
Posted by 2roads (Member # 4409) on :
Wouldn't we all like to know....but the truth is it sometimes is quite individual.
Do a search on Lymenet, above and put in" Bartonella treatment" or something equivalent. You will find this discussion has come up so frequently.
I think Levaquin probably is, but not everyone can take it, especially kids. Also look at Burrascano guidelines.
2roads
Posted by bv (Member # 9578) on :
Based on what I have read, the universe of Bart treatments begins & ends with levaquin or rifampin.
I am on Rifampin plus doxy. Don't know if rifampin is the best, but I can't tolerate levaquin so rifampin it is.
Posted by 4Seasons (Member # 14601) on :
My daughter couldn't tolerate the Rifampin herxes, but Factive was helpful.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
Most would say, Levaquin, Cipro, Rifampin, Zithromax, Bactrim are the primary weapons -- assuming we're talking about the severely debilitating form that physicians are seeing in Chronic Lyme Disease patients. Most of the "Bartonella" we're seeing isn't typical. If it was, it would be treated easily with the cycline therapies.
So, this BLO issue, this is likely what we're fighting. No one still knows what it is.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
THere is a list of drugs I saw somewhere that puts drugs treating bart on a scale from least effective, but safest, to most effective with greatest possibility of serious side effects. With my lyme brain I can't promise this is accurate but it went something like this: Zithro Bactrim Rifampin Crossing the line to more dangerous Cipro Levaquin Factive I am sure there are more in there I can't remember.
Posted by billclo (Member # 12939) on :
My doc is just starting me on Zithromax, adding Rifampin in a month, and using a supplement called "Boluoke" to break up the bio-film the bacteria try to protect themselves with.
I am not looking forward to the Rifampin based upon what many seem to have with hard to handle side effects, but I'm just happy we know what I have now, and am now getting treatment.
Posted by julielynne4 (Member # 20336) on :
That's just great. I have bart and I haven't been on any of these except zithromax, and then only for a few weeks.
I am on amox, mepron and minocycline.
Glad to see this post. JL
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
Zithromax for Bart was not effective for me without adding Plaquenil to help it work better. There is a study proving this is so. I have posted it on Lymenet before....seach "hydroxycholoroquine macrolide" to find it.
Bactrim DS worked great for me for Bart. I prefer it with Zithromax as a helper....even though like I said, Zith more effective with Plaq. I could only handle plaquenil for a couple months though.
Some people do well with either Rifampin (not taken alone), Levaquin, or Factive.
Posted by JunkYardWily (Member # 24271) on :
ive been on rifampin and i think i have bart(dont know) and i think it has helped. for me no side effects at all and i tend to get some for abx
Posted by JOLA (Member # 23498) on :
julielynne4 I'm confused that you're on mepron for bart. I
was on mep for 7 months for babesia?
Posted by Beachinit (Member # 21040) on :
Amox. and tetracycline may be effective against Bartonella. Many of us seem to have a particulary tenacious type though, and it may not be Bart at all, some say Bart Like Organism, some say mycoplasma etc. I have seen my "Bart" under a microscope so I know its size and shape if only it could speak. But seriously, it could be Bart but could be any of the above or another bacteria.
Beachinit
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Zith and Bactrim DS did nothing for my Bart, took them for a year. I've been on Rifampin for a month now and it is kicking my everloving butt.
My fatigue has lifted in this short time to a degree it has not in YEARS. But the herx is miserable. Gotta do it, though.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
I did Levaquin for 5 weeks - very hard against bartonella but left me floxed with tendonitis. When I could do abx again, I did Rifampin and zithro for 3 months but did not get better. I switched to Bactrim DS and biaxin and that worked extremely well. Was on that for 3 months and had to quit four days ago - out of biaxin. Taking a short break and will then try zithro plaquenil. I ordered roxithromycin as it crosses the blood brain barrier and will see if I can use it with either the Bactrim or plaq.
Posted by Jane2904 (Member # 15917) on :
Rifampin got rid of many symptoms for our daughter.
Anyone have any luck with Cipro?
Posted by MichaelTampa (Member # 24868) on :
I'm just starting lyme treatment, and my lyme doc really likes to go at the borrelia first, so that's where we are.
But, when I mentioned that taking biaxin in the past resulted in improvement (even though not prescribed as a lyme treatment at that time), he said that biaxin can sometimes be used and helpful for bartonella (or BLO as he generally says).