Can anyone offer any insight into taking biaxin for bartonella?
I am going to start a combination of ceftin/biaxin to treat my lyme/bartonella.
Is it generally easily tolerated? Effective against bartonella?
Is this in the same family as Zithromax? I am not allergic to Zithromax, so shouldn't have any issues with biaxin in that case (I think).
Any information is greatly appreciated.
Thanks very much!
[ 07-10-2010, 11:21 AM: Message edited by: jwick25 ]
Posted by lymebytes (Member # 11830) on :
Worked for me twice, once from cat bite, and secondly from tick bite. It is slow going though be aware of that, took one year the first time on it and one and half years the second time. Specifically killed B.henselae strain for me.
Posted by jwick25 (Member # 15190) on :
Oh no....I just took another look, and the doctor did not prescribe biaxin.
He prescribed Bactrim. Weird because it looks like Biaxin goes after bart.
Does Bactrim do the same? Maybe he is trying to rid me of other things?
I know he tested for chlamydia pneumonia.
I'm confused...lol.
Posted by Jane2904 (Member # 15917) on :
Our daughter is taking Bactrim to treat Bart.
Best of luck in your treatment.
Posted by jarjar (Member # 8847) on :
Yes Bactrim is prescribed for Bart. often.
Posted by jwick25 (Member # 15190) on :
I was just on a drug site reading about Bactrim and the possible negative effects.
I must have read almost 90 user reviews, and almost all of them were HORRIBLE!
Complaints of severe reactions, ER visits, throats swelling, all over rashes, severe headaches....you name it!
I haven't filled the prescription yet and am now wondering if I should ask my LLMD for something different...?
It seems like this is an awful drug that is not well tolerated at all.
Is this the case?
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
I took Bactrim DS for almost one year, daily, to treat babesiosis and bartonella. I didn't have any negative side effects.
Bactrim worked for me. It is now over 5 years since I completed my lyme treatement and I am still symptom-free, enjoying my life.
If you are going to react to a drug, whether it is bactrim or biaxin, etc., it generally happens within the first few weeks. So, you will know if you will be able to take it fairly soon.
I could NOT take biaxin. After about 4 days on it, I was a mess. It gave me anorexia (could not eat even one spoonful of food in a day by day 3), insomnia (could not sleep a wink by day 3), and anxiety.
So, you see, everyone in different when it comes to drug reactions.
Bactrim is an old drug that has worked for many, many people. Give it a try.
Take a look at this web page and what it says about reactions to Bactrim:
The first time i tried bactrim, I had a red rash over my entore body. I stopped it, then restarted it and I was fine.
Two months of Bactrim with rifampin got me 100% well. But, I relapsed three weeks after stopping.
I'm back on it now, so we'll see what happens. Trying to take it long-term.
It's a great drug.
Posted by jwick25 (Member # 15190) on :
TF: So glad that you have been symptom free for over 5 years! That's wonderful!
I agree with you that everyone reacts to drugs differently. There is never a guarantee.
My concern is that - I have been advised - sulfa allergies are very common.
blinkie: It's a shame that you relapsed. Hopefully, you'll get into remission and stay there.
I appreciate the feedback. I'm just not sure what to do.
Posted by Amelia (Member # 17677) on :
Thank you all too for such great info!
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
I got hives the first time a used a sulpha drug, 40 years ago, and thought I would be allergic to Bactrim. But I didn't have many options left and read that starting with a very low dose can help desensitize you to it. So I started at 1/8 pill once a day and very slowly worked my way up to the full dose. I have had no problems with it at all and it is clearing my bart. I have been on it longer than any other drug without developing side effects - since October.
I feel 90% well but if I quit I relapse. I quit abx when my prescription ran out, for two weeks, and was quickly back into the bart funk, then the shin pain and headaches.
Posted by landerss (Member # 17732) on :
Bactrim has been great for me - been on it over a year with no problems!
Posted by blinkie (Member # 14470) on :
All you can do is try it. We are all guinea pigs in this. Paving the way for future lymies.
I have seen some people her have great success with long term bactrim. 9-12 months.
Remember, if you get a rash, stop it, but wait until the rash goes and try it again. You will be fine.
I have done some scary drugs in this battle but so far, don't have any permanent side effects (knock on wood).
Posted by jwick25 (Member # 15190) on :
We really like guinea pigs, huh? I keep dreaming of a day when there is a cure. I won't hold my breath.
For now, I'm keeping my fingers crossed over PA Senate Bill 1199.
Small steps, I guess.
I've read that others also have good success on Biaxin, Rifampin & Zithromax.
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