I have just started treatment for lyme last week. Dr started me on IM Bicillin. When I go back this week I'm going to discuss co-infections. This time my mom will be there with me. My brain fog is extreme.... Ive been having difficulty researching/remembering the stuff i have read...
I know by symptom lists that I have at least bart. Possibly Babs.
I don't think my dr is extremely literate... so I would like to have a recomendation on hand as far as what med to treat bart with. Of course he will have final say whether I have co-infections and what meds to use....
And of course I will research the med(s) as well. But, I would appreciate a starting point. Is there a med you would think that would go along with IM Bicillin? Thinking oral... IM would be fine as well. Not sure that this Dr is comfortable with IV.
Thanks
Posted by jadams (Member # 28016) on :
Im not as experienced as many on here but I do know that the drugs to treat Bart are:
Levaquin Rifampin and many times Bactrim DS
I think they also combine some with Azithromycin. Levaquin has the risk of tendon rupture so be aware of that. Wish I could help more but I haven't started treating Bart yet so Im not sure what drug is the most helpful..although people's experiences vary.
Good Luck
Posted by Laura_W (Member # 31491) on :
Thanks for the Info.
Anyone know about combining these w/ Bicillin LA?
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
Factive is newer drug that has worked well. I'm on it. It is similar to Levaquin (same class), but has less chance of tendon issues. I take 1 week on, 3 weeks off.
Posted by lymeboy (Member # 24769) on :
Cipro is in the family of drugs that Levaquin and Factive are in. I have turned a MAJOR corner since treating Bart with Cipro. It is the weakest of the theree, so I take double dosage. VERY effective. This class of drugs seem to be very effective at treating BArt. I would ask for one of these. Cipro is the least expensive, in case you have insurance issues.
Posted by Maradona (Member # 24552) on :
Don't forget to take flagyl tablets for cyst form of lyme that is a must .Cipro or levaquin are a good drugs for bart.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Here is a favorite protocol of one of the top docs in the nation. It includes IM Bicillin. It treats lyme, bart, and babesiosis all at once, they tell me. But, I'm not sure what med is supposted to be treating the bart.
Bicillin IM, Plaquenil, zithromax (4 days per week--M,W,F,Su), septra DS, Malarone, Tindamax (3 days--Tu,Th,Sat), and nystatin. Start with plaquenil and add one med every 1-2 days.
The tindamax kills the cyst form of lyme. The plaquenil kills lyme also. The zith, malarone and septra DS kill babesiosis, and septra has some action against bartonella also. The nystatin is to keep yeast away.
This is an agressive protocol. Maybe the fact that the good bart meds aren't in it is because bart really needs to be treated by itself.
In the book "The Lyme Disease Solution" it says:
"Except for the tetracycline antibiotic group, the fluoroquinolones are not generally used in combination with other antibiotics." (page 254)
Levaquin and cipro are fluoroquinolones. They are the good bart drugs, with levaquin being the best. Rifampin is also a good bart drug.
I have a friend on IV rocephin (for lyme) and she is also on Rifampin for bart and bactrim (same as septra) also. So, you could ask for Rifampin to combine with your IM Bicillin.
When I had lyme, babs, and bart, my doc treated my bartonella all by itself with Levaquin. However, he also had me taking flagyl for the cyst form of lyme for part of the time I was on the levaquin. It worked for me. Six years since I completed my treatment and still symptom free, enjoying my life.
Posted by Susie R (Member # 30780) on :
My son has Bart, Borrelia, and mycoplasma.
He has just been started on minocycline plus rifampin. So far, so good.
Susie
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
How long should one be on Cipro for Bart?
Posted by lymeboy (Member # 24769) on :
My doc said three months. And then I insisted on 3 more months. I think treat as long as possible, it is a strong infection.