I know this is the tiresome million dollar question, but I am trying to discern between side-effects and flare/herx symptoms.
My LLMD thinks I have the typical co-infections (babs, bart) along with the Lyme, but we didn't bother with testing since it's so unreliable. I'm hoping that my symptoms will tell me exactly what I'm dealing with, but am having a hard time digesting all the info out there about drug reactions vs. actually impacting the bugs.
I'm still in the beginning stages of my protocol, have been on Nystatin for two weeks and started Plaquenil (well, the generic form) four days ago. I've experienced nearly constant but usually fairly moderate shakiness, weakness, dizziness, headache, increased jaw pain/stiffness, bone pain, "hangover" feeling in the morning, and the past two days really noticeable fatigue. Like not just "I'm tired" but "I need to go lay down." It's the fatigue that's impacting my life the most. Reminds me of last summer when my symptoms we're at their worst.
I know that Plaquenil isn't an antibiotic, so I don't think it's die-off that I'm experiencing, but am I wrong in thinking that it is somewhat of a cyst-buster and as a result I could be having an influx of active Lyme into my system? And, could it be causing impact to any of the co-infections? I think I read that too but I may be confused.
I start Biaxin (generic form) in a few days, with the way I'm feeling, I'm thinking it might get ugly.
Sorry if this is standard stuff, I've tried to research it, but there's so much conflicting info out there. Thanks.
Posted by RC1 (Member # 31923) on :
That is a million dollar question as far as I'm concerned too. I don't have an answer for you, just some comments.
I have been in heavy duty treatment for a year and eight months, I can handle all of my medicines except for the Plaquenil. I get the "have to lay down" too.
I am on Zithro, Mino, and Rifampin. When I add the Plaquenil I go bad. It is an antimalarial, it also changes the intracellular ph and makes the antibiotics work better.
Your comments make me wonder, are these side effects, or are we hitting something? I get the same symptoms as you do.
Posted by JenniferMN (Member # 29920) on :
slowli & RC1...
Yes, Plaquenil (Hydroxychlor) & Flagyl (Metronidazol) are both cyst-busters.
I took Flagyl for 7 months (along w/ Ceftin & Zith) & it did NOT bother me. It seems to bother a lot of people though.
Then, I switched to Plaquenil (still w/ Ceftin & Zith) & it also did NOT bother me, HOWEVER, it seemed to make the vision in my left eye go blurry... I don't know for sure, it could've been in my head, but Plaquenil can destroy your eyesight, so I panicked & quit taking Plaquenil because of that, after only 1 month. I'm going to go back to the eye doc to look at my left eye.
Did either of you have any vision problems after taking Plaquenil? It REALLY freaks me out, that it can cause blindness!
My new LLMD wants me to switch to Doxy, Biaxin, Ceftin & Plaquenil.
All I know, is I still have Chronic Fatigue, terrible non-restorative sleep, hip pain, & Fibromyalgia-like symptoms.
Posted by slowli (Member # 36697) on :
JenniferMN - I haven't had any vision problems on Plaq, but then again I'm only on my fourth day.
I believe those sorts of complications are fairly rare, but I have heard of them, so I'm definitely on the "lookout" (ha!) for any sort of eye problems.
Though I have to admit that, although my still vision seems to be ok, with the dizziness I'm experiencing, it's sort of hard to tell if my motion vision is okay. It takes a moment for my focus to "catch up".
I'm guessing that I'm in the minority that I'm on a cyst-buster, but not antibiotics just yet (I start Biaxin on Fri.)
As a result I was curious if the increase of symptoms I've had were a side-effect, or a result of a release of active Lyme into the system? Or some sort of co-infection die-off?
Did you notice an increase in your regular symptoms when you were on a cyst-buster?