I need to find as many scientific articles as possible showing/describing appropriate treatment for Babesia WA-1. I know this is probably impossible and it's nearly impossible to rid based on experiences here.
Does anyone have articles I could reference on this topic or lead me to good links? I'm obviously doing my own searching as well the best I can.
Any help would mean a lot. Thanks.
Posted by BoxerMom (Member # 25251) on :
I made a Babesia herb thread for you.
You won't find much (if any) research specific to WA-1, especially with human subjects.
You will find many dog and cattle studies on other strains. These are very useful, although most are about disease presentation and progression, not treatment.
The best model for treatment is Malaria, on which there is enough research to fill a bajillion warehouses. It is incredibly helpful.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
There are only slightly over 20 medical journal articles on babesia duncani (WA-1)
on the search line type the words "babesia wa1" and then do another search with the words "babesia duncani" You do not need to use the quotes.
A few of the complete articles are available online. There will be links from the abstracts. In the upper right hand corner you can click on the journal name and it will either link you to the complete article or tell you the cost if you want to buy an online version of the article.
Bea Seibert
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
The only IDSA approved treatments for any babesia species in humans are either quinine and clindamycin or mepron and Zithromax.
There are a couple of articles that mention malarone but pretty sure there are no human medical journal articles that discuss other meds that might work.
Other meds that have babesia killing activity in my opinion include Artemisia (and all its derivatives) and doxycycline. Those are standard malaria meds.
Other meds that are less mentioned but I feel are somewhat effective include ivermectin, rifampin, flagyl and maybe tindamax and maybe levaquin.
The meds that are much less effective but could help in a med combo include Bactrim and alinia and plaquenil.
Always keep in mind that different people respond to different meds and even at different points in time a person can respond to the same med differently.
In my personal opinion IV flagyl especially when combined with either of the 2 standard babesia combos is probably about the strongest combo available.
This is not medical advice, just my opinion based on hubby's experiences.
Bea Seibert
I should also add that primaquine and chloroquine are also very strong babs meds, but I think they need to come after the load has been lowered with other meds.
[ 07-12-2013, 02:57 PM: Message edited by: seibertneurolyme ]
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Also would add the same comments I added to the herbal babesia treatment thread.
As Keebler is fond of saying -- liver support is essential. Milk thistle and dan shen are both very good. And red root tincture is very helpful for spleen support.
I would also say that if one is on a strong killing protocol then enzymes such as wobenzyme and things for hypercoagulation such as lumbrokinase are essential.
I also think that a minimum of 4 months continuous treatment is needed. Do not agree with pulsing babsesia meds except for artemesia and its derivatives. Different herbs and meds can be rotated, but I think one must be on continuous treatment for a minimum of 4 months.
Bea Seibert
Posted by ktkdommer (Member # 29020) on :
Can't wait for Buhner's new book on the subject. My oldest son was just diagnosed with this form of babesia. Now I am waiting to find out that everyone has it.
Current treatment for babesia is zith, plaquenil, mepron and artemesin from Thorne. He may be adding in coartem.
Isn't there an IV med now that Dr. H. is using for when patients can't get rid of babesia duncani. Seems like it was discussed at last year's ILADS conference.
Posted by ktkdommer (Member # 29020) on :
Isn't Alinia tackling babesia now to a smaller degree?
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
karl,
As far as I know the newest thing that Dr H mentioned in his presentation a year or so ago was the herb cryptolepis. It is a tincture and not IV.
That is one of the Buhner herbs, but it is in somewhat short supply and now Buhner suggests combining it with a couple of other herbs -- sida acuta and another one that just became available in the last few months (one that hubby never tried).
What your son is on is pretty standard treatment from many LLMD's. But unfortunately there are many on this forum who have been on very similar protocols for a year or longer and did not get rid of their babesia.
Very few docs -- even LLMD's -- are willing to prescribe quinine and either IV or oral clindamycin due to both meds having bad side effect profiles.
Depending on how long your son has been on mepron you might ask about switching to malarone. That med has a lesser amount of mepron plus an additional antiparasitic med. Some people do better on malarone at a high dose than they do on mepron.
The coartem is a prescription form of one of the derivatives of the herb Artemisia -- I really don't think many people get well on that med because it also has a bad side effect profile and many docs stop all other babs meds on the days they prescribe the coartem.
I did list Alinia, but do not feel it is all that effective. One LLMD told hubby that alinia was flagyl plus another ingredient.