LymeNet Flash: Can I Take Doxycycline with Malarone

This is topic Can I Take Doxycycline with Malarone in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/136196

Posted by Stumpy (Member # 27320) on :

I was taking azithromycin with malarone for over 4 months but the zith started to tear my stomach up. I can't handle biaxin so my LLMD put me on doxycycline to keep the malarone from becoming resistant.

I can't find anyone who doesn't take a macrolide with malarone. Anybody else take different antibiotics with this drug? I am curious.

Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :

Malarone is already a two drug combo so a macrolide doesn't need to be taken with it.

Check out Dr. B's guidelines on www.ilads.org

Posted by Stumpy (Member # 27320) on :

sixgoofykids, maybe I missed something but I looked at Dr. B's guidelines from 2008 on the site and it said mepron/malarone with one of those macolides. Is there a newer version? That is old.

Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :

My doctor changed me to Malarone when we went after bartonella so he could take me off the biaxin. I've heard on the board of other doctors doing it as well. I didn't realize the guidelines said differently [Wink]

Posted by Stumpy (Member # 27320) on :

Thanks sixgoofykids. It seems all doctors are a little different.

Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :

Mine was Dr. H so in general, he's looked at as an expert. There's just no easy answer with Lyme no matter what you do!

Posted by Christopher J (Member # 46401) on :

My doc always kept me on a macrolide. Biaxin or Zith regardless of Mepron or Malarone. The two drugs in Malarone are not macrolides. But that does concur with Bs Guidelines.

To answer your original question OP: Its not ideal to take a tetracycline and an atovaquone drug not because its dangerous but because it reduces the amount of available atovaquone. Its in studies. Already the dose of atovaquone is minimal in Malarone compared to Mepron, so I would say you are further reducing it

Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :

Rifampin is the drug that reduces atovaquone. Not doxy.

I've taken doxy with Malarone. No issues. Doxy also has actions against protozoans and is used as a malaria prophylactic for travelers.

Posted by Stumpy (Member # 27320) on :

I appreciate the responses so much. I feel better knowing that doxy is used as a malaria prophylactic for travelers.