nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
I was reading "Mepron appears to impact babesia by undermining or inhibiting production of CoEnzyme Q10, a substance babesia needs for it's metabolism". Doctors advise not using coQ10 while on Mepron as it might prevent Mepron from killing babesia.
Interesting that my babesia symptoms came into full bloom when I started taking 300mg of CoQ10 last summer. I was feeding the babesia!
Before and during that time I was taking Bactrim DS, zithro and artimesinin for bartonella and possibly babesia - feeling pretty good.
I started the CoQ10 because of bleeding in my gums which it is very good for. 300mg is a very large dose. It is good for the heart as well as gum disease so I thought it couldn't hurt. Guess I was wrong.
I look back now and see how I began to deteriorate during that time. My babesia symptoms had been so insignificant I wasn't sure that I had it. Now it is my primary problem.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
I was told to tke high doses of COQ10 for 10 days before starting Mepron, and then to stop - to give the body a boost of this first, so it's unlikely thaat it feeds the Babesia as such but rather interferes with the action of Mepron.
Posts: 17 | From Australia | Registered: Oct 2010
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posted
I don't know about coq10 "feeding" babesia. I think it just inhibits mepron.
Posts: 339 | From Outer Space | Registered: Aug 2009
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richedie
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Member # 14689
posted
I am not treating Babesia right now but she thinks I still have some....does that mean I should also not be taking my 100mg od COQ10?????
-------------------- Mepron/Zith/Ceftin Doxy/Biaxin/Flagyl pulse. Artemisinin with Doxy/Biaxin. Period of Levaquin and Ceftin. Then Levaquin, Bactrim and Biaxin. Bactrim/Augmentin/Rifampin. Mepron/Biaxin/Artemisinin/Cat's Claw Rifampin/Bactrim/Alinia Plaquenil/Biaxin Posts: 1949 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
CoQ10 does not feed Babesia. It supplies energy to your mitochondria, which everyone needs to survive.
CoQ10 may intefere with Mepron effectiveness -- in theory -- although that hasn't even been proven. Some docs think there is no issue with taking CoQ10 + Mepron at the same time, but to be safe it may be best to avoid the combination.
There is no issue with taking CoQ10 while not on Mepron.
Posts: 584 | From NY | Registered: Feb 2009
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nefferdun
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Member # 20157
posted
I quoted that sentence out of Dr. S' book on babesia. Maybe I am reading it wrong but I understand that to mean babesia needs Co Enzyme Q10 for it's metabolism to grow and divide. Maybe he is wrong.
I started taking Bactrim DS last winter for bartonella, not babesia. I had one bout of air hunger and thought maybe I might have it but it was never a concern.
As Bactrim is used to treat babesia it is funny that I got worse on it instead of better and that was after using it for at least six months. I was only concerned with the bart symptoms until I started taking 300mg of Co Q10 in the early summer. Then about two months ago everything suddenly switched to babesia.
I don't mind being wrong if that is the case. Just seemed to me to explain my strange flare up of babesia while on a drug that is supposed to control it.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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TF
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Member # 14183
posted
Here is a sentence out of a different Dr. S's book regarding taking CoQ10 while taking mepron (called atovaquone):
"Precautions: There are important precautions related to atovaquone. The first is that it can cause temporary liver damage, and for that reason, blood tests for liver function must be followed on a regular basis while using either of these medications. The second precaution concerns the use of supplement doses of coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, and vitamin E while on atovaquone. These should not be used while taking atovaquone because they are all fat-soluble antioxidants that tend to neutralize the pro-oxidant effects of atovaquone against Babesia. "
I believe this is the prevailing view--CoQ10, ALA and vit E neutralize mepron.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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nefferdun
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Glad you brought up that quote because I have been taking alpha lipoic acid - very forgetful about what I read and am SUPPOSED TO REMEMBER. As I pay over $50 a day out of pocket expense for Mepron I sure don't want to inhibit it's action. I have already gone through one whole bottle of the stuff.
Annoys me the the LLMD who looked at the list of supplements I am taking had no comment about it. He also did not tell me to take Mepron with fat.
The sentence I quoted is in a different place in the book. If anyone is extremely interested I can find it again, give the page number and put it more into context by quoting more of the paragraph it is in.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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quote:CO-Q10- required, but do not use while taking the prescription drug atovaquone (Mepron, Malarone). Deficiencies have been related to poor function of the heart, limitations of stamina, gum disease, and poor resistance to infections. Heart biopsy studies in Lyme patients indicated that they should take between 300 and 400mg daily. I recommend the Co Q-10 from Researched Nutritionals. One caplet contains 400 mg, so the dose is one a day with food.
quote:Atovaquone- Mepron and Malarone also appears to work through a mitochondrial mechanism. It interferes with electron transport- the final stage of the KREBS cycle necessary for cellular energy production. This is considered a possible mechanism of action. It does not involve the coenzyme Q10 pathway. And even if it did, it inhibits an enzymatic conversion in the cell. It's effect would be independent of the amount of Q10 present. And furthermore- there is nothing to suggest that oral Q10 supplements would have any way of getting into bacterial mitochondria.
Q10 and Mepron both have effects in the mitochondria of cells. That is all they have in common. They work on different cellular mechanisms. If Q10 is an effective supplement for Lyme symptoms, then there is no scientific rationale for stopping it when anti-Babesia therapy is prescribed.
I know this contradicts advice I have given patients in the past. But not having the time to research every recommendation, I had taken this on faith. I think it was incorrect advice.
nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
Thanks for taking the time to put this together. I am not taking it right now. It would be good if I could take it as I need the gum protection. I had five cavities when I went to the dentist and my gums could also be affected.
I did decide to continue with alpha lipoic acid because I need the liver support. And I could not find anyone else that said not to take it with Mepron.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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