Topic: please help-Mepron question-ready to give up
beths
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18864
posted
Started mepron in addition to my malarone @ 4 weeks ago-haven't felt better since.
Can you feel crappy for weeks when starting mepron?
I definitely have the weekly flare where I can barely get off the sofa, however the rest of the week not feeling so hot either. I am ready to give up-the fatigue is overwhelming The flares are getting a little better.
posted
I never felt lousy on Mepron, although it took a while to see improvement. I think it's so individual, the way we respond to drugs, and the bug-load that we carry.
Posts: 964 | From san diego | Registered: Oct 2009
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nefferdun
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posted
It takes four weeks to completely build up in your system so you often feel the worst around that time. You should begin to feel better soon. It was a slow crawl for me but I am much better now. Hang in there!
-------------------- 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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beths
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Member # 18864
posted
up
Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Jan 2009
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Jamers
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posted
I herxed right at 4 weeks and then about every weekend. At month 3 I had the worst fatigue EVER! I could barely move for 5 days. That cleared and I think my Babesia symptoms are practically gone but its a little hard to be sure since I think Bartonella stepped in and made me feel lousy again.
-------------------- Diagnosed Pos. Lyme Nov. 17, 2010, Igx. Pos. Babesia Duncani March 2011, Igx. Clinical diagnosis for Bartonella Posts: 1127 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2010
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lymeboy
Unregistered
posted
ugh I feel pretty bad every day with Mepron. I am pulsing it, so I don't even deal with it daily. I also take Rifampin and Biaxin. I have felt increasingly worse since starting 4 weeks ago. I don't feel like I am herxing wildly, just pretty lousy on a steady basis. I have been on 4 weeks as well, so perhaps we could compare notes as we go along.
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nefferdun
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lymeboy Rifampin reduces the concentration of Mepron in your blood. As less than 50% of Mepron is absorbed, taking it with Rifampin makes it a complete waste of money.
In addition Mepron takes 4 weeks to build up to theraputic levels in your body so I do not know why your LLMD would have you pulsing it.
Rifampin is not a drug you should stop and start because it will give you flu like symptoms. If that is what you are doing, it could contribute to the way you feel.
-------------------- 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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lymeboy
Unregistered
posted
I don't either. Yes I feel like doody when I take Rifampin. And Mepron for that matter.
I sent him an email about this very subject. He said he would give me a blood test to check for Mepron levels. Why not give me a different drug?
I am pretty aggravated. After spending 2 grand at the initial appt, then another 400 for the follow up, I am completely out of all money. I have nothing left. I'm done. And this f$#@ing $#@! is screwing me around with garbage treatment? I really don't get it. I would like to punch him in the face. Honestly. I cannot take this any more. Even if I could find a good doc, I can no longer afford it. What should I say to this putz when I see him on Monday?
BTW, others here have said Rifampin + Mepron was an effective treatment for them. It's doing something for me, Not sure what, But I feel like death.
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ktkdommer
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Lymeboy: I am so sorry for your struggles. This should not be happening to sick patients. I hope you get answers soon!
-------------------- Things are never dull. After 3 fighting Lyme, 2 are in remission. Youngest is still sick, age 22. He has new diagnosed Chiari Malformation and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Posts: 1366 | From Perrysburg, Ohio | Registered: Nov 2010
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beths
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Member # 18864
posted
Anyone else pulse mepron?
Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Jan 2009
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I pulsed Mepron for around 4 months. I couldn't handle the herx. My LLMD Doc, who I really trust believes in quality of life during treatment. Then I took it for 2 months every day for 3 wks, then one week off to detox. I am no longer on it and have no more babs symtoms.
Jamers
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28016
posted
Beths, I think we spoke before on another thread.
I pulse Mepron 1 tsp BID (this is a therapeutic blood level for me as shown by blood tests). I do this 3 weeks on and one week off. I can't take a Macrolide or Bactrim. I had a momentous herx at the end of month 3. The fatigue was awful for 5 days, I didn't have any energy to even move. Im good now though.
My Bart symptoms are full force and I don't have a strong reaction to A-Bab which I started taking a week ago to see if Babesia is still an issue. Im hoping this is good and I can treat for 2 more months and be done.
-------------------- Diagnosed Pos. Lyme Nov. 17, 2010, Igx. Pos. Babesia Duncani March 2011, Igx. Clinical diagnosis for Bartonella Posts: 1127 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2010
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nefferdun
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Member # 20157
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Lymeboy, when speaking with your LLMD, instead of quoting people on the forum, reference the drug interactions listed on this site from the makers of the drug.
Drug Interactions: Rifampin: In a study with 13 HIV-infected volunteers, the oral administration of rifampin 600 mg every 24 hours with MEPRON Suspension 750 mg every 12 hours resulted in a 52% � 13% decrease in the average steady-state plasma atovaquone concentration and a 37% � 42% increase in the average steady-state plasma rifampin concentration. The half-life of atovaquone decreased from 82 � 36 hours when administered without rifampin to 50 � 16 hours with rifampin.
The 'flu-like syndrome' generally occurs with intermittent dosing of rifampin, in patients with poor adherence to daily rifampin therapy, and when daily rifampin is resumed after a drug free period.
-------------------- 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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nefferdun
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Member # 20157
posted
PS, I know how aggravating it can be. I am in the same position currently treating myself with a GP who prescribes what I recommend. I traveled thousands of miles to see what I thought was the guru of LLMDs only to be given the no brainer Mepron/zithro with no treatment for my other infections.
-------------------- 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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lymeboy
Unregistered
posted
Thank you. I sent him an email with links to two different sources, including the indications included with Mepron. I wonder if I would be better suited to do what you're doing. LLMD's are just as aggravating to me as a regular doc. In fact more so. I just don't understand how you can charge 800% more than a regular doc and just slap any old crap on someone's regimen.
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Getting all the bugs out is a really tough process.
-------------------- I am not a doctor. I have no clue. Posts: 606 | From somewhere out there | Registered: Sep 2009
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jackie51
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Member # 14233
posted
Did you ever get tested for mycoplasma? Did you test positive for Babs?
Zith and Mepron gave me my life back. At 3 weeks I felt weird but knew it was a herx.
Have done Biaxin, Mepron & Artemisin too, last 3 months. Off of everything now since liver numbers too high.
Your doctor should be checking your liver numbers weekly and your mepron numbers at 3 weeks from start. That's how they know whether to increase your dosage or not.
If you don't have a positive test for babs, you might be treating the wrong infection or you have a very bad case of candida.
Contact me if you need to. Don't give up on your treatment.
Posts: 1374 | From Crazy Town | Registered: Dec 2007
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kelmo
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Member # 8797
posted
My daughter didn't smile for six months on Mepron. She hallucinated. It was bad. It might have helped, we aren't sure.
After that, Minocycline really helped. But, it was one we had to ramp up veeeeery slowling.
Posts: 2903 | From AZ | Registered: Feb 2006
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