posted
Hey there, found this on "better health guys" site
◦Coartem (Riamet) is a new option in the US for Babesia. It is a 3-day course. No macrolides, no QT-interval impacting drugs, no Plaquenil, no Mepron/Malarone for a period before, during, and after the Coartem; works well, but the Babesia will still come back
Posts: 749 | From State full of ticks | Registered: Dec 2008
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bcb1200
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posted
Correct. You are supposed to stop zith 4-5 day before starting coartem otherwise it could substantially impact the qt interval
-------------------- Bite date ? 2/10 symptoms began 5/10 dx'd, after 3 months numerous test and doctors
IgM Igenex +/CDC + + 23/25, 30, 31, 34, 41, 83/93
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Currently at around 95% +/- most days. Posts: 3139 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2010
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nefferdun
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Is this your own treatment protocol or one prescribed by a doctor? I prescribed coartem for myself with the help of the GP but I did not try to take it weekly. I took it about every 3 weeks.
You need to always check interactions on drugs.com. You need to be off zithro (and plaq?) for at least 3 days. It takes three days for zithro to clear you system. The anti-malarial drugs, like mepron, do not react but it is advised not to take two of them together. I quit the malarone the day before and started it the day after.
As coartem is for 3 days, if you really want to do this weekly thing, then you might try 4 days off. I tried to do 6 days of coartem and had to quit the 5th day because of dizziness.
I was having some trouble with drugs, period. I'm waiting for the MTHFR mutation test to come back but assume I have it because I always have a lot of side effects and can't tolerate a drug after awhile.
You might consider this and look into the special vitamins that help you detox better and support your immune system. It is really hard for me to understand it but you can look it up. Anyway then you may be able to get whatever you are taking to be more effective.
I am trying herbs again with rounds of coartem when I clear the toxins. I don't know how long I can last but the side effects of malarone are the same as babesia so maybe a break will help me.
-------------------- 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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fflutterby
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posted
My LLMD prescribed this. So I will
Stop the zith and plaq Sunday Do a three day pulse Thurs, Fri and Sat Then take a 3 day break from everything again? Restart Plaq/zith on Tuesday ?
Neff, I am going to ask my ILDAS trained INT Med Dr. about the MTHFR mutation as well.
-------------------- Psalm 46 1 God is our refuge and strength Posts: 1367 | From North Jersey | Registered: Sep 2010
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ktkdommer
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posted
My son takes coartem and it is only 3 days a month.
We both are on plaquenil so wondering about that!!
-------------------- 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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nefferdun
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Member # 20157
posted
I like coartem. The first time I took it the results were amazing. It seemed to give me a boost every time after that but I could not maintain it. Let us know how this goes for you. Maybe it will be the new way to go. I wondered why doctors did not prescribe it to be used more often. I know you can't take it continuously because of the artemether.
-------------------- 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 am wondering how Coartem is considered to Work well, when babesia will still come back"??? I am having to go off Mepron because of cost and will be starting Coartem, but is it a waste of time?
Posts: 76 | From IL | Registered: Oct 2010
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fflutterby
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I am afraid now, I do not want to take it with the plaquenil or zith because of the QT intervals. I am so confused. I though you were not supposed to stop and start plaquenil? I hope tomorrow I have a good day so I can make a decision. I stopped the mepron today, so hopefully I can clear some toxins this weekend and digest all of this.
-------------------- Psalm 46 1 God is our refuge and strength Posts: 1367 | From North Jersey | Registered: Sep 2010
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nonna05
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posted
Plaquenil affects Qt intervals??????? Can't start and stop this ,kinda like Rifampin?????
What Abx will he /she have you on.. ?
Only treating Babs???/ :dizzy Nonna
Posts: 2563 | From Denver,CO | Registered: Aug 2011
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
APMOM, Coartem is not given daily like mepron or malarone so the babesia comes back. If you pulse it in between using another anitmalarial drug then it gives the other drug a big boost.
flutterby, plaquenil does not affect the QT interval. It is just not recommended taking two anti-malarial drugs at once. I don't know if you should stop and stop plaquenil - if it is like rifampin and can make you sick.
Look them up on drugs.com. There is an drugs interaction checker.
-------------------- 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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