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My cardiologist, due to sick sinus syndrome, suggested IV antibiotics. What are the pros and cons? I am a kidney donor, so are all IV antibiotics hard on the remaining kidney or are some not a problem? Thanks, Rob_H
Posts: 18 | From NH | Registered: Jun 2012
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From what I understand, Vancomycin is extremely harsh on kidneys. Hubby has to go once a week for blood work to keep tabs on everything. Can say for other drugs
Posts: 305 | From United States | Registered: Nov 2011
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The main issue with IV antibiotics is the cost -- most insurance companies will only pay for 28 days max and that is just not long enough.
I don't think most IV antibiotics are that much more toxic than oral meds. Some meds such as zithromax are actually much better absorbed as IV and smaller doses are given as IV.
Just research each med that is suggested and discuss with your doc and pharmacist.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Are IV antibiotics something done only in a hospital or is it an at home treatment, or at home with visiting nurse to assist with it. You would think this would be easy to find on line but no luck so far. Thanks, Rob
Posts: 18 | From NH | Registered: Jun 2012
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You can do your own infusing but usually a nurse comes every week to make sure all is okay. They draw blood in your home every two weeks.
Some insurances will pay for so many of the nursing visits after you deductible/coinsurance is met. I have 122 visits a year on my insurance and it pays now that I have paid my in network deductible and coinsurance. So I don't pay for any more of those visits for the rest of this year.
Even if I were paying, it costs me out of pocket 10% of the visit and that isn't much at all.
IV drugs have come down quite a bit at Infuserve America. A 28 day rocephin kit with acuflow elastopheric device is $699 now.
Other IV drugs are less expensive. I am now switching to IV Clindamycin in two weeks with 5 days infusing and 2 days off each week and that is around $300 a month for ALL supplies. I have a port, so that includes flushes, needles and central line kits. I still take some orals with a copay from my insurance.
I have had 4 Rocephin kit deliveries and my insurance is paying for all of them. I was shocked too when they paid.
Might be that Infuserve is just doing better billing than other infusing services, I don't know. I am not going to question why my insurance company is paying.
You can get a quote from Infuserve at anytime on the cost of a drug. They are extremely helpful.
I didn't start to get better until I went IV abx. I have lots of GI issues and oral abx was making it worse.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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Hubby does his own infusion right here at home. We have several OR Nurse friends. They do his dressing change each week. One trip to visiting nurse for monthly check on Picc ine. Blood draw every monday morning at local hospital. IV Vancomycin comes from Infuserve. Our insurance doesn't cover it. So theres a toughie. As far as him doing it at home, its so easy. Just need to keep everything clean, using alcohol wipes etc... Have to follow all of the directions. Feel free to PM for info
Posts: 305 | From United States | Registered: Nov 2011
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Process at home is easy. My LLMD insists on a nurse visit every week even though I infuse myself and now access my port myself along with doing the dressing on it. My LLMD is just being careful by having the nurse come every week. She checks vitals and symptoms. If something isn't right, she calls the doctor.
My insurance covers the nurse visit after I hit my deductible and coinsurance which I did by February this year. So now my insurance pays for all nurse visits. Even when I paid, they were only $16 a visit out of my pocket.
Blood draws are done on the nurse visit from my port every two weeks. I am on several detox supplements so no problems with my liver function at all. I am also on some orals.
There is risk in taking any antibiotics IV or oral but Lyme with coinfections out weigh the risks for me. I am getting better slowly since starting IV. My husband is on orals and so far hasn't improved after 6 months. He may be heading for IV if we don't see a change soon.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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