posted
Also, I did talk to my Dr ad he still wants me to start it. Just was wondering what other people thought!?
Posts: 84 | From way over the rainbow | Registered: Oct 2012
| IP: Logged |
droid1226
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 34930
kidsgotlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23691
posted
My DD was on it for a long period of time. She had to stop it due to ringing in her ears. I have never heard of heart issues. I would just watch for any new or worsening symptoms when starting.
-------------------- symptoms since 1993 that I can remember. 9/2018 diagnosed with Borellia, Babesia Duncani, and Bartonella Hensalae thru DNA Connections. Posts: 1470 | From Tennessee | Registered: Dec 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
I've been taking Zithromax (1000 mg daily) for 3 months now. It is causing ringing in my ears, which is driving me absolutely nuts, so I am hopefully going off it next week. But, otherwise, I've had no problems and it is a million times easier on the gut than doxy.
Good luck!
Posts: 80 | From New England | Registered: Jun 2012
| IP: Logged |
Summer3
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35286
posted
This is just my opinion, and of course you should always check with your doctor if you have concerns, but I personally, would not hesitate in taking zithromax. I think for my situation, the damage that Lyme is doing to my body is far greater than the slight risk of zithromax to do harm.
I looked into the study briefly again this morning and I read it right when it came out last May. According to the NEJM table that was published with the study, there were 85.2 cardiac deaths per million courses of zithromax. That works out to be a risk factor of 0.000008% as opposed to 0.000003% for amoxicillin. Yes that is a higher risk, but the overall risk is pretty small.
The warning about prolonged qt has been on most handouts for zithromax for a very long time. All of a sudden the FDA is bringing attention to it. Zith is prescribed very often in z-packs and insurance often resists covering it as long-term tablets. In my opinion, insurance companies have a lot to do with warnings that come out on meds. If you notice, the study pushes for using amoxicillin which is notoriously a very inexpensive medication as compared to zith. Biaxin (the main macrolide substitute) has a similar risk for cardiac incident. So do the fluoroquinolones.
It's a personal choice and each individual needs to look at the risk factors for their situation. I'm completely comfortable taking most oral antibiotics, but others are not. I think that as long as I had a doctor I trust who monitors side effects carefully, I wouldn't hesitate in taking it.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- QT issues (that can come from Zith) can be managed, primarily with magnesium - and some other key support methods.
MAGNESIUM is so important to have with ANY lyme treatment, not just to help regulate heart rhythm but for so many other reasons.
Lyme is so toxic that it poses far greater risk than any medicine to treat it. Still, meds can stress the body. Therefore, support methods are absolutely vital to help. Starting with liver support.
I think that, perhaps, the QT issues that can come from Zith (and other drugs) could be because of die-off, the herxheimer reaction, that is not accounted for by most doctors. That increases the toxicity load in the body but, without support, it can affect the heart. Support seems to help the medicines work more safely. And, just to be sure this message gets across, repeating - and a visual cue to help us remember:
Topic: TINNITUS: Ringing Between The Ears; Vestibular, Balance, Hearing with compiled links - including HYPERACUSIS -
[ 03-28-2013, 02:51 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Coinfections are important to sort out so that the most effective treatment protocol can be outlined.
Parasites should also be considered -- treating parasites first can help just about any lyme protocol work better (and, hopefully, then faster - but it's still along haul).
- I've not read all of this but do know that more and more LLMDs are finally coming back to what Willy Burgdorfer found when he first identifyed Borrelia b - that parasites traveling with it may be a major coinfection. Others seem to be finding that if parasites are ignored, lyme is just so much harder to address.
When Rx are just not possible or don't seem to be the ticket, consider:
posted
Thanks everyone, I'm on my second day of zith and doxy together. Still alive:)
Posts: 84 | From way over the rainbow | Registered: Oct 2012
| IP: Logged |
posted
I just wanted to add to this thread and say that I, too experience ringing in my ears, strange ear popping and pressure when I began the IV Zithromax. After 4 months it got so bad, I could hardly sleep. I changed to ceftriacone. After a few weeks these symptoms cleared up. Occasionally a mild version of the ringing reappears.
Posts: 4 | From Brooklyn | Registered: Feb 2013
| IP: Logged |
posted
I actually had ringing in my ears off and on for a couple yrs before I was diagnosed. Went to ENT and got all the hearing/ear tests done and everything was normal.
They looked at me like I was crazy. They asked if I take Motrin frequently or drink lots of caffeine. Which I didnt do any of that frequently.
It was the lovely Lyme disease!I still get it,hopefully it doesnt get worse with Zith.
Posts: 84 | From way over the rainbow | Registered: Oct 2012
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic