posted
I have been suffering from an upper respiratory thing for weeks...I am not sure how much of what I'm feeling is related to that and how much to worsening Lyme symptoms or how much to the first Coartem I took yesterday...
Coughing, wheezing, phlegm, run down feeling didn't stop me from my first visit with a NYC based llmd bec I had waited so long for the apptnmnt
The protocol he proposed starts out with 5 days of Coartem and I can say aft taking one that something is much worse or different than yesterday
He's got me on one tab twice a day for 5 days then a break of 5 days then another 5 days of twice a day with food
My lower back and hip,region are insensate...it is a struggle to move...this is exactly the problem I went to see him about...neuropathy and pain and hardening of muscles in that area was getting worse...so I suspected my Lyme complex was getting worse....if one pill of Coartem can evoke this response then maybe we are on the right tack....
But it sounds like your protocol is very diff from mine in terms of dosage...
Something is definitely diff from bef the first Coartem....please keep us posted aft you start
Posts: 277 | From NY | Registered: Jun 2005
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nefferdun
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posted
Coartem got me over babesia. I did rounds of it every 2-3 weeks while I was on malarone. I quit the malarone on the days I took Coartem.
It seemed to boost the effects of the malarone. The first herx was mild and then I just got better and better. Every now and then I do another round of it just to be sure my babesia is gone. I have absolutely no effects so it must be in remission.
-------------------- 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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gigimac
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posted
my test result for babs was a low positive or equivocal. Doc thinks I *may* have it, who knows. If I don't have it will the coartem have no effect, like no herx?
nefferdun, did u take 8 tabs a day?
Posts: 1534 | From Greensboro NC | Registered: Aug 2011
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nefferdun
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I would think if you don't have it, or another protozoa, then you would not herx. Some people don't herx when they have babesia. They just feel really good.
I took 4 pills twice a day for 3 days.
-------------------- 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
That seems like a really aggressive dose. I hope you handle it OK.
Posts: 89 | From Mid-Atlantic State | Registered: Jan 2014
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gigimac
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Woodstock, that is what I was thinking! My doc has not called me back yet but I was thinking to take maybe 2 a day or if i could take a pause on other meds while taking the coartem.
My doc knows I have problems with herxing/detoxing so wonder why this dose? hopefully doc will call back!
Thanks Nefferdun! that would be great if i did not herx! we'll see
Posts: 1534 | From Greensboro NC | Registered: Aug 2011
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posted
I had trouble handling even half a tablet, ONCE, but everyone is different.
The doc put me down to 1/4 tab and even that after a few rounds made me feel like crap. I last took a 1/4 tablet two weeks ago and still have some residual effects from it.
I wouldn't jump in and take a huge dose like that without knowing if you can handle it.
Posts: 89 | From Mid-Atlantic State | Registered: Jan 2014
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Rumigirl
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The dose you have been rx'd is the normal dosage, except for 4 days instead of 3. Personally, I feel it is better to take the full dosage, as opposed to a lesser dosage. But I can't say what is best for you---or anyone else.
Everyone is different in how they react or don't react to it.
The first time I took it, I was laid out on the couch for a week, and couldn't sit or stand without passing out (a problem I have anyway). It knocked me silly. But some people have no reaction.
After that time, whenever I took it, I had no bad reaction, but just got better.
Posts: 3771 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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nefferdun
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I agree with Rumigirl. No pain, no gain.
-------------------- 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
Neffurdun - That is great that co-artem helped your babesia to go into remission. Were you on any other medications besides the malarone and co-artem at the time?
Thanks!
Posts: 123 | From Washington State | Registered: Dec 2013
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Brussels
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posted
I took it twice, looong ago. It knocked me down, completely. But I gained color in my face when all was finished (3 days), I got great part of my energy back.
It was Riamet / Coartem that proved to me I had babesia! I got THE night sweat of my life. I wonder how can someone have so much water inside.
Two weeks later, my symptoms started slowly to come back...... Before, no one was treating on and off with Riamet. I hope it works to use it on and off!
Posts: 6199 | From Brussels | Registered: Oct 2007
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gigimac
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What other meds were you guys on with coartem? could it be taken alone and be sufficient for babs?
Posts: 1534 | From Greensboro NC | Registered: Aug 2011
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