My list would be:

Try taking mepron at 10ml, 2x/day. Has much greater efficacy.

Take artemisinin, pref. from Nutricology or Allergy Research. Will greatly enhance mepron's strength.

Be cautious with your depth perception, especially if you drive. The first few weeks, I stumbled on stairs alot, almost walked through glass doors I couldn't see, almost put a hot coffee cup down on thin air because I couldn't figure out where the edge of a glass table was. Another Lymenetter got in a car accident.

In my case, treating for babs activated a latent case of bartonella. If you find yourself suddenly plagued with swollen lymph nodes, viselike headaches, sore throats, and sore muscles, check for this sneaky co-infection as well.

He told me to switch between taking it 3 weeks and then 2 weeks off... (why?)

does it have a disgusting taste? can I mix it with something?

He gives me monthly blood tests.

Thanks all!

I had blood tests every 3 weeks as rx'd by LLMD. My herxing was not too bad and got less intense over time. I was on it for 6 months with no breaks along with 600 mg of Zithromax, 500 mg of ceftin bid and 100 mg Nutricology artemisinin tid with no breaks.

It tastes kind of like bubble gum. Take it with fatty foods to help absorption. It's the caution sign/road paint yellow that makes you wonder if it's lethal or not.

Treating babs is the only thing that has caused any improvement for me so far.

Check out the "Mepron Buddies" and "Mepron Buddies Redux" threads to see how people did over time with Mepron.

Best of luck to you,

Eyal: It is only a recommendation that Mepron be used in conjunction with a macrolide. The hamster studies showed that a percentage relapsed without a macrolide, or became resistant to the Mepron. I did quite well on it alone for many months. Zith is hard on the stomach. I just recently added Zith into the mix (after 9 months) because a few early symptoms returned. You may do fine without Zith. Keep a diary of your symptoms for your MD so he/she will know if you need the macrolide.

I am not sure but, I think your MD will nix the Doxy if you go on Zith or Biaxin. I don't think the 2 are very compatible.

Let us know how you do.

Beachcomber, what were your herxes like?

I experienced an increase in symptoms. I was dizzier, vertigo was worse, my balance was off. I had an overall "unwell" feeling for about 3-4 months. But, the brain fog lifted within the first 4 days of taking Mepron. Oh, I also got some whopper headaches, which I had never had before.

The first couple of months were unpleasant but, I was able to function for the most part. Some days I felt like I was on the tilt-a-whirl. Those were the days that I just locked myself inside and went from bed to couch and back.

It will improve. Hang in there.

No problems, just the first few days extra tired and after my very first one or two doses felt very very weird. But, it passed.

My LLMD says NEVER take a break on Mepron, it makes the Babs resistant.