I'm experiencing a hearing loss my ENT attributes to Lyme.....hoping and praying this combo will do a major herxing and kill the little crappy creatures and my hearing will be back to normal.....I want to be able to hear again and ease this pressure in my ears.... I'm only 49 and can't stand the thought of a hearing aid....but as all you Lymies know we do whatever it takes to get better......God bless you all

The Zithromax may give you tinitis, which is a ringing in the ear. You will feel "deaf" for a few seconds and maybe some pressure. It comes and goes. Just an FYI.

I had to add flagyl into the mix for brief time. I can honestly say that was the roughest ride I have had of all the abx I have been on.

You have to give the Mepron at least 2 months to see really consistent improvement - JMHO.

I never start meds full strength at the same time!

When I started this combo, I began w/ 1/2 dose of the zith for a few days then up to full dose then added 1/2 dose of Mepron for a few days and then to full dose! This has always helped me avoid a HUGE CRASH!!

Also, when you add the Flagyl, I'd be careful and do the same thing - half it or quarter it and then ramp up!!

I know everyone is different but, our family has always used this method of introducing new meds and it has been beneficial!

If one of the meds is one we've taken before like Zith - i might start it at full dose alone for a few days before adding the new one! I do this to help w/ crashing but also to so I can tell which if any we may react too!!

Good luck w/ this combo!!

Sherry

I looked up 2 links for you about Mepron:

Mepron Buddies Update

http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/028499.html

Mepron Buddies Redux
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/025770.html

I am really hoping your hearing will improve. Zithromax in high doses over a long period of time seemed to affect my hearing. Or, was it just getting worse anyway? I don't know.

I've read on Lymenet that if you dig deep enough in the literature, you'll find that Zithromax can affect your hearing.

Depending on what ABX I'm on, the tinnitus worsens. I hear a whirring in my ear. It's worse in the left ear where I had pain for 13 years. I also had black fungus, aspergillus niger, according to the ear doctor.

He gave me no anti-fungals and couldn't see anything in the ear that would cause the kind of pain I was having. (probably nerve pain)

The TMJ specialist said the ear pain was caused by TMJ. I told him ABX worsened it, and he thought that was very peculiar-------not the norm with his other TMJ patients.

That was my ear situation. As for Mepron, it seems to affect the nerves or at least affects places where you've had lots of pain previously.

I called the manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, and asked if it penetrated the blood brain barrier.

All she did was to read the same manufacturer insert like what appears in www.drugdigest.org. She said the amount that reaches the cerebrospinal fluid was "not medically relevant."

However, two of the side effects of Mepron are itching & insomnia. So, in my own amateur thinking, Mepron definitely affects the nerves.

I never had the itching; insomnia continued.
I only took it for 2 months. I really regret that I did not take it with ArtemisININ.

Your health food store may have to special order it for you.

Some use:

www.organic-pharmacy.com

for best price.

Here's where I found that source:
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/032041.html

My Babesia symptoms seemed to be shortness of breath just out of the blue and red, tiny pin-points (petechiae) on upper body; also, in retrospect, I had blood in the urine in ER for gallbaldder attack while on Rocephin. (Never saw any blood.)

If you've ever struggled with anemia or have been borderline anemic, the Babesia might be causing it. I've always wondered if folks were anemic after finishing their Mepron because Babs lives in the red blood cells. I don't know if that's possible???

The first month on Mepron was pretty easy. I had a definite herx along the 5th or 6th day when I was forced to lie down and let it pass in an hour or so.

The 2nd month on Mepron got a little tougher. It made me have a dead brain or a weird depression; just a deadhead.

By third month I had developed what now retired Dr. H. called a new neuritis of my left right bone from the knee to the foot. This I will never forget; it scared me.

He told me to stop the Mepron. It had also caused a horrible return of the pain in my left ear and head.

It was crying pain and I had a meltdown one night wondering how I could possibly make it to Houston in such pain. Having the pain returned really threw me for a loop.

(I stopped the Mepron to be able to make the trip.)

Now my LLMD tells me the life cycle of Babesia is 4 months. I don't what she'll decide to do as far as retreating me???

Also, I don't have the primary research about the life cycle of Babesia to share with everyone. I've tried to find it with no luck, yet.

I'm hoping at next appointment to start treatment for possible Bartonella.

Hope things go well for you. Just remember to line your stomach well with food, take with fatty food, and definitely don't take COQ10 while you're on Mepron.

Personally, I believe it's hard on the liver-----so take care of the liver.

Neil

maybe that is a good sign and herxing is on it's way....never thought I'd be looking forward to a herx....but after a year now I know that's a good sign that the meds are working....

thanks for the info and experiences of others on this combo....it always helps to see how others are being effected.....I'd rather know what's coming and maybe deal with it better that way.....

everybody is different and so many abx and combos effect us differently.......so glad tho to have this place to share and learn together with those that understand.......God bless you