Most of you know my story, but in an effort to elicit as much relevant info as I can about what I am experiencing, I am trying to reach babesia patients who are being treated with Mepron/Zith.

I have been off those meds for 9 days and still experiencing MAJOR dizziness that increases during the day. Also experienced are low grade fevers, upper right quad pain, and allover headache. I used to have sweats and chills. Not any more.

I did not have the symptoms before starting my mepron/zith.

Anyone else experience this with these particular drugs/infection?

When I say extreme dizziness, I am saying I can not keep my eyes on the page, I have to walk aided, no driving, etc.

Did you stop treatment and if so, what happened? Did you continue to have the dizziness? Did you ever get better?

I was on Mepron with Zithro. I was only on it for a couple weeks and didn't notice any difference. I switched to levaquin and OMG-I thought I was going to die!!! Talk about a herx!!! Dr B actually wants to put me back on it but at a much lower dose.

Ive been told that you can experience symptoms during a herx that you may not normally have. Man, you really need to talk to Dr M. Please let me know if I can help at all!!! Dr M is a good guy but both he and Dr B treat aggressively. I finally had to let Dr B know that I couldn't take that much aggression and he has finally backed way down!!!!! He's awesome. Always anwers my questions and always emails me back. I have his cell number for emergencies-what dr gives out their cell number??

Seriously, talk to Dr M-MAKE HIM TALK TO YOU!!!!! All my best.

Nancy
ps. I don't think Anne is the greatest at relaying messages either. She's not always the best at returning calls so not sure how long she will last. After all, these dr's are only getting the messages she gives to them.

Anyone else with these symptoms and these meds?

Did you call your LLMD? Did they have good advice?

Did you stay on the meds?

I didn't call my LLMD cause I know what he would say. Don't stop.

I thought i was going to die.

If I closed my eyes, I darn near passed out. But I had vertigo constantly on it anyways. I cried, I was majorly confused- I was just not well.

I had to drop down to 1/2 a tsp a day for two months. I never COULD build back up on that stuff- way too much for me.

And i was MEAN on it. Very very mean.

The vertigo lasted for over a month for me AFTER I stopped it completely.

I took Mepron/Zith for 6 weeks. I am off it now for almost 4 weeks. I am getting better each day, with the biggest change in my energy level, which has improved enormously. I have pushed myself a lot this past month, and I never would have made it if I had still been on the meds (big herx on week 4), or before I took them.

I got woozy on the meds (though not as badly as you have), but it is going away, and I am taking acidophilus to help re-balance my good bacteria levels, because I feel worse when I each yeasts or sugars.

I have been told to give it a full 6 weeks to see exactly how much ground is gained, but if I were you, and my symptoms were as bad or worse than before or during the meds, I would be calling my doctor.

I experienced severe dizzyness, vertigo, chills, fever and rapid weight loss. My BP would drop so low that I would black out. Usually happened in the grocery store, where I would manage to clear a shelf on my way down. I also could not drive at all.

My MD put me on Mepron and I started to feel better in 4 days. The following week I started to feel ill again. By week 3 or 4 I was in herx hell. This lasted for a couple of months at least. By month 4 I was starting feel like a human being again. I started driving and was able to work and even exercise.

I stayed on Mepron, with off and on courses of Zith, for 13 months. It made all the difference in the world for me. I have been off both since mid-April and still holding pretty steady.

I would go on Mepron again if I had to. I am so hopeful and pretty confident that I won't have to because I stuck it out. I never took more than a a day or two break from the Mepron, only from Zith due to gastro issues.

If you can hang in there, it will get better. The herx was amazing! but, the benefits outweigh the worst of it, at least for me.

Hope this helps.

I, like TheCrimeofLyme above, noticed bad emotional changes. Crying, becoming mean, which REALLY shocked me. I stopped it immediately once I read a post that noted a similar response from someone. I haven't had those emotional episodes since.

Bill- NOOOOOO! Do not take Mepron by itself. It has been proven in the medical articles to cause resistant strains of babs. I will find those articles for you if you need them. They are not quacky research but MAINSTREAM medical trials.

Surg- I need to get into that supprt group. wanna tell me about them?

Pattiecake- I am so sad to hear when moms and kids are suffering. Maybe your daughter will feel better soon as some of these guys have?

Crime-I think I may be like you and NOT be able to tolerate it. I have been mean too. Even on this board, I have been cranky. Sorry everyone, it's the meds!

Shaz- that was ME! 4 weeks exactly! I guess this means I have a big load of babs and/or lyme in there! Very helpful to hear that you are stopped meds for now too!

BC-I can NOT NOT NOT believe you stayed on this stuff for a freakin year and more! You are a STRONG woman or man! You deserve a nuclear yellow gold medal!

sapphire- My liver was totally toxed out. It was actually HURTING! I have yet to hear of liver PAIN from anyone else, but that is what I have. We thought it was some sludge in the gallbladder but now I am off the meds and detoxing, the liver pain is 80% better. That doesnt usually happen with gallbladder problems. ALso my blood work showed elevated LFT's but not really obstruction, which can actually be seen by blood work. amazing.
Question for you: should you detox liver WHILE taking massive meds....isnt that too much for it? confused about that one.

I did not have any fevers today. I had ONLY minor dizziness, which before would have been major. I did not fall down or feel my throat closing. I did not sweat like a pig. Do they sweat anyway? I am MUCH clearer in my head and have TONS of energy. I'd say the upper right quad pain is 90% better!

This means my liver was definitely over worked. That was showing in bloodwork too.

But I still do not know if this was a herx or a slow toxic build up in the liver. There is no way to know this for sure, I understand that.

So, no mepron/zith since LAST monday....that makes it...11 days if you count today.

11 days off meds and only felt better today, for those of you still waiting to feel better!

I don't know if I will go back on meds yet. Have a phone consult in about 2 weeks with my new LLMD in california. Hope he can help figure out the next step!

Keep posting though, I would like to know more about your experiences and I think it helps others to see if we experienced some of the same herx symptoms on these particular meds.

SURG! I just made the connection and now I know that I am moving over to YOUR LLMD that you said would probably not let you stop babs treatment due to severe herx!

CRUD. I want a good doc, but I dont wanna hurt myself trying to get well. I dont know how to deal with this. It is really upsetting!