Can anyone tell me if artemisinin can cause a herx? Daughter has been doing well over the summer-on cholestyramine, Ceftin & Ketek. The same week school started back, the doctor(who is absolutley GREAT) dropped the cholestryamine and added Malarone and artemisinin. Her condition has been going downhill ever since.
We are trying to figure out if there is any one thing in particular that we can attribute a relapse to. She always does worse during the school year, but doesn't usually deteriorate this quickly. This is her 3rd school year on treatment. Our doctor said the Malarone doesn't cause a herx, but I am wondering if side-effects could be making her feel worse.
Any ideas are always appreciated!!
Suzy
Posts: 260 | From Virginia | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
Hi Suzy, So sorry your daughter is feeling worse. I felt awful after starting artimisinin. I was extremely tired, my muscles were very weak and I was short of breath. Also had pains in areas where I hadn't in a long time and low grade fever. It only lasted 3 weeks and then I felt better. I can't say about the malarone, I never took that one only mepron. Hope she feels better soon.
DawnE
Posts: 158 | From Great Neck, New York | Registered: Sep 2002
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beachcomber
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5320
posted
Suz:
I am struggling with Malarone right now. This is a new Rx for me. Art did not cause much of a herx for me but, I did stop taking it when I started Malarone because the two together were causing me a great deal of symptom return. Now, just on Malarone, I am sometimes sick as ever with chills, fever, hallucinations, blurred vision, dizziness and head pressure. I really hope I can get used to it. If not, I am going back to straight Mepron and Art.
posted
I did herx on artemisinin. That's when I knew to add mepron, which is much stronger than malarone. I took 10ml/2x day with 100mg artemisinin. After ten months, I basically tapered off the mepron, but still use artemisinin as a maintenance drug.
The babesia still does come back if I go off the abx altogether, but disappears instantly once I go back on. So even though it can take a long time to get rid of babesia completely, you can keep it in check with abx.
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