LymeNet Flash: Ketek good or bad?

LymeNet on Facebook

LymeNet on Twitter

Follow @LymeDiseaseNet

The Lyme Disease Network receives a commission from Amazon.com for each purchase originating from this site.

When purchasing from Amazon.com, please
click here first.

Thank you.

Dedicated to the Bachmann Family

LymeNet needs your help:
LymeNet 2020 fund drive

The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations.

»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Ketek good or bad?

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: Ketek good or bad?

mimi
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6680

posted

Hello everyone! I hope you all are well. I will be starting Ketek and augmenton pulsing flagyl next week. Should have already started but have been scared because of some posts about fatigue and depression and other symptoms. I am working full time and really can't be out due to illness. Can someone please tell me how you did on the Ketek. Thanks as always for your help [bow]

Take care,
mimi

Posts: 343 | From usa | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged |

Ashley
Junior Member
Member # 2528

posted

I have been on Ketek for almost a year now. When I first started taking it I definitely was not myself, my mood was lower and I was miserable. However, I have gotten used to it and that is no longer the case, it probably took about three months to even out and get used to the Ketek. My doctor says that Ketek is one of the best antibiotics out there for Lyme because of its resistence to immunity and acids. If you think you can put up with the potential depression for a couple of months, I'd start your meds. Hope this helps.

Posts: 8 | From Bethesda, Maryland, USA | Registered: May 2002 | IP: Logged |

Lymetoo
Moderator
Member # 743

posted

Mimi...you always have the option of backing off the meds when you herx badly. And I'm sure not everyone gets depressed on it. Reactions to the meds are very individual.

--------------------
--Lymetutu--
Opinions, not medical advice!

Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged |

Walnut
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6585

posted

I have been on ketek for over a year -- 800 mg/day. I had no bad reaction to it. It took about 3-4 months before I noticed any improvement.

Ketek did not make me feel depressed (clindamycin is the only drug I have taken that make me depressed).

Posts: 187 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged |

dontlikeliver
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4749

posted

I was on it about 4 months and doing really well with good improvement. However, early September, out of the blue I would get sudden acute diarrhea 1 hour after taking the Ketek. This happened two days in a row, along with nausea on and off (or more an urge to puke without the nausea) and brief episodes during that of feeling weak.

I then did 10 days Diflucan and saw my LLMD who ordered stool tests for C. Diff and yeast, etc.

Yeast came back +, so am on another 10 day course of Diflucan.....the whole process has taken several weeks as I am thousands of miles from my LLMD (so time before I saw him and time when I got back home to organize tests, etc)...So, in 8 days I should re-start the Ketek and see how I tolerate it. I hope as well as before and that the sudden diarrhea on it was just a 'blip'.

Liver and kidney and WBC always normal every 3 weeks while on it though. Am alarmed by some of the scary stories told by a couple of people on Lymenet though.

DLL

Posts: 2824 | From The Back of Beyond | Registered: Oct 2003 | IP: Logged |

mimi
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6680

posted

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your responses and experiences.I am going to give it a try next week. I am going out of town this weekend and then begin. What is c.diff? I am not looking forward to the side effects while working but I guess I'll give it a try. Lymetoo you are right I can back off if I need to. Thanks again everyone
[hi]

Posts: 343 | From usa | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged |

islandgirl
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 5914

posted

I credit ketek/flagyl with getting me out of the brain fog, which I consider the worst possible thing that happened to me.

It was on it for 4 months last year, and it was tough, but nothing like swimming around in a big haze for so long.

Had liver function tests, never had any problems. Everyone is different tho, so use your own judgement on this one.

Good luck

Posts: 190 | From BC Canada | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged |

elle
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 7721

posted

I start taking this later today and I'm alittle concerned. I'm stopping 2000mg ceftin & 600 mg zithro. Adding 800 mg ketek to mepron.

Is there a better time of day to take this? The ceftin & zith were really hard on the stomach, is ketek?

I'm just starting to feel human again.

Thanks

--------------------
When I feel blue . . . . . . its time to take another breath

Posts: 296 | From East Coast | Registered: Aug 2005 | IP: Logged |

Monica
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 224

posted

I have been on 800mg of Ketek since the beginning of March 2005. I am still herxing on it.

I am lucky (knock wood) in that I have a strong stomach so that is not an issue for me.

Posts: 1757 | From Somerset County, NJ | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged |

Printer-friendly view of this topic

The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:

The Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey
907 Pebble Creek Court, Pennington, NJ 08534 USA
http://www.lymenet.org/