posted
Thank you everybody, and thanks for the links - just what I was looking for!
The poll was really informative.
I think Plaquenil is questionable as I have serious eye problems: blind in left eye, congenital cataracts removed when I was 18, multiple retinal detachments in both eyes and now glaucoma in left eye..... yes, a real drag. Although I have taken Biaxin & Plaquenil in the past and seem to be okay...? Couldn't find what classification Plaquenil is. Can I add it to any combo as a ``helper''?
Am thinking: Flagyl + Biaxin (a Macrolide) + Biaxin (a sulfonamide). Or would a Cephalosporin be ``better'' than a sulfonamide? (Note: I do realize there is no magic answer - but am trying to learn from those of you who have had far more experience with all this than I.)
Or, Flagyl + Zithro (Macrolide) - (the poll showed excellent results with this combo) plus maybe a cephalosporin such as Ceftin.
Can't afford Bicillin or Mepron at this time; otherwise might go that route.
Then there's always 1500mg. Amoxicillin for a year (if it seems to be working).
Aaargh - where does all this questioning end? Can anyone tell that I'm a perfectionist??!
Question about the cephalosporins: Dr. B. advises 3rd generation cephalosporins for chronic Lyme - from what I read, there are only two: cefixime (Suprax) and ceftibuten (Cedax).
``Technically, cefpodoxime (Vantin) and cefdinir (Omnicef) and cefditoren (Spectracef) are third-generation cephalosporins. But their antimicrobial activity is more like the second-generation agent cefuroxime (Ceftin).''
So why is Ceftin prescribed much more commonly than Suprax or Cedax?
I am working with Dr. C. on this. He realizes he may have been a bit conservative in my treatment thus far and supports the use of combos. Before I call, though, I'm trying to get a better handle on meds/combos.
Thanks, all, for bearing with me. I DO know that we all respond differently. Am new to all this and finding feedback tremendously helpful.
Lymebites
Posts: 63 | From Deer Grove, Illinois, United States | Registered: Jan 2005
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
lymebites, flagyl ALERT. Start the flagyl first by itself and no other combo for a couple weeks. Flagyl herxing can be horrendous. I started with Dr C warnings of just a sliver and thank goodness I did, because it's was hell. I never got past a sliver for about 4 days and then would have to stop for a few days.
Of course not everyone responds the same way, but better to be safe than sorry with this one. Dr C truly believes that strong herxes can set you back in your recovery.
Take care, Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6495 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
Plaquenil can be used in conjunction with Ketek. Both orally. (That's an "official" combination from my doc here) Plaquanil is a substitute for Flagyl or Tindazole, all used for killing the cysts. Ketek is used for killing the spirochytes. Also the brand name for a 3rd generation cephalosporin here in Canada is Rocephin. It has to be given parenterally (needle), but can be IM, doesn't have to be IV.
Posts: 2 | From Canada | Registered: Oct 2005
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Areneli
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6740
posted
Oral cephalosporin 3rd generation don't cross BBB. Only i.v or i.m. will do.
Posts: 1538 | From Planet Earth | Registered: Jan 2005
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given your eyesight,if i had it, plaquenil would be out of the question.
bicillin is real cheap; mepron is very expensive.
as to amoxicillin, one german physician's opinion is that instead of using amoxicillin beccause its too broad a pencillin, he prefers a penicillin with a narrow spectlrum for a killing profile. he was not specific, though about which "narrow spectrum" penicillins to use in lyme.
amoxicillin is a broad spectrum abx(k a penicillin). i do not share this doc's opinion about excluding amoxicillin in lieu of a narrow killing-spectrum penicillin, because i did do this, and got some results; it was amoxicillin with clavulanic acid( augmentin X 875mg. X 2or 3/day. i'm not a doc.
Posts: 2708 | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
i had excellent results with ceftin(oral, brand), and rocephin(i.v.).
on macrolides + and imidazoles: while i'm not sure, i think there was a recent post approx. a month ago that gave a caveat to this mix, as being not good. should not be taken concurrently. check with your pharmacist. check with more than one about this.
call a 24h. pharmacy,say at night, when they're not busy,m and take them outta their nightshift "comas," with a question on mixing macrolides and imidazoles. Posts: 2708 | Registered: Feb 2005
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caat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 2321
posted
Lymebites,
Did I take the poll?
ceftin in higher doses does cross the bbb. And it is effective for lyme.
Omnicef does NOT cross the bbb in effective amounts. Rocephin is very very very good at crossing the bbb.
what are you treating specifically?
If only lyme, then personally I'd go for cephalasporin/flagyl. And plenty of it. And a cephelosporin that crosses the bbb. And plenty of flucanazole for yeast. All taken at the same time without pulsing.
if bart I'd go for rifampin & a macroloid +/or doxy or bactrim. Roxithromycine is used in Europe, it's a macroloid that crosses the bbb. Zith does not cross into the spinal fluid but does get into brain tissue.
if babs then mepron/art/zith. Riamet is used in Europe.
Resistant erlichiosis, I'd go with rifampin/doxy.
if just trying to get the bacterial loads on all of these down, then I'd go with whatever your doc suggests for that specific purpous...
Flagyl and Tinidazole may be easier to tolerate once the bbb has healed somewhat. I had very good tolerance to both after 1 to 1 1/2 weeks of rocephin. Before that I couldn't tolerate them very well- it was absolute screaming pain hell before that week of rocephin. Then it was tolerable even during 4 days of 2 - 2.5 gram tinni near the end.
Flagyl is also being used in combinations to treat nuerological chlamydia pn; flagyl/zith/doxy.
I really think that the reason different combos work differently on different people is because we all have different combinations of species of different co-infections. Lyme harms the immune system.
Of course this isn't as helpful as it could be because the tests on most or all of these are crap.
Posts: 1436 | From Humboldt county ca usa | Registered: Mar 2002
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