posted
I am about to start Ketek, I have read that it can be dangerous, what has been your experience with it? Chris
Posts: 66 | From Texas | Registered: May 2005
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I had no problems with it...but only took it for a few months because it did nothing for me. Others have found it to be helpful, though.
The major worry is your liver. It is very important that your doctor keep close tabs on your liver with regular and frequent blood tests.
I would hope your doctor is already planning to do that! Good luck with it.
-------------------- nan Posts: 2135 | From Tick Country | Registered: Oct 2000
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robi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5547
posted
I was on it for 8 months. I think it helped me a lot it was just time for a med change. I had no problems with it. I had my blood tested every 4 weeks.
I take a lot of high quality milk thistle for liver protection, don't drink alchol and eat a healthy diet .... lots of veggies and clean, lean protein. Also, I drink 100 ozs. of pure water a day.
Hope this helps, robi
-------------------- Now, since I put reality on the back burner, my days are jam-packed and fun-filled. ..........lily tomlin as 'trudy' Posts: 2503 | From here | Registered: Apr 2004
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JimBoB
Unregistered
posted
I have NOT used it and won't.
But LymeInfo sent us an article on that at least two people have died from it.
I prefer herbs, as they are more helpful to me than abx.
posted
My 17 year old daughter has been on Ketek since early summer. She did have some strong herxs in the beginning. Her liver panel is normal.
Ketek has helped her make some real improvements. When Minocycline was added we have noticed even more improvements.
All antibiotics can be dangerous and so can herbs. To me these medications are giving my daughter and son their lives back. They are not nearly as dangerous as the Lyme Disease that is trying to destroy them.
Posts: 488 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I took ketek and had some major herxing on it.
I did not like it at all.
It made my heart and hands extremely weak.
Wether that was the herx plus side effect, is probable.
Of course no one likes herxing. I think it is a powerful and robust antibiotic that does some serious kete kicking, and anything that strong is bound to side swipe a little.
My liver enzymes increase while on it but when I went off it, they went back down.
Take special care to watch your liver and pay close attention to yourself on this one.
I thought it was heavy duty and served its purpose, but for me personally, could not tolerate a long duration of it.
posted
Thank you so very much for your prompt, frank responses. I already have the Milk Thistle but I did not think about the alcohol. Thanks again. Chris Posts: 66 | From Texas | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Thank you so very much for your prompt, frank responses. I already have the Milk Thistle but I did not think about the alcohol. Thanks again. Chris Posts: 66 | From Texas | Registered: May 2005
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posted
I recently swtiched/rotated to another macrolide, but was on Ketek since last summer with no problems.
-------------------- Suzanne Shaps STAND UP FOR LYME Texas (www.standupforlyme.org) (Please email all correspondence related to protecting Texas LLMDs to [email protected] with copy to [email protected]) Posts: 977 | From Austin, TX, USA | Registered: May 2004
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posted
I took ketec along with tinidizole for 4 months last year and was deathly ill the whole time. The pain in my head was often unbearable, however, this was my first real experience with antibiotics and I went undiagnosed for 18 years. My doctor called it the heavy hitter-that it was-the intial herx for me was very scary.
Diana
Posts: 202 | From vancouver, canada | Registered: Jun 2005
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AZURE WISH
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 804
posted
My expereinces-
Been on Ketek since fall of 04.
I am still getting better on it it has been slow but i could barely walk or stay awake before ketek...
I still have a ways to go but I am convinced this med is going to give me my life back.
Herxes but no side effects from ketek.
I would ask your dr how he wants you to avoid yeast issues. I was told to take acidolphilous.
Me and someone I know had some yeast problems ...
but with me apparently I have to take the acidolphilous more than 3 hrs away from the abx ...
(my stomach digests slow)
I don't take milk thistle cuz I really dont have room in my day for any more pills... especially with my digestion problems.
I also do not really watch my diet. And I eat a limited amount of vegatables cuz they are hard to digest.
And I never drink alcohol... my poor liver and immune system has enough to deal with.
posted
I have been on Ketek for a few days now and I believe this is my first real herx. OUCH! I feel so miserable - my head hurts, my body aches, it is creaking and twitching all the time. I am hoping ot get past this first part and really begin to move on. The oddest thing that I have experienced is te numbing/cramping in my wrists and feet. All I really want to do is lay down and if possible sleep. Please share your experiences, it gives me comfort to know that others are experiencing similiar things.
I had to take off from work - but I had to call it the flu - because NO ONE undertands this thing at all. No only is the lyme the master imitator so have I become. I am not happy about that, but I need to do whatever it takes to take care of me.
Posts: 66 | From Texas | Registered: May 2005
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posted
cchris - sounds like herxing. I have been abx for over 1 year now. The first 6-8 months for me and getting used to the herxing cycle was absolutely horrible. 1st diagnose in 96, came back pretty hard in 2004. I just don't want to scare you that you have to go through this crap for 8 months before you feel better.
It was sanity for me to keep a dated journal, so that I could reflect and plan for the next herx. Just knowing it was a herx every 4-6 weeks is important.
I did not take ketek, but I herxed just the same. Many of the people here at lymenet have helped me through 2004 and 2005.
It is NOT easy.
-------------------- Lymester Posts: 519 | From CT | Registered: Jun 2004
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I took ketek for a couple of months. I became very very sick in the 3rd or 4th week. Nausea, fatigue, and a strange, severe depression. Who know whethter it was the drug or herx or lyme, or all of these causing this. I have now come to accept it is possibly all of them.
I could not imagine going to work while being treated for Lyme. But that is just me. I am typing on my laptop from bed, now, because it is the best I can do. So I hope you are able to keep working and this is just a minor setback.
My doctor took me off ketek when I developed massive shaking and twitching. He told me not to go back on it when it was linked in January with liver failure in three patients.
The LLMD who prescribed it said itwas very powerful against Lyme.
Good luck.
-------------------- Jeff Posts: 533 | From CA | Registered: Mar 2006
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posted
I am on my 4th month of Ketek - and can say have made THE most progress since beginning treatment during 1999!!
My daughter was also on it for almost 8 months and made good progress!
I know all abx have negative potential side effects but, in our case at least, we have all responded well to this drug.
Oh yeah . . . keep in mind, I have been on most abx known to man since 1999! Len and Katie have been in treatment since 2002 so, Ketek wasn't the first abx in our situation!
I cannot imagine the herx if you are using it as the first abx for treatment! That kill-off would probably be HUGE!!!
We always ramp up any new medicine very slowly as have found that we are all more sensitive it seems!
Good luck!
Sherry
-------------------- Posts: 704 | From Huntsville, Texas | Registered: Oct 2000
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