In researching our website I came across scattered entries on how Duflican has helped many. I think it would be great to have a place to share our experiences on how the Duflican has helped people and track people progress or lack there of.
Good info to share would be: 1.) Dosage and time used 2.) How long it took to work 3.) How much it helped and what you did after
I have not startet yet, but will do 100mgs for six weeks. I'll keep you guys posted!
CaliLymer
Posts: 215 | From CA, USA | Registered: Nov 2004
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cantgiveupyet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8165
posted
Great idea for this thread.
I started taking diflucan by chance for what the walkin dr thought was yeast infection.
I started in January 2006 first 4 days 150 then i asked my LLMD for a script and i took 100mg a day for a month.
I noticed it helped with my burning gyn issue and frequent urination. That was the first to improve
Then my numbness of my face and neck went away and i generally just felt better then i had in months. even my eye twitch went away.
I am now able to drive and feel my legs while driving. I call difflucan the wonder drug.
I noticed results in 2 weeks.
I stopped it for a few weeks then went back on it with abx cedax.
-------------------- "Say it straight simple and with a smile."
"Thus the task is, not so much to see what no one has seen yet, But to think what nobody has thought yet, About what everybody sees."
-Schopenhauer
pos babs, bart, igenex WB igm/igg Posts: 3156 | From Lyme limbo | Registered: Oct 2005
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
I have taken Diflucan many times in my past for yeast and it worked well.
I was excited to take it again this time for yeast as I had read how much it was also helping people with Lyme.
It had the opposite effect on me. My symptom is Lyme Arthritis and the Diflucan caused a major and completely unbearable herx. This was at 100mg per day.
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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Jellybelly
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Member # 7142
posted
I used Diflucan to treat systemic yeast and went into a major herx. I started at full dose every other day and got so sick. Tryed to drop down to a quarter of a dose every other day and still to rough.
Neither doc or myself are sure why, but it is not typical of a reaction to yeast die off. He is well aware of the possible connection to Diflucan and Lyme and is cautiously optimistic that what happens to me is a lyme die off herx. A similar thing happens to my daughter and it really effects our brains.
I am always interested in anything having to do with the Diflucan/Lyme connection.
Posts: 1251 | From california | Registered: Apr 2005
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mlkeen
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1260
posted
Hi ALl-
My son and I have made wonderful progress on diflucan after long term abx for lyme and cos. We worked up to 200 mg. a day. and do weekly doses now. It is very much a work in progress because there is so little data.
I have to go do some things, but will be back later with details- Bug me if I'm not. We haven't had a full week of school in six weeks, I have a tribe again at lunchtime- yikes!
posted
I have yet to follow the actual Diflucan protocal for Lyme but I take diflucan once or twice a week and I see a g=big difference the next day if I am having neuro problems at the time I take it.
I am still not sure if it has to do with Candida or Lyme that it is working on, or even both.....
I do feel it has value...
I take 100mg tablet....
Posts: 437 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
Fluconazole From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search To meet Wikipedia's quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. See rationale on the talk page, or replace this tag with a more specific message. Editing help is available. This article has been tagged since December 2005. Fluconazole Fluconazole
Fluconazole is a synthetic antimycotic drug of the triazole class of compunds. The drug is sold under the brand name Diflucan�. It is used orally and intravenously to treat yeast and other fungal infections. Contents [hide]
* 1 Mode of action * 2 Susceptible fungi * 3 Pharmacokinetic data * 4 Elimination and excretion * 5 Carcinogenicity * 6 Uses * 7 Off-label uses * 8 Contraindications and cautions * 9 Pediatric use * 10 Pregnancy and lactation * 11 Side-effects * 12 Interactions * 13 Dosage
[edit]
Mode of action
Fluconazole inhibits, much like the imidazole-antimycotics, the fungal P450-enzyme. The consequences are that Lanosterol can no longer be converted to Ergosterol. Ergosterol is an essential part of the fungal membrane and its deficit alters the permeability of the membrane and this eventually disrupts fungal growth. It acts fungistatic or fungizide depending on the susceptibility of the strain and the dose regime used. Fluconazole is theoretically capable of inhibiting demethylases in the human body, but this effect is not seen with therapeutic doses. [edit]
Susceptible fungi
Animal models (infection studies) showed that fluconazole is active against infections with strains of Candida, Cryptococcus, Aspergillus, Blastomyces, Coccidioides and Histoplasma. In vitro test systems are still inreliable. [edit]
Pharmacokinetic data
Following oral dosing, fluconazole is almost completely absorbed within two hours. The high bioavailability of over 90% is not significantly reduced by concomitant intake of meals and co-medication with H2-antagonists (e.g. cimetidine, ranitidine). Concentrations measured in urine, saliva, sputum and vaginal secrete are approximately equal to the plasma concentration measured following a wide dose range from 100 to 400 mg oral as a single dose. The half-life of fluconazole is approximately 30 hours and is increased in patients with impaired renal function. [edit]
Elimination and excretion
Fluconazole is renally eliminated and primarily (80%) excreted in the urine as unchanged drug. [edit]
Carcinogenicity
Male rats treated with 5 mg and 10 mg/kg weight respectively showed a higher incidence of hepatocelluar adenomas than expected. No data exists on human carcinogenity. [edit]
Uses
* Infections with Candida in mouth and esophagus. * Recurrent vaginal infections, if local therapy is not sufficient. * Prophylaxis of infections with Candida in tumor patients receiving chemo- or radiotherapy. * Treatment of deep or recurrent fungal infection of the skin (dermatomycosis), if local treatment was not successful. The efficacy of fluconazole in the treatment of onchomycosis (fungal infection of the nails) has not been demonstrated. * Sepsis due to emergence of Candida in the blood (candidaemia). * Meningitis and prophylaxis of meningitis caused by cryptococcus in AIDS-Patients. In a subgroup of patients Fluconazole acts more slowly than amphotericin B alone or in combination with flucytosine. Nonetheless, response and curation rates were not significantly different. * Treatment of blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, sporotrichosis, and aspergillosis. Sometimes amphotericin B is the preferred agent.
[edit]
Off-label uses
* Infections with cryptococcus on other locations of the body (e.g. on the skin or pulmonary). * Prophylaxis of fungal infections in patients with AIDS, posttransplant-patients, or otherwise immunecompromised patients.
[edit]
Contraindications and cautions
* Known hypersensitivity to fluconazole is an absolute contraindication. * Fluconazole may infrequently cause severe or lethal hepatotoxicity. Liver function studies should be obtained regularly. Patients showing clinical signs of liver damage should be immediately withdrawn from the drug. Patients with preexisting liver disease should be treated with particular care. * Some patients develop severe skin reactions (Steven-Johnson-Syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis) under treatment. Patients with HIV-infections are particularly prone. All patients should be carefully watched for development of any skin reaction and should be advised to discontinue the drug immediately if rash or other forms of skin reactions are observed. * Fluconazole may cause rare cases of prolongation of the QT interval, leading to serious arrhythmias. Risk factors are preexisting prolonged QT interval, electrolyte imbalances including hypokalemia, low serum level of magnesium and hypocalemia. These patients should be treated with caution and the electrolyte imbalances should be corrected before therapy is initiated.
[edit]
Pediatric use
The use in newborns, children and adolescents is possible. Newborns up to 4 weeks excrete fluconazole very slowly, while the half-life in older children and adolescents is reduced to 20 hours. [edit]
Pregnancy and lactation
In animal studies fluconazole proved to be an experimental fetotoxic agent. Women with childbearing potential should avoid to become pregnant during therapy and 7 days after. The drug may be given to patients already pregnant, if the severity of the disease outweighs the potential harm to the fetus.
High concentrations in the milk of breastfeeding mothers have been measured. Mothers should not breastfeed during treatment. [edit]
Side-effects
* GI tract: Nausea, dyspepsia, abnormal taste, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and flatulence were reported in 5.3% of patients. In female patients receiving a high single dose treatment for vaginal infections, the incidence of these side-effects may be higher. * Skin : Skin rash, diffuse reaction with eosinophilia, and pruritus were encountered in up to 5%. Also alopecia and exfoliative skin reactions (including Stevens-Johnson-Syndrome and Lyell's-Syndrome) were seen. The latter had been fatal in some patients. * Liver, kidney, hematology : Some patients, particular those with AIDS or malignancies, developed increased liver enzymes, bilirubin, AP, BUN, serum creatinine, eosinophilia, anemia, and leukopenia including agranulocytosis as well as thrombopenia. Symptomatic hepatotoxicity (hepatitis, hepatic necrosis, jaundice, cholostatic hepatosis, and fulminant liver failure) including fatalities had been infrequent. * Central nervous system : Frequently headache, less frequently vertigo and convulsions. Some of these side-effects might have been due to the underlying disease (cryptococcal meningitis). An acute psychotic (paranoid) reaction had been noted in one case of overdose. * Heart : QT interval prolongation and torsade de pointes (a serious arrhythmia) may occur. * Different Side-Effects : Anaphylactic reaction (including facial edema, angioedema, and pruritus). Hypokalema, increased triglycerides, and increased cholesterol had also been encountered.
Sometimes patients who respond to therapy experience a recurrence of their disease after the drug treatment is terminated. Most often female patients with complicated vaginal infection due to Candida are concerned. [edit]
Interactions
Numerous pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions exist. [edit]
Dosage
According to individual scheme depending on disease, weight of the patient and renal function. Therapy is either orally or per i.v.-infusion. Duration of treatment or prophylactic treatment is also strictly individual. Special guidelines for the treatment of pediatric patients are existing.
Posts: 77 | From USA | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
I tried Diflucan several times, for about a month each time. I believe the dose was 100 per day.
It triggered a minor herx at first (flu-like symptoms), and within 2 days it reduced chronic inflammation symptoms in my voicebox. But each time I stopped the med, the symptoms returned.
Only years later did I learn a side effect of fluconazole (and I think all the -azoles) is to interfere with the conversion of vitamin 25D to 1,25D, the same conversion that Lyme bugs apparently do to excess. This may explain why some Lymies derive some benefit from fluconazole.
Posts: 727 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2006
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posted
By comparison, fluconazole is only weakly bound to serum proteins, is relatively stable to metabolic conversion, and is water soluble. Fluconazole penetrates the cerebrospinal fluid well and is approved for primary and suppressive therapy of cryptococcal meningitis in AIDS patients.
Posts: 77 | From USA | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
Duflican specifically inhibits P450 enzyme important for making a membrane component critical to the life of fungus.
However, it is possible that Duflican also acts on Lyme the same or similiar way.
The medicine, Gleevec, the magic bullet for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, also has off-target effects on other enzymes. Fortunately, these emzymes are critical for cancer cell survival.
In another words, Gleevec inhibits cancer cell growth by inhibits multiple enzymes.
Duflican could have multiple targets, some of which may be critical for Bb survival
Posts: 77 | From USA | Registered: Feb 2006
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
Just wanted to add that after i first start to take diflucan I feel like I have a herx or worsoning of symtoms. This may be a yeast die off.
when on my second week I am still tired and nauseated.
This usually goes away on my third week. And on my third week,like clock work I start to feel better. Don't really know why.
I have heard ,if you have a multi-systemic yeast infection,it takes 3 weeks of diflucan everyday to clear. This I have heard from my GI doctor and another specialist.
This is my own personal experiecne and should not be mis-taken as professional advice.
take care dana
Make sure to talk over everything first with your LLMD
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
I don't know if Diflucan helps the actual Lyme, or not -- though I am hopeful that it does.
I *do* know that I have been taking 2 Diflucan a week, and that without it I would be DYING from yeast on this many abx... with it, I'm doing fine, yeast wise. I also do anti-yeast supps and major probiotics... but that alone is not enough... I was prone to yeast even before starting the abx.
Diflucan also seems to mediate the herx reaction for me -- lessens the severity. I'm glad to be taking it, and wouldn't object if LLMD upped the dose...
-------------------- "Looks like freedom but it feels like death.. It's something in between, I guess"
Leonard Cohen, from the song "Closing Time" Posts: 822 | From California | Registered: Jan 2006
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HEATHERKISS
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6789
posted
I've been taking it for a yr on and off.
I've taken it 100 per day for 2 months and also just taken it 2 pills once or twice a week to keep yeast away.
So I'm back to 1x a day.
I'll keep ya posted.
-------------------- HEATHER
Posts: 1974 | From ABERDEEN, NJ 07747 | Registered: Jan 2005
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Jane2904
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15917
posted
Bringing this thread back up.
Daughter just started taking Diflucan for a possible vaginal yeast infection.
Dr. said to take 100mg twice a day for 14 days. But she is so sensitive to meds, I am going to do 100mg and then in a couple of days try 100mg again.
I am afraid that it may cause die off symptoms. So I thought maybe space the frequency to once every few days.
In reading most of this thread looks like Diflucan may be helpful for her.
Anyone have anything to add good or bad.
Posts: 1357 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Jun 2008
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
I'm supposed to be taking 200 mg of Diflucan every day for 30 days. I'm on day #3 and feel like crap. My nose is literally pouring liquid. My chest is congested. Head feels clogged up. Every joint hurts. Just feel yucky.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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-------------------- You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'
---Eleanor Roosevelt Posts: 748 | From somewhere | Registered: May 2010
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posted
My LLMD says diflucan is effective against lyme.. he sometimes recommends it as a monotherapy, as it interferes with many antibiotics...
Posts: 27 | From delaware | Registered: Dec 2009
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Both my LLMD and I believe that diflucan was a turning point for me.
Significant neuro lyme symptoms were the first to fade on the protocol.
I took 200mg a day for 30 days. Took two weeks off. Then I repeated the cycle.
Hold your breath..... I took diflucan this way for over 18 months.
Never had a liver enzyme issue with it either.
I started to find words again. Was able to swallow without aspirating.
I feel that diflucan allowed me to get back to work as a Speech Therapist.
I was also treating babesia the entire time.
Biaxin and malarone or mepron (We switched off and on).
When in remission from Lyme I continued diflucan a couple of times a week.
It has been one of my best meds.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
This is brutal. Coughing like crazy. Couldn't barely sleep last night. Snot pouring out of my nose. Every bone hurts. I'm not liking Diflucan. I'm deciding if it's worth continuing. I never took this more than once per week under my old LLMD for 'yeast prevention.'
I have never had so much liquid pour from my nose/eyes before. Yuck.
Geneal, how long did it take to see improvement?
I'm starting to get a sneaking suspicion I better start following a yeast prevention diet ASAP. I have not focused on this aspect one bit.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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dmc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5102
posted
I took it for over a year 200mg a day w/mino got/kept my stable enough for recontruction surgery on my left foot & ankle.
seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
Any benefit to pulsing this maybe to make life more tolerable?
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
So many times when I have been thinking about something I come here and right in front of me is a thread discussing the very same thing.
I stopped taking diflucan as the naturapathic doc mentioned it was really hard on the liver.
Yesterday I added to my iv and 500mg of azithro 500mg/day of biaxen, which I have been trying to add for six weeks. Already today my stomach is objecting loudly and was wondering if I should start the diflucan now I read this I think I will.
I did not know it had any other benefits than yeast killing so this is good to know.
-------------------- 1999 CFS, 2002 CMV Myco pneumonia 1 year antibiotics on and off 2002 EBV, 2009 Positive Igenex Borellia and Babesia, Brain mri severe white matter disease Monoclonal Gammopathy. On and off antibiotics since sept. March 9 started iv antibiotics Posts: 328 | From somewhereelse | Registered: Apr 2009
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nefferdun
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posted
Occasionally the lyme causes my right arm to become so painful I cannot use it. It usually lasts a month or so, but the last time it started up I just happened to be beginning diflucan and within a day the pain was gone. I only had enough for 19 days and the doctor I saw refused to give me any more, saying it is bad for the liver. She gave me nystantin instead so that is what I have used to control yeast. I forgot to mention diflucan to the GP when I went to see him. Drat.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
Since Diflucan affects the PA-450 pathway, I'm wondering if it's just causing me detox issues and that's why I feel horrid now. I did terrible on Rifampin and felt toxic in a few days.
That's bad news because I believe Art goes through the same channels and I really am praying that may help Babesia issues.
Neffer, most GPs Rx 1-3 days of Diflucan and call ya cured. That's IF you get it even because yeast issues are a joke and don't exist in patients without immune compromised systems (Lyme doesn't do this....). I'm speaking from a conventional MD viewpoint in the last sentence.
I'm so tired of the maybe it's treating this or that guessing. It never ends.
I have a poor functioning gallbladder. I'm not sure if stressing the liver intentionally with Diflucan is prudent.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
I took 200mg a day for a long, long time.
I felt toxic on rifampin too though.
I think about 6 months in on the protocol before I noticed results.
They were little things at first....
I have no gall bladder (removed years ago due to stones).
I've had pancreatitis twice and yet have not had any liver issues on diflucan.
Knock on wood I guess.
Yeast die off can cause a herx reaction too.
Pretty bad one.
Nystatin only works so well.
Not the medicine for systemic yeast issues.
Try pulsing the diflucan or cutting the dose.
Call your LLMD and see what he/she suggests.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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