cactus
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7347
posted
Which abx (or combinations of abx) target bartonella? What types of doses are necessary?
I'm currently on 500 mg levaquin and pulsing tindamax, but from what I've read it seems that some of my past abx should have also lowered my bart load over the past 2 years (zith, biaxin, ketek and many more).
Just curious about other options because levaquin's pretty rough for me. Feels like I'm back-sliding.
Thanks for any input or ideas.
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
up for help from day members...
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kelmo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8797
posted
Zith and Rifampin are a good combo.
I can tell you that adding vitamin D has REALLY kicked it into gear. I think it's more helpful if you have an autoimmune titer with it.
trails
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1620
posted
hiya cactus buddy!
levaquin is the preferred choice right now no matter what. and the matter what is the tendonitis issues. Still LLMDs are convinced it is the only way to really kill the bart.
What type of backsliding? are you herxing? period? stress? (who doesnt have stress huh?) could it be that it is working? Arent you tired of asking these same questions over and over?
55515, trails
Posts: 1950 | From New Mexico | Registered: Sep 2001
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cactus
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7347
posted
Thanks for the bump, Betty!
Kelly, thanks for the info - how much vitamin D did you add, and in what form - if you don't mind my asking?
Trails, great to hear your voice - hope you're making progress & doing well.
...You ask the right questions - maybe I'm herxing, maybe it's working... ouch. Yep, lots of stress, rainy weather too...
Had a tendonitis issue and stopped levaquin for a month, then, wham, got the bart streaky rash for the first time - now I've been back on the lev for about 3 weeks, and the pain is excruciating, but not tendonitis so I've been toughing it out.
Can't stand up today though - scary. (Maybe I'm just whining & looking for an easier answer - what a wimp I am...)
Breaking out the 55515, Cactus
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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WildCondor
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posted
I did Levaquin/zithromax...then cipro/biaxin, then Rifampin.
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caat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 2321
posted
I did 500mg rifampin, 500mg zith and 400mg doxycycline for 4 months. With flucanazole for yeast. Got rid of it.
I added the doxy myself and didn't tell the doc till after. I might NOT have needed the doxy. At the time I thought that zith didn't cross the bbb and I had meningitis. Since then I found that while zith is not found in CNS fluid, it IS found in brain tissue.
Posts: 1436 | From Humboldt county ca usa | Registered: Mar 2002
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cactus
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Member # 7347
posted
Thanks for sharing this info, WildCondor and Caat...
I've done zith and biaxin (separately) - both were in combination with mepron, for babs. Have never tried rifampin.
It's good to know there are more options, if this one doesn't work out - thank you.
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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kelmo
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Member # 8797
posted
Hi Cactus. Got your PM, it touched my heart.
The vitamin D was started at 400IU, the lowest. After four days she had a major herx. She started it again a couple of weeks later, and took it every other day.
She is now up to 800IU daily, and sitting in the sun for ten minutes (that gets you at least 10,000IU).
We haven't talked for a while, but I think the doc wants her to up her supplement (she takes cod liver oil and another dry form capsule) to 16,000
Boy, did you all really take that many in combination for one bacteria? That sounds like a canon blast.
Posts: 2903 | From AZ | Registered: Feb 2006
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liz28
Unregistered
posted
I did rifampin and ketek for four months, and it worked. Also took buckets of liver support.
Rifampin is a miracle drug, but the herx is a kicker, and can last up to six weeks.
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posted
Rifampin vs. Zythromax ???
Posts: 310 | From TN | Registered: Jan 2007
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cactus
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7347
posted
Hi Kelly - thanks for the info on the Vit D. Think I'll start slowly, after hearing about your daughter!
Liz, thanks, I haven't been on Rifampin yet - not sure if my LLMD has it in mind for later, but I'm going to ask about it at the next appt.
For now, I'm only on Levaquin. Seems like most are combining 2 abx for bart treatment, though... (Wonder if I'm the only one on just levaquin?!)
Jason - not sure which is more effective, sounds like zith and rifampin make a good combo together.
If anyone finds the magic bart bullet, I'd love to hear about it!
Cactus
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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valymemom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7076
posted
My son is going to pulse in this manner. Rifampin on Monday - Friday. Zith on weekends/only and doxi everyday. His new llmd says this has been successful.
Posts: 1240 | From Centreville,VA | Registered: Mar 2005
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valymemom
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Member # 7076
posted
cactus
I had success with levaquin and ceftin. I first did this combo for nine weeks and then ten months later combined it again for two months.
I don't see the same llmd as my son.
Posts: 1240 | From Centreville,VA | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
I did the same as valymom's son. Rifampin Mon-Fri with doxy, zith on weekends. Rough herx in the beginning
Posts: 561 | From eastcoast | Registered: Aug 2006
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savebabe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9847
posted
My insurance did not cover levaquin, so my llmd put me on cipro. It has only been a week, but the herx has been pretty intense.
This is actually my second round of bart treatment. I guess this bug is harder to kill than orginally thought.
Posts: 1603 | From ny | Registered: Aug 2006
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