arg82
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 161
posted
I've been on a number of IV antibiotics, some were helpful, others weren't so helpful.
I was on IV Rocephin twice: In 2002 for 4 months when it was very helpful but resulted in gallstones and I had my gallbladder removed because of that. And in 2004 I was on it for 3 months but it didn't help and caused GI problems to resurface.
I was on IV Zithro for 2 months following the Rocephin in 2002 and it did seem to help some but not as much as that first round of Rocephin.
In the summer of 2005 I was on IV Clindamycin which didn't seem to help me.
And I've been on IV Primaxin a number of times which, for me, has proven to be the most helpful med. I was on it for 3 months in 2005 but had to stop due to GI and other complications. I went back on it in September 2006 and I've been on it since then with a lot of progress, although it's been slow.
And now I'm also on IV Flagyl one week a month in addition to the Primaxin which has also been helpful.
I can write more info about these meds later if you're interested!
timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
I have only been on IV rocephin. I was on it for 6 1/2 months. It took 4 1/2 months for me to see definite improvement.
Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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savebabe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9847
posted
IV Rochephin until I got serum sickness. IV zith along with Mepron IV Doxy which worked the best for me.
Posts: 1603 | From ny | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
I thought you didn't get GI upset with IV abx? I thought that was just with the orals?
Oh, and what is the best method for IV?
Posts: 310 | From TN | Registered: Jan 2007
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arg82
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 161
posted
quote:Originally posted by jasonsmith: I thought you didn't get GI upset with IV abx? I thought that was just with the orals?
You can still get stomach upset with IVs but you can do much higher doses with much lower GI problems in general with IVs. My GI complications were not specifically from the IV treatmnet itself but from complications from the Lyme.
quote:Originally posted by jasonsmith: I thought you didn't get GI upset with IV abx? I thought that was just with the orals?
You can still get stomach upset with IVs but you can do much higher doses with much lower GI problems in general with IVs. My GI complications were not specifically from the IV treatmnet itself but from complications from the Lyme.
How did the Lyme give you GI complications?
I was taking Doxy, Zyth, Tind, and Diflucan, and had diarrhea all day. I already have IBS diarrhea, but I was now having to go 4-5 times a day.
I also noticed that my stool didn't smell like poop. But it just had a strong bitter smell to it. Would that be from the medicine, or from dead bacteria?
I would still have the smell even after being off meds for 4 days.
Posts: 310 | From TN | Registered: Jan 2007
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arg82
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 161
posted
My GI complications are basically from nerve damage from the Lyme causing a condition called gastroparesis. Hopefully this will reverse with treatment but we don't know for sure. Gastroparesis is basically slow stomach emptying so it takes longer for me to digest food, causing nausea, abdominal pain, and a heavy feeling in my stomach when I eat. I take a few different medications to help with it and with symptom relief.
When you think about it, IVs do bypass the GI tract to an extent but it's heavy-duty and it's affecting your whole body so it does still affect your GI tract. People with cancer who take chemo have nausea whether the chemo is oral or IV and antibiotics are similar. Not everyone will get nauseous from orals and not everyone will get nauseous from IVs, it's an individual thing and also has to do with which antibiotic is being used.
arg82
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 161
posted
quote:Originally posted by AZURE WISH: Annie- I was wondering how many times a day do you have to infuse with the flagyl and the primaxin
I was also wondering the one week a month you are taking the flagyl do you still take the primaxin.
Both the Flagyl and the Primaxin are infused three times a day (roughly every 8 hours). The Primaxin infusions each take 2 hours (I infuse two bags to get the right dosage and each bag takes an hour) and the Flagyl infusions take an hour each. During the week of Flagyl each month I do also do the Primaxin so that means it's 3 hours of infusions 3 times a day but I have a portable pump to do them so it's not that bad. And this combo really seems to be helping me a lot!
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