posted
I have started rocephin (2g once daily) and have been on it for 5 days along with 400mg doxy twice daily, 800mg artemisinin (neutraceuticals) daily, and buhner core herbs among others.
The IV rocephin was the only thing I added to the previous regimen. I have since felt very weak and tired, feel like staying in bed and not doing much else. Icreased depression, seemingly worse internal vibrations. Also having loose stools.
Is this common when starting IV rocephin? Is it a herx? How long until you have seen improvement in neuro symptoms and did these neuro symptoms get worse before getting better?
Just need some encouragement and would be interested in hearing about your experiences with rocephin herxes or progress. Thanks so much. -Despin
Posts: 163 | From Cleveland, OH | Registered: Sep 2007
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posted
As you know I havent started this, but i dont want you to think you are ever alone!
Wish I could snap my fingers and make you feel better!
Thinking of you!!!!!!!!!!
-------------------- Seeking renewed health & vitality. --------------------------------- Do not take anything I say as medical advice - I am NOT a dr! Posts: 830 | From TN | Registered: Aug 2007
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DesperationIn-I'm so glad you posted this question! I was going to post a very similar question today but didn't really have the energy until I saw your post.
I started IV rocephin about one month ago. My first dose was IV from a bag. Loose stools immediately and ever since.
I then got a PICC line put in. I felt OK for the first week or two but now feel pretty bad. For the past several weeks it's a struggle to get out of bed before 11 a.m. and today I woke up at 12:30 p.m. I'm embarrassed to admit!
No energy at all and a sick feeling that seems to start in my stomach. I also get a lot of pain, lasting for several days in some of the joints where I've had surgery in the past. For several days my neck was so painful I could hardly move it. I had two artificial discs put in my neck last year. Then my knee, that had been operated on three times, hurt so much that I was actually limping and I made an appointment with a knee surgeon the pain was so bad. It's a little better now.
I was going to do some research on rocephin on this site and see if others felt so badly after several weeks on the rocephin. I was also going to call Igenex, where I had a positive Igeneix, negative CDC test and talk to the doctor there.
For the loose stools I just started taking cholystramine, which pulls toxins out of the body. It also caused constipation so I'm hoping it will help with that.
I was taking doxy before and have cut back on it. I also take one art per day. I supposed to also be taking Tindamax and azith. My stomach has had so much bloating from all of the antibiotics. I was hoping that the rocephin would help but so far it hasn't.
I hope some others reply to your post and I hope that you start feeling better very soon. I did wake up very early this morning and felt good for a few minutes but after I went back to bed and woke up I felt like dog poo* again!
Best wishes and hang in there!
-------------------- sunnymalibu Posts: 192 | From california | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
Wow sunny- I hope you hang in there and will turn the corner with the rocephin soon. I know how frustrated you must feel. I read all the rocephin posts before I started and it seemed to help people, but many saw a positive change after a very long period of time. I suppose it is different for each person.
For the stools, I increased my intake of probiotics. It helps a little. I hope the cholestramine works for you- I will look into it more. I am not sure there is much that can be done about that though on IV antibiotics.
I hope you will make lasting progress. Hopefully people will come along to share their rocephin herx experiences.
I'm just starting my fifth month of rocephin IV 2 grams per day. I had the stiff neck in the first month or two on it. It has since gone away. I too was concerned since I've had three cervical neck fusions.
The loose stools are also a big problem with Rocephin. You need to be careful for C-diff. It is a bacteria that will cause lots of loose stools. I was so sick in Aug/Sept that I had loose stools for 21 days. I was tested for Cdiff but did not have it.
I have actually journaled my story at another website and if you pm me I'll be happy to give you the site address. It's just a daily journal of the Rocephin IV. I tried to add flagyl to the rocephin but was only able to tolerate it for three weeks total.
I am now doing Tindamax 500 mg for three weeks on/one week off. So far I'm handling it.
I had to cut back on my supplements and stopped taking Levaquin as well. The rocephin has a tendency to cause antibiotic induced diarrhea and I just didn't need that in addition to what I was dealing with.
I also added florastor to my daily regimen. My GI Dr. had me add it. It helps to bind you and adds good bacteria back to the gut.
I too did the cholestrymine (didn't spell right), for one week and it did help with the diarrhea. It has the opposite effect. I didn't really feel to great on it so I was glad when the week of it was over with.
Hope this helps.
Barb
Posts: 281 | From san francisco | Registered: Jun 2006
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Definitely see an improvement. I haven't had any seizures or myoclonus since doing the IV. I still have some involuntary jerking in my back that I'd like to see go. I also have tremors and some muscle twitching in my face but this happens only during a herx.
I'm functioning quite well. I don't always feel so great but I'm sure it's because I'm on other antibiotics as well. I'm currently taking tindamax, three weeks on, one week off.
I just took myself off Levaquin because of severe pains in my tendons. I remember when I was on the Rocephin for the first 30 days without any other antibiotics I thought it was a piece of cake.
Since I've added other meds it's not as easy on my system.
Take care,
Barb
Posts: 281 | From san francisco | Registered: Jun 2006
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daise
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posted
Hi everyone,
I don't think anyone mentioned the word "herxheimer."
A herx is a worsening of all your symptoms. I guess I had classic herx's: every 28 days. Sometimes 28 1/2. I could figure it ahead of time for my calendar so I'd know when to expect them. On IV Rocephen, my herx's lasted 6 1/2 weeks or so. One herx overlapped the next herx. Eventually they got less intense and were shorter.
I took biaxin everyday, too.
I guess it was the Rocephen that gave me diarrhea pretty much for the first month. Everyone is different.
Not everyone has classic herx's like mine. Some have herx's that don't follow a pattern.
Some take cholestyramine to help with herx's. Drinking fresh lemon juice, throughout the day helps. Or chitosan, a supplement. See what you LLMD says.
Rocephen was followed LA Bicillin shots (now along with pulsing oral flagyl and pulsing oral biaxin.) The LA Bicillin produced 6 1/2 week herx's. They're last a week to 12 days now. I'm still doing these. I love this antibiotic! Bicillin doesn't go through the GI tract!
Everyone's herx / treatment plan is different.
A herx is a wonderful thing because it means something is being killed off. Maybe that will be some comfort.
However, if you have something that alarms you or a new sign or symptom, then absolutely tell your LLMD right away.
You might post questions very specifically, to interest others who may have had your particular experience.
There is life after a herx. It's then that you can assess how much improvment you've made since before you began antibiotics. I found it real important to keep track of herx's from start to finish--and when they overlapped.
When I was in herx I had to take care of myself as far as not doing anything to wear myself out. Got kinks in my muscles. Unpleasant.
Probiotics (mostly acidophilus) are completely necessary or you'll get a body-wide yeast infection. Take about 4 different brands every day, while on Rocephen, especially. They must be very good quality. (i.e. Two good brands I use are Source Naturals and Renew Life as these have been consistently viable.)
Keep probiotics in the frig, even if you bought them OTC. Check your tongue. Is it white? If so, that's yeast. Even a little fog of white. Call LLMD. Did your doc prescribe Nystatin or something similar. (An antifungal for the GI tract.)
For yeast but also for prevention or to help prevent a bad outbreak of c. difficile, PROBIOTICS help a lot.
It's important to get sleep--yet--sometimes in herx (or out of herx) the pain is too bad to fall asleep. You might search this website for sleep ideas.
Do you need range-of-motion exercises that you can do at home? See a physical therapist or what's needed for YOU. With a PICC line, be aware that you can't lift over 5 pounds or 1 gallon of water. Exercise can help bad herx's, if done gently and slowly, but not overdoing it. Never aerobics!
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However, if you have something that alarms you or a new sign or symptom, then absolutely tell your LLMD right away. ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
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