posted
How do you space out your Bicillin LA shots? I'm not sure if I should take every 3 days or every 4 days, or alternate to get as evenly spaced as possible.
My friend (non-Lymie) suggested I take my first shot of the week in the morning and my 2nd in the evening, to technically take every 3.5 days.
Or am I over-analyzing, and does the spacing of shots not really matter much?
I know I should ideally clarify with my LLMD, but I know there are enough current and former Bicillin users on here that I can hopefully avoid bothering my LLMD's office with this question.
Thanks! Erica
Posts: 408 | From California | Registered: Apr 2008
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Having done Bicillin shots for many months in the past, and currently - I REALLY don't think you have to worry about perfect spacing of the shots.
The half-life of the drug is about 14 days, so the spacing isn't that critical. I myself get mine on Tuesdays and Fridays. No problem...
Posts: 443 | From The Wild West | Registered: Jan 2002
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Rianna
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11038
posted
I do my husbands as your friend says first shot of the week in the morning and my 2nd in the evening, to technically take every 3.5 days.
posted
Erica I didn't know you were doin them. I posted on the other board. We plan to discuss them with Dr. C next week. Are you seeing any results ... or anyone who is taking them for that matter?
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I don't think you have to be that specific. When I do them 2x a week, I do them on Mon. and Thurs. When I was doing them 3x a week, I did them on Mon., Wed., and Fri.
Posts: 847 | From upstateNY | Registered: Dec 2007
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-------------------- When the going gets tough. . . I'll keep fighting! Ms. Geet3721
New LLMD, New abx, New life coming right up!!!! Posts: 714 | From La La Lyme Land | Registered: Jun 2008
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jamescase20
Unregistered
posted
I would pulse a penny/ceftin class abx.
I used a scope and found...like they say...they go cyst form.
So, if you pulse...you should get max kill numbers. I would follow Dr Bs tick guide and also explore alternative treatments...as I found abx have poor value. But useful.
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sammy
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posted
I take mine every Tues and Sat. Those are usually my days off so it just works better to do it then.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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quote:Originally posted by jamescase20: I would pulse a penny/ceftin class abx.
James, what it exactly is pulsing and how would I do that with the Bicillin? I know my LLMD wants me to space apart my shots throughout the week. If pulsing is different and may work better, I'll bring it up at my next appointment.
Posts: 408 | From California | Registered: Apr 2008
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Tindimax or flagyl are the most commonly pulsed abx so you would do something like fri, sat, sun then off for the rest of the week. I think you already have this covered.
I wasn't aware other abx were pulsed. What is penny? Penicilin? Isn't that what bicillin is, or in that class of drugs?
Posts: 348 | From maryland | Registered: Jul 2008
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Lymeorsomething
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16359
posted
Erica, I do one shot per week. I self-inject with no problems. The shots can actually be more convenient than the orals believe it or not.
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
How long does it take to start herxing on Bicillin LA?
I got my 1st shot last Thursday afternoon in my LLMD's office. I felt the same for the rest of the day and through Friday. Then I woke up on Saturday feeling more fatigued than usual, and have since gone downhill. I have been so exhausted for the past 2 days that at times I cannot even talk. I've also gotten a slight headache and feel slightly dizzy with an overwhelming need to lie down. I've also been super dehydrated, despite drinking tons of water every day.
Could this be a herx already from 1 Billin shot? I got my 2nd shot this morning, so am dreading how I'll feel tomorrow.
I also started Mepron a bit over month ago. I had some intial increased fatigue, a headache, and other flu-like symptoms during the 3rd week, but those passed a few weeks ago.
I recall reading that Mepron has cyclical herxes (I think every 3 weeks?), so maybe I am experiencing another Mepron herx?
Or maybe it is a combo Mepron/Bicillin herx?
If I still feel this bad in a few weeks, I can't imagine starting Tindamax as scheduled...yikes!
Thanks again for all the great advice and feedback.
Erica
Posts: 408 | From California | Registered: Apr 2008
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Lymeorsomething
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Erica, I felt fine on Bicillin the first couple of weeks and then in the third and fourth weeks got really tired again. Prolonged herxes may be common with Bicillin according to Dr. B.....
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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You can definitely herx the day of your first Bicillin shot or the day after. Since you felt worse the next day and then got another shot, I would expect you to be feeling even worse now. Since the Bicillin half-life is so long, the drug builds in your system over the first few weeks.
I've dealt with this by skipping my second shot the first few weeks of treatment when the herx is too bad. If you feel too bad, skipping a shot might be a good idea. Ask your LLMD.
Pace yourself, you don't want to go too fast if you are killing the bugs hard. Think about this especially in regard to starting the Tindamax. You might want to level off a bit first.
Try taking some binders to clear out the toxins. Activated charcoal does wonders for me.
Posts: 443 | From The Wild West | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
Lymeorsomething: Despite the herx, doing 2 shots a week is definitely way easier than managing the Omnicef 3 times a day and spacing it between my vitamins, magnesium, probiotics, etc. Now I am taking Mepron and one zithromax daily, which is MUCH easier to manage. I was expecting a longer herx on the Bicillin, but never thought it would hit me less than 48 hours after my 1st shot!
Andrew: Thanks for the advice. Bicillin must be super strong if you can herx on your first shot! Yeah, I've gotten worse since my shot this morning. I can barely keep my head up so don't know how I'm even managing to type this. At this point, I'm going to try to push through the Bicillin and what may also still be a Mepron herx, but may skip my next shot if I get much worse. I will also ask my LLMD about delaying the Tindamax if I am still feeling this bad in a month when I'm supposed to start it. I've seen a lot of people on here recommend activated charcoal for reducing herxes, but never ran it by my LLMD. I am taking chlorella, which is a binder but may not be as effective. I will increase my chlorella intake until I can ask about activated charcoal.
Thanks guys!
Erica
Posts: 408 | From California | Registered: Apr 2008
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Tindimax or flagyl are the most commonly pulsed abx so you would do something like fri, sat, sun then off for the rest of the week. I think you already have this covered.
I wasn't aware other abx were pulsed. What is penny? Penicilin? Isn't that what bicillin is, or in that class of drugs?
Mandy, Yep, Bicillin is an injected formula of penicillin. I think James is also suggesting pulsing any penicillin (eg. Amoxicillin?) and the abx class similar to penicillin, which includes Ceftin and Omnicef.
I was not instructed to pulse the Tindamax, but that may be the plan for me at some point. Don't people usually start pulsing towards the end of treatment (I think I recall reading that somewhere in Dr. B's guidelines)?
Posts: 408 | From California | Registered: Apr 2008
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I have never heard of pulsing "non cyst-buster" abx like penicillin or omnicef so I'm not sure why James suggested these.
Is your LLMD instructing you to take tindimax on a daily schedule? Just wondering...you're right, usually the cyst abx are added in towards the end of treatment when you have reduced your germ load and toxicity.
Posts: 348 | From maryland | Registered: Jul 2008
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