posted
Took doxy/plaquenil for most of the past 7 months and now my LLMD is switching me to 1000mg of Biaxin (extended release) along with the plaquenil. Directions are to take 2 500mg XL Biaxin in the morning together.
First, has anyone taken 1000 mg XL all at once??
I started off slow with the biaxin (500mg) and had some horrid stomach issues. I stuck with the 500mg They seem to be better a week in but still not great.
I herxed pretty bad but only for a few days - seems to have subsided. I am chicken to start doubling the dose with the issues I've had and because it's XL, it's all or nothing - you cant break or split the pill.
Since I herxed, am I killing anything with the 500mg? Would appreciate any opinions/experiences.
Thanks.
Posts: 14 | From Ticksville, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i'm so glad you asked this question.
i'm on 500 per day as it tears up my stomach something fierce.
i've heard that some people just have to stay on "baby" doses. so that makes me wonder if it takes longer to get better.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
I had to stop taking it for a week. Then I started at 500 mg for a short while. I have gone back up to 500 mg twice a day and so far, I am not having stomach troubles.
I think I might have herxed, mildly, when I first started taking it. I was taking 2 pills each day for a few days and felt achy all over. I stopped taking the pills for one day or maybe even one dose and felt better. That is the closest thing to a herx I have experienced.
Since then, some of my symptoms seem to be worse so I can't tell if it is doing anything or not.
I have been taking it for about 6 weeks so far.
Posts: 984 | From US | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
I take 2000mg a day (500 4/day) and my guts are fine.
If I don't eat with the Plaquenil I pay for it but biaxin seems fine.
Posts: 410 | From Victoria BC, Canada | Registered: Jul 2008
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'Kete-tracker
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17189
posted
I TOOK (2) 500mg XL caplets togther every late morning. Didn't seem as yukky as the regular Biaxin I'd taken 10 years ago. (Less yellow tongue & metallic taste. Not sure what that means)
Also took [only] 200mg Plaquenil [as my PCP was concerned over vision side-FX].
I see no issue having starting out with just 1 caplet every morn, esp. since you apparently initially "herxed" hard the 1st few days, but you Should build up/ switch to the 2 caplets, together, as Rx'ed within a week or so.
Talk w/ your local senior pharmacist as to what you might take with it to "buffer" things. He/ she's often readily availabe by phone.
I never really had tummy issues with that one, but I know someone who had 'em with a banana every morn... apparently worked well for him.
Posts: 1233 | From Dover, NH | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
Well I took the plunge and took both pills with a bowl of oatmeal this am. Made it thru the day OK - some GI discomfort but not nearly as bad as when I starting taking the 500mg last week.
We'll see how tomorrow goes.
Thanks everyone for the replies.
Randibear - try the oatmeal - maybe it will help.
Posts: 14 | From Ticksville, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Biaxin speeds up intestinal transit so you can get diarrhea etc. on it. Make sure you take Florastor!!!
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