LymeNet Flash: Biaxin--for spirochete or L-form (cell wall deficient)?

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»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Biaxin--for spirochete or L-form (cell wall deficient)?

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Topic: Biaxin--for spirochete or L-form (cell wall deficient)?

Janice70
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 16319

posted

What form of Lyme does Biaxin target?

Posts: 311 | From CA | Registered: Jul 2008 | IP: Logged |

seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067

posted

My LLMD's office said today it treats Babesia. I think it treats the L-Form of Bb too, but I may be wrong.

Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008 | IP: Logged |

Richard1062
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 19233

posted

Biaxin penetrates cell walls, according to Dr. Singleton in "The Lyme Disease Solution."

It is used with Plaquenil which makes it more effective and goes after the cysts.

Dr. Burrascano says the same thing in his "Advanced Topics in Lyme Disease."

Posts: 228 | From Mass. | Registered: Feb 2009 | IP: Logged |

Janice70
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 16319

posted

If Plaquenil cannot be tolerated, does Biaxin still work by itself for the L-form? It would

be combined with Tindamax for cysts so its action on cysts would not be as important.

Posts: 311 | From CA | Registered: Jul 2008 | IP: Logged |

Richard1062
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 19233

posted

Janice, Dr. Donta did a study on the macrolides, of which biaxin is one. When combined with plaquenil, he says 80% of patients reported significant improvement after 3 months.

When taken alone, he says the macrolides led to "little or no" improvement. Sorry. But, maybe it will be good in your case, I don't know.

He says the reason is that the Lyme borrelia like an acid environment, and the plaquenil gets its enzymes into the cell and makes it more alkaline. This enhances the activity of the biaxin.

Here is the link to Dr. Donta's study on PubMed, I don't know how to make it tiny.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14586290?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Dr. Burrascano refers to the same issue about acidity in his Advanced Topics in Lyme Disease report. He suggests that amantadine can be used instead of plaquenil.

I have no idea what amantadine is, but you can find his reference on pp 14 - 15 under the topic Erythromycin. Maybe you could tolerate that one?

Now, I don't know what this means for you. Maybe none of it applies in your case.

I am only reporting the results of my research as my daughter recently started on biaxin/plaquenil. She is specifically being treated for Lyme arthritis.

BTW, clarithromycin = biaxin
hydroxychloroquine = plaquenil

Also, as I understand it, the L form is the cell-wall-deficient form. So I think biaxin works on the spirochete form, not the L form, yes?

[ 06-04-2009, 10:10 PM: Message edited by: Richard1062 ]

Posts: 228 | From Mass. | Registered: Feb 2009 | IP: Logged |

Richard1062
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 19233

posted

Janice, I'm still thinking about this. What are your primary sypmtoms?

Biaxin can be good for respiratory inflammation, for example, skin infection, presumably your MD has a good reason for prescribing it...

Posts: 228 | From Mass. | Registered: Feb 2009 | IP: Logged |

Janice70
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 16319

posted

I'm happy there is an alternative to Plaquenil! We'll ask the doctor about amantadine.

The biaxin was prescribed to replace Zithromax, which the LLMD said could lose effectiveness after a long time. So I assumed it was to target the L-form, but I just wanted to make sure.

Posts: 311 | From CA | Registered: Jul 2008 | IP: Logged |

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