posted
I'm on zithromax and recently started adding NAC and Milk thistle. Getting very blurred vision today for about an hour now and I can't get anything done at work. I left a message with my LLMD asking about whether or not he thinks it could be a zithromax side effect, but it also might be one of these supplements?
gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
I had the same thing happen to me. I believe it was the zithro in my case. Had a lot of other things going on too but it could have been a herx or a combination of herx and side effects. Who really knows? I'm off the zithro for a few days and my eyes are doing better. See what your LLMD has to say about it.
Posts: 1349 | From OK | Registered: May 2005
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
Azithromycin may cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, or lightheadedness
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I have taken Milk Thistle and NAC for years. I have never noticed blurred vision increasing from either one. Blurred vision is a frequent symptom of lyme, itself, but also of increased pressure in the eyes. If this gets too bad be sure to call your eye doctor as it could be something unrelated.
When your LLMD calls back, you might ask about adding natural Beta Carotene, Bilberry or Lutein supplements.
While NAC and Milk Thistle are good liver supporters, it is vital to add antioxidants such as those (and fish oil), too. The fish oil can help decrease inflammation but you might also consider Turmeric.
Eating bright red tomatoes, rich orange carrots and dark berries would be good, too, as long as they are in balance with your proteins and fats. Lots of leafy greens and other greens, too, are excellent. The more color in your veggies, the better for your eyes.
posted
Vision almost back to normal now, that was fast. I last took 250mg zithromax at around 5pm yesterday. Given the timing of the blurred vision of about 2-3 hours after I took the NAC and milk thistle I am still suspecting one of those.
Posts: 526 | From NJ | Registered: May 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Stop it then and see what happens. Be sure to have another kind of liver protection, though.
Is your NAC and Milk Thistle from a good source and has it been treated well (avoiding too much heat, etc.).
It is important to know, though, that side-effects from drugs do not necessarily show up within hours. They may, or it may be later on - and on and off. You might look back over the zith. info. page.
Also, HOW blurry? A little, a lot? Would this be actually a bit of vertigo? If so, that is a side-effect of zith, too, and liver support is required to help prevent ear problems when taking zith.
Have you had your eyes tested in the past year, just to be sure?
posted
I'm not on any of those things and had very blurry vision today. for me its definitely part of the infection and the herx. I'm constantly cleaning my glasses or rubbing my eyes thinking thats gonna help!
Posts: 368 | From freehold, nj | Registered: May 2007
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
I already had and have blurred vision, presumably from Bartonella. But when I was on Zith for about a month, the blurring became so bad I could not drive because I could not see signs. I stopped the Zith because it also gave me tinnitus at the same time.
Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
I'm starting to think this is me herxing instead. I've been on Biaxin alone since the end of April, unable to tolerate it because of insomnia. When I took it I only felt better, no symptoms at all worse except the insomnia. Stopped on June 6th and switched over to zithromax on the 13th. 500mg the first day, 250 mg since then. Continued to feel better with less sleeping issues.
Today when the blurred vision started the direct cause were my eyes were swelling a lot. No vertigo or any other symptoms initally. They were blurry enough that I was a bit panicked because while I could see enough to get around and do most things I wouldn't dare drive.
They are still swelling now and later in the day the inside of my ears and my head have joined in with the swelling. Feel very tired and having trouble thinking a lot from this. I would get this way from herbals all the time and occasionally when not on any treatment, but not as bad as when trying to treat. Only difference the other times was I didn't have the blurred vision.
Doxy gave me the exact same symptoms though even more pain than I am getting now. I tried a few times at 100mg and each time couldn't tolerate it because of the vision and when my LLMD recommended we try Doxy, I said no because I couldn't see enough to work when I tried it.
I'll wait for this to go away so at least I can have some sanity as to what is the cause when I try zithromax again. My LLMD also said it would probably be good to stop and wait for it to resolve before trying again, though I didn't have these other symptoms when I spoke to him.
karenl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17753
posted
Probably try a reduced glutathione, you could have a liver with problems like P450. I have trouble with NAC, it is not for people with P450 problems.The silymarin I need to start slowly.It can be a detox. LIV 52 is an exellent liver protection- in addition to silymarin.
Posts: 1834 | From US | Registered: Oct 2008
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posted
Thanks for the warnings. I am pretty sure I really suffered ototoxcity from the drugs, not sure what the cause of the other stuff was, but the important thing is that I stay away from Biaxin and Zithromax so I don't damage my ears anymore.
My ears are still painful and I get ringing noises every once in a while. They are also very swollen inside and I might have a little bit of hearing loss I am not sure because if it is, it isn't so bad that it is noticeable to me. I scheduled an appointment with a ENT doctor next Wednesday.
I was so stupid because I had early warning signs that this was happening, but I just ignored them because I had ear swelling in the past for a few months (while not doing any sort of treatment), but I didn't have any pain from the swelling so it should have been obvious something else could have been going on.
When it started again just recently I just assumed it was from the Lyme again and didn't even do any research on it. I had some warning signs a little before I switch to the Zithromax, so I have been damaging them for a while now.
When my body is doing crazy stuff all the time the only way I can cope is by doing my best to pretend everything is OK, because most of the time it isn't anything that demands immediate attention and unfortunately its a bit hard to tell when it does.
This is really depressing since these drugs were working extremely well for me. Now my list of drugs I can't take is
Zithromax/Biaxin and other drugs in this class - Ototoxicty Levaquin - tendon pain Pencillins - Hives when taken once when was around 8 years old. Doxy - Eye swelling and blurry vision even at one 50mg dose!
I have bart and Lyme, and think bart may be the cause of most of my symptons given that every symptom I have is better on biaxin or zithromax. Anyone have any toughts of what to suggest to my LLMD as something good to try next? I will ask the ENT the same thing in terms of which are least likely to damage my hearing.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Radfaraf,
It is important to know that ears are also much more sensitive to damage when on abx so extra hearing precautions are necessary. Ear plugs or muffs should be worn when around machinery, even the vacuum or a hair dryer. When on certain abx, in-the-ear pods can damage ears, even at a low volume.
You can check some of the links here about all this:
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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According to the researchers for the protocol used for Cpn, another chronic stealth infection, NAC is helpful to the C P-450 pathway and can prevent a toxic porphyria. However, if this is too much for some patients, there are other methods of liver support discussed here:
This, from a protocol for Chlamydia Pneumonia (Cpn) which is a similar chronic stealth infection. This treatment protocol is also similar to that of chronic lyme.
This is what one of the protocol authors says about the power of NAC to help protet the liver:
. . . "Surprisingly, the only anti-chlamydial agent that did not cause hepatitis in some patients was NAC. In fact, NAC is recognized as being protective.
See attached references.
My conclusion is that NAC should be the first agent in an anti-chlamydial regimen and should be a constant part of the therapy for this protective effect, not to mention it's effect against elementary bodies.
posted
Uh oh I don't know how you can manage so much Zithromax! I was only taking 250mg and I honestly think only a few days more would have left me deaf or having constant really loud ringing sounds. I only have a bit of ringing going on right now, but anymore would drive me totally crazy!
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