posted
In addition to headaches, new to me, I'm experiencing crazy rageful moments since starting antibiotics. I'm so irritable; weird sounds make me crazy (like my dogs drinking, or crowd noises on tv)and all kinds of little things can set me off.
My husband hates this, so do I, it's not "me" at all. What's hardest is he is taking it personally in spite of my efforts to show him info on neuro symptoms and toxins and die off (I'm not often in a space to process it all myself)
He wants to be supportive. I don't know how to reassure him that I love him and this isn't about him.
Anyone been through this and come out the other side?
-------------------- Kirsten, NH
+Lyme 2000, 10 days abx RA, sero- 2002 Heart murmur 2006 Narcolepsy 2008 current: LLMD since 8/09 Posts: 11 | From NH | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
I've seen others post about this, search on Lyme Rage. I got very crabby, too.
The noise thing is hyperacusis (hyper sensitivity to noises) and I get that, too. Usually it's due to my neighbors and their loud, thumpy stereos, though!
Are you taking lots of B12, in combo with a B complex? That helps me a ton. So does SAMe.
I'm sorry you're having trouble with this - I hate it when I'm not the real "ME" too!
-------------------- dx: MS in 1998 2007 - Lyme suspected 2009 - Positive Lyme, MS worse. Now: Copaxone shots for MS gall bladder out 7/09 Ceftin, Zith, Septra LDN Acyclovir Monolaurin, DHEA, Pregnonelon, Curcumin Posts: 243 | From New Mexico | Registered: Feb 2007
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Lyme rage!! It's common, and it will go away. You can try going on antidepressants temporarily to get you through the mental effects. It's a helpful supportive therapy. Rages come and go, and can get stronger on certain antibiotics when you herx, it depends on your body. It does get better in time. Just try to expplain to your family that it's not YOU, it's the disease.
posted
I also get this pretty bad and the noises, like my dogs drinking drives me crazy too. I have noise, smell and light sensitivities.
It's very hard on spouces and family members to deal with our ups and downs. I don't know how my husband does it. I think I would have divorced my own self if I were married to me.
You mentioned that you had bad headaches too. I have those as well. Were you ever tested for Bart?
-------------------- The advice I give, should not be considered medical advice. My opinion comes from years of research and experience. Posts: 233 | From Somewhere | Registered: Sep 2009
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Would you mind telling us the medications you are on and when you started each one?
Sometimes the medications have side effects and the side effects can cause some of what we begin experiencing. So, it is always good to rule out side effects.
For example, some of the side effects of Biaxin include headache, psychosis, anxiety, anorexia, and insomnia. When I started taking it, it made me extremely nervous, I couldn't eat, and I couldn't sleep. It got worse each day I took it.
By day 4, I wasn't sleeping a wink at night and I could not even bring myself to eat one spoonful of food in a day (anorexia).
I called the doc and reported this. He laughed and said to stop the Biaxin.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
I didn't know that about Biaxin! I've been losing weight (which I need to do), but it's been coming off too fast.
I feel like I'm eating a normal amount of food, for a not-overweight person, so maybe since my portions are normal-sized, instead of super-sized, that's why I'm losing..
But I sure am not as interested in food as I was before starting the Biaxin or Omnicef, which I understand can cause your appetite to be supressed.
-------------------- dx: MS in 1998 2007 - Lyme suspected 2009 - Positive Lyme, MS worse. Now: Copaxone shots for MS gall bladder out 7/09 Ceftin, Zith, Septra LDN Acyclovir Monolaurin, DHEA, Pregnonelon, Curcumin Posts: 243 | From New Mexico | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
I am on clarythromycin (isn't that generic biaxin?)and plaquenil. Started very slow, every other day at half doses, but the headaches were ruled out as side effects because of the timing of them. Now am on 250/100 twice a day, every day.
Also assuming the neuro aspect.. in addition to tingling nerve pain and carpal tunnel I have diagnosed narcolepsy which is assumed to be part of the course of Lyme in my particular case. It's not typical narcolepsy in that my primary symptoms are excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and abnormal sleep cycles during the day/hypnagogic hallucinations (dreaming while awake). These two symptoms have ceased since I started taking the antibiotics.
I hope that all makes sense.
-------------------- Kirsten, NH
+Lyme 2000, 10 days abx RA, sero- 2002 Heart murmur 2006 Narcolepsy 2008 current: LLMD since 8/09 Posts: 11 | From NH | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
My apologies... am also taking calcium/vitamin D due to low D in blood test. Iron for anemia. B12 was negligible/borderline but I was not told to take a supplement.
Thanks
-------------------- Kirsten, NH
+Lyme 2000, 10 days abx RA, sero- 2002 Heart murmur 2006 Narcolepsy 2008 current: LLMD since 8/09 Posts: 11 | From NH | Registered: Aug 2009
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
And when did you start the clarithromycin (Biaxin), and when did you raise up the dose?
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Took 250 mg every other day for two weeks, then 250 twice a day every other day for two weeks, now 250 twice a day, every day, for four days.
-------------------- Kirsten, NH
+Lyme 2000, 10 days abx RA, sero- 2002 Heart murmur 2006 Narcolepsy 2008 current: LLMD since 8/09 Posts: 11 | From NH | Registered: Aug 2009
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Well, if the crazy, rageful moments and irritability have all started as soon as you started Biaxin, and if they have occurred continuously as long as you have taken the Biaxin, it can certainly be a side effect of Biaxin.
But, if you got this way a few days after starting Biaxin and had about a week's spell of this and now another week's spell of it, that would seem more like a herx happening about every 4 weeks which is what the lyme herx cycle would be like.
With lyme, you can expect flares every 28 days.
So, you decide if it has been continuous or not. If continuous, I would point the finger at the Biaxin. This drug can have some really mood-altering effects. When my husband was on it (not for lyme) I became afraid of him and told him so and left the house saying that he needed to call his doctor and tell him the medication was making him aggressive. The doc had him stop the medication.
If this behavior and feeling is continuous, you and hubby decide if it is bad enough that you want to stop this med and try something else or you are willing to put up with this. It is not uncommon that some of the lyme meds cause intolerable side effects. It's up to you. There are other meds you can try. You don't have to put up with this.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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