Topic: Bactrim/Septra stories please -LLMd says it doesn't work
lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
I wanted to try Bactrim in case I have undetected Babesia lurking, my LLMd said he doesn't rx it because it "simply doesn't work". I find that hard to believe. Another LLMd I have seen said, IF it is going to work, you will notice very quickly - within a few weeks.
I'd like to read your personal experience w/ Bactrim (Septra).
Is it hard on the stomach?
Also, anyone know the odds are of being allergic to the sulfas?
posted
I'm not sure how it works against Lyme, but it's a decent med to try if you have Bartonella + Babesia.
However, it caused major side effects for me, so I couldn't really take it. Lasted one week, and it was pretty much the worst I ever felt in my life for that week.
Posts: 584 | From NY | Registered: Feb 2009
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posted
Bactrim alone is not going to do it with Babs. I am taking with artemisinin for past 4 wks, 3/7 days / week, also take zithro most every day and doxy on days when not taking art. I think it may be working but would rather wait a couple more weeks to give a more reliable report.
Beachinit.
-------------------- Ideas not advice. Posts: 448 | From Downeast Maine | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
By the way for me bactrim helped tremendously with Bart so I am sticking with it for Babs. Check out the fact that both components of bactrim are folate antagonists. Malarone which is more commonly used for Babs has 2 components one of which = proquanil which is also a folate antagonist. So art+ bactrim should stand a chance of being effective vs mepron + proquanil. We will see.
Beachinit.
-------------------- Ideas not advice. Posts: 448 | From Downeast Maine | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
I don't know the odds of being allergic, but my eight year old had an allergic reaction within hours of his first dose of Bactrim.
Several weeks later, we tried giving him just 1/8 of a teaspoon - same reaction.
He was vomiting, feverish, had a rash on his entire body and his lips were very swollen and red. His LLMD said never again.
If you've never taken it before, I would start with a very small dose just to be safe.
-------------------- Take care -kelly --------------- Posts: 330 | From TX | Registered: Mar 2009
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
I had an allergic reaction to a sulfer drug when I was young so I was reluctant to try Bactrim. I cut the pill into 8ths to start, having read you can desensitize yourself to it if you start with a very small dose. I did just fine for about three months. It really helped my bartonella. I used it with biaxen and artimesinin in case I also had babesia. I just quit four days ago. Not sure where to go from here.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
im positive for Lyme, Bart, Mycoplasma and CPn, symptoms mild but annoying, after adding Bactrim in moth 5 of treatment to my regimen of Rifampin, Tetracycline, Zithromax and Tindamax I am basickly symtoms free...minor pains and aches barely noticeable...and the worst one being testicular pain gone
to sum up...i love Bactrim Posts: 67 | From New York | Registered: Oct 2009
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BoxerMom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25251
posted
I've also done well on Bactrim. I have Lyme, Bart and Babs. Have used it in many antibiotic combinations. No problems whatsoever. Do be careful. Allergies to Sulfa drugs are no small deal.
posted
I had an immediate burning from Bactrim. Stomach burned like fire, spread to arms and hands. Went on for 15+ hours until the drug wore off.
Check out my post on Bactrim side effects. Too many people to count have had severe side-effects and in some cases, those side-effects have been irreversible. In other cases, "the cure was worse than the disease."
Posts: 277 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Apr 2010
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My LLMD says that I have all the symptoms of Babs, even though all negative tests, and I definitely have Bart and Lyme.
I could only tolerate Bactrim at 1/2 dose, so we have moved away from it for that reason. I had my typical Herx symptoms from it: Extra brain fog, fatigue, body pains, sensory issues (tingling/burning).
Posts: 455 | From Was in PA, then MD, now in the Midwest | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
My daughter just suffered a major allergic reaction to taking Bactrim after taking it for 16 days successfully. It took time to build up I guess and then it hit her. She was only taking a low dosage also... 100 mg I believe twice per day. Just be careful, I hear it's a great drug but you have to be able to tolerate it. Good Luck to you!
Posts: 163 | From Central New Jersey | Registered: Jan 2010
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posted
I have been on it for 5 weeks. I think it is helping the bart. Rifampin for a year and half didn't really touch that bart. Levaquin for 6 weeks made me very, very sick (not herx sick). I was desperate and feeling like I was running out of options. I think Bactrim is really helping bart.
Can't speak to babesia. I have none of the symptoms. I do take arteminisin. My LLMD treats for everything.
It is worth a try. I think you will know if you are allergice pretty fast. Kathy
-------------------- Severe neurological problems. Probably sick for years. Became chronically sick in Aug 2007. Undiagnosed for another 15 months. Started treatment for lyme and bart Sept. 2008. Improving, but very slowly. Posts: 515 | From washington dc | Registered: Aug 2008
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posted
Bactrim helped me with Bart and now maybe Babs but I do have to take a day off every 10-18 days or so. Also have to take 1 gram/ day of vitamin C to get up to 18 days. The sulfa gets nitrosylated and the nitroso-sulfa form is toxic (to humans),vitamin C reduces but does not eliminate this. Despite its toxicity it has been and remains part of my regimen. Currently: Bactrim DS 1 tab twice daily, Zithro 250 mg daily,doxy 400mg/day mon-thursday, Artemisinin 300mg/day fri-sun. Treating Bart,Babs,Bb all at same time. Try to add flagyl for cyst forms 3 days at a time whenever I can.
Beachinit.
-------------------- Ideas not advice. Posts: 448 | From Downeast Maine | Registered: Jul 2009
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