posted
Hi, I've been on abx for 10 years now for lyme & other tbi. Erlichia is proving to be a stubborn one. Has anyone had any success in treating Ehrlichia with something other than doxy or rife, either herbal, abx or anything else? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Posts: 290 | From Timonium, MD | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
Rifampin is the other antibiotic used for ehrlichia in people who can't tolerate doxycycline.
Posts: 195 | From Manchester, CT | Registered: Jun 2008
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Starfall1969
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17353
posted
I'm on doxy and rifampin for lyme and ehrlichia, and it seems to be doing well for me.
Posts: 1682 | From Dillsburg, PA | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
Just curious, but how do you know ehrlichia is still causing symptoms after 10 years of antibiotics?
I ask, as ehrlichia doesn't really have any tell-tale signs I am aware of, like Bart (sore heels/shins) or Babesia (sweats, shortness of breath).
I tested positive for ehrilchia when first diagnosed, but I honestly couldn't say I knew with certainty I had any symptoms from it (besides perhaps fatigue).
I've also been told it's one of the easiest co-infections to treat -- several months of Doxy should ideally knock it out. There is an enteric coated version, if the regular version causes you problems.
Posts: 584 | From NY | Registered: Feb 2009
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posted
Possibly wbc and lymphocytes would be good markers. I tested positive for erlichia thru igenex placed on four months IV doxy and feeling in my legs came back. wbc still low and test still positive. no more erlichia treatemnet would be ordered. Now spirostat testing just came back and anaplasma still positive and babesia. wbc and lymph still low after eight years!!Possibly why my immune system has not been able to come back.
Posts: 67 | From cape cod | Registered: Aug 2006
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Haley
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22008
posted
Rifampin. Ramp up to full dose.
I'm curious too. How do you know it is Ehrlichia that is still there.
What are your symptoms that are hanging on?
Posts: 2232 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
They SAY that ehrlichia is easiest to treat but that isn't always the case. I tested positive for ehrlichia so I was put on doxycycline (in addition to other abx). After 5 months of doxy I was tested again and STILL positive for ehrlichia.
So I have come to realize that nothing seems to be "easy" with any of this.
I also did a short stint (2 weeks or so) of rifampin while on the doxy but couldn't tolerate the rifampin at all.
Also...I think it was Dr. B that said if you have a patient that isn't responding to treatment then you should consider ehrilchia as a problem. So it can be a big issue even though some see it as easily treatable.
Sorry I couldn't give you any insight on the ehrlichia treatment. I hope you find something that works for you!!
-------------------- Sick since 10/2001. Tested CDC positive for Lyme 10/2008 through Quest and Igenex. Started treatment 1/2009 with LLMD. Lyme, Erichilosis, Chlamydophila Pneumoniae, Q Fever, Strep Syndrome and probably a few others I am forgetting. Posts: 451 | From Virginia | Registered: Feb 2009
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