I'm on doxy and pulsing flagyl 3 days a week, and by the third day I kinda have my doubts about them cancelling each other out. I herx. Something is working.

So I am wondering if there is something else at issue here. Maybe timing?

My LLMD offered to put me on amoxicillin for the summer, but gave me the choice to stay on doxy. I chose that for two reasons: so I could start flagyl now instead of waiting a month (to see how I did on the amoxy), and because I wanted to be on abx that is known to penetrate the blood/brain barrier (amoxicillin doesn't, or just barely). And I need that.

I am inclined to think that if there had been a problem with "cancelling out", he would have been aware of it. Or is this so new that three weeks ago he wouldn't have been aware of it?

So.... what are the details on this?

The funny thing for me about taking Flagyl is that although one of the side effects can be loss of appetite, exactly the opposite happens with me! And it is not related to stomach upset either. I EAT. Some days I eat five or six full meals, and snack too. So far, I am handling the flagyl ok. Pulsing probably helps. And I can't beleive how much better I am doing.

I really would like to know what the rationale is. My LLMD did explain that amoxicillin and doxy work in different ways: that doxy works on the cell wall, while amoxicillin enters the cell itself. I am conjecturing that perhaps, since flagyl is breaking down the cyst, which is an encapsulated cell wall, perhaps the idea is that doxy is at a disadvantage relative to amoxicillin.

I guess my response would be that it must also depend on the situation. The question I had-- and the one that influenced my decision-- is, What good does it do to break down cysts in the brain if the antibiotic isn't there to get at the spirochete?

Since my biggest symptoms are CNS related, it seems logical to focus on what will work on them bugs in there. But it is an interesting question, and I will ask my LLMD when I see him next. In the meantime, I'll stick with my doxy/flagyl/allicin combo.

But still would appreciate it if anyone could come up with the actual reason for this thinking, and what it is based on (conjecture based on known factors about the abx, lab studies, or clinical experience).

Dayle Ann

I think I too have the same questions and concerns. I just started a doxy/flagyl combination hopefully with high enough dosage to get thru the BBB(Doxy 200mg 2x a day and Flagly 500mg 3x/day)...and it makes me quite sick feeing...sometimes feel MORE sick than I started out (and it's not from herxing)

So, I'd rather not feel this sick if the two meds are just cancleing each other out and not doing me any good!!

My LLMD warned me I may finally start herxing once I start the flagyl...and I was all geared up for it...but still nothing...So am I just a person who doesn't herx or is there something to these 2 meds cancling each other out????...and if so, why doesn't my LLMD know about this...she says she's constantly going to conferences on Lyme...

How did Dr. B (mentioned above)come to learn this piece of info...is there a source I can direct my LLMD to???

Any info to help clear all this confusion up would be helpful...Confusion about if I am doing the right thing or not stresses me out BIG TIME!!

Thanks,
Kira

I AM herxing on doxy and flagyl. I'm not concerned about it, but I am really curious about what the reasoning is supposed to be here.

Kira, it is possible to feel really sick on abx, sicker than when you were sick, if that makes sense. Not everyone reacts that way, but some do.

That's why I'm glad the doc is having me pulse the flagyl. Three days out of the week is enough right now. After 14 years I've probably got cysts tucked in all over the place! Don't want to break too many of them all at once-- I imagine that would be one heck of a herx!

I think if you search antibiotic combos for h-pylori you should find studies on double nad tripple antibiotics comparing there effectiveness.

You know about H-pylori? It is a spirochete that takes sometimes years of up to 4 antibiotics at a time.