Re: Tetracycline/Biaxin and Plaquenil

[Guest guest]

Jim,

If you aren't feeling relief, it would be my

experience that you 1) don't have LD, 2) aren't

taking a high enough dose (I know it sounds crazy). A

doctor who is quite famous and active in the LD

community likes tetracyclines the best against LD.

And he would know. Why you are getting no

relief?....good question. Before you change the

regimen, try taking a blood test for the level of

theraputic agent in your blood stream...

Personally, I feel that Zithromax is very effective

and provides all symptom relief in two hours with them

never returning again if taking the correct dose

(takes a few days/weeks just to get that dialed in).

I take over 5gms per day...normal folk don't need

that. Good luck!

-Jeff L.

--- naturefreak2002 <naturefreak@...> wrote:

> Hi,

> I have been taking tetracycline 500 mg t.i.d. for

> the past three

> months with no improvement. Has anyone out there

> had success with

> tetracycline? If so, how long did it take before

> you started seeing

> improvement? Was it hard on your gut and gut flora?

> My gut has

> barely tolerated the tetracycline the last few

> months, and only by

> taking MASSIVE doses of beneficial bacteria.

>

> My doctor is about to switch me to a combination of

> Biaxin

> (clarithromycin) and Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine)

> and I was

> wondering if anyone has had any experience with this

> combination. If

> so, did it work for you? How long did it take to

> see improvement?

> Did you have any adverse effects? How hard was it

> on your gut?

>

> I would REALLY appreciate any input on the above!

> Thanks!

> Jim

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Are you seeing Dr. D? This is often his protocol.

The tetra I was on for 4 mos helped my brain fog, but did little else. I

have found the biaxin/pla'nil combo to be the best-working one (I had also

tried erithro + doxy + pla'nil). The biaxin brought out some of the Lyme

symptoms (esp chest pain!) so I knew I was having a herx sometimes. And

I'm better on it now than I was before I took it.

(note - I had aso tried IV Claforan but couldn't tolerate it - not just a

Herx but some neuro-toxic reaction that had the vertigo, etc., at

intolerable levels -- so we went back to oral abx).

As far as the gut thing - my nutritionist recommends a probiotic sold by

Culturelle (they have a website, and I don't own stock in it LOL).

I have not found the Biaxin to mess up my gut. (And, boy, the Claforan

sure did!)

So, I think there's reason to be hopeful. You might eventually want to

pursue IV abx if you haven't already, but they also pose some risks. Some

docs now use Claforan instead of Rocephin bec. Rocephin can affect the

gall bladder. But claforan was really rough on the gut.

Good luck. My sympathy. Feel better.

Sincerely,

Marie

ill since 1994

dx'd CFIDS

Dx'd w. Lyme Dec. of '99 by Dr. D.

and improving and working on my degree

[Guest guest]

Hi Jim,

I'm a believer that, if you have gone through several cycles of the

spirochete without losing at least one lyme symptom it is time to switch

abxs.

In my opinion I think, switching abx is important, if you aren't improving.

What's to say you don't have a strain that can't be killed off by

Tetracycline. Go for a new combination, stick with it for awhile, and if

you don't see improvement, then move on.............One type of abx doesn't

work on everyone...........We all react differently to medication, and there

are many different strains of bacteria.

Different abx kill of different bacteria, so until they can isolate every

single lyme bacteria, and find the abx that can kill if off...........I

think switching abx is a good treatment plan............it sounds very trial

and error..........but from the cured cases I have heard about, including

myself, there was no one abx that worked the best!!!!!

Personally, I would got ahead with the new treatment plan.

Conniek nwnj

Leave no stone unturned.......and ask questions! If the answers don't agree

with your gut feelngs or your research,

ask more questions or see another Dr !!

[Guest guest]

Hi Jim,

Sorry it took so long to reply. I was never on

Tetracycline, but my very first treatment upon the

discovery of Lyme's (after 5 yrs) was 6 weeks of

Biaxin. I did great on it, but then symptoms returned

about 4 weeks after I stopped it. I was then referred

to LLMDs for IV Therapy. The Biaxin did not bother my

stomach, but I do know it can be very hard on the

stomach & some people can't tolerate it.

As far as the Plaquinil, the LLMD wanted to give it to

me since I continued doing poorly, even after the IV

therapy. You must have an extensive eye exam prior to

taking it. I was on it for a short period, but then

got very sick, symtoms worsened & since I didn't know

whether I was sick from the Plaquinil, the Lyme's, or

whatever, I chose to stop taking it, so I can't help

you out much there. I do beleive Biaxin has helped a

lot of people if you can tolerate it. Hope that helps!

Jeannie

--- naturefreak2002 <naturefreak@...> wrote:

> Hi,

> I have been taking tetracycline 500 mg t.i.d. for

> the past three

> months with no improvement. >

> My doctor is about to switch me to a combination of

> Biaxin

> (clarithromycin) and Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine)

> and I was

> wondering if anyone has had any experience with this

> combination.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

How long were you on the IVs? I have late neuro lyme and been on IVs 4 months

and herx pretty bad. my legs are failing me and my lyme doc thinks plaquenal

would help damage to my immune syatem.plus I was on steroids bad move which

makes lyme harder to treat. Do you think you have improved on IVs and if so

how long were you on it?

patty

[Guest guest]

Patty: I am on IV rocephin and I am experiencing high fever for the first

time in 5 years. My normal body temp is 96.2...today, I was in a deep sleep

and sweating and lately I am sweating through the nights...I wonder if my

natural killer cells are beginning to kick in or if this is a sign of another

coinfection. I have headaches every day and seem to herx most every day if

that's possible.

This is my second go around with rocephin but the first time I was placed on

flagyl and zithromax and doxy....I think I decompensated with so many meds

because I ended up in the hospital for a week with pancreatitis and

cholecystitis that the ER doctor saw my liver enzyme levels and told me he

had never seen levels as high as mine.

I hope and pray the rocephin helps me into remission. I have lost my kid's

adolescence and two will be in college and oldest is almost 30...I just hope

to be well enough to be there for my youngest who will begin highschool soon.

God bless,

Donna