Fluconazole - big dose

My LLMD has taken me off all abx, my heart was pounding, nightmares, bruises, and now put me on just Fluconazole (diflucan) for 4 weeks. 2x 200mg a day.

From what I can read, this seems to be a high dose?

Considering that I am "Miss Sensitive" and seem to react badly by more or less just looking at a packet of medicine, can anyone share their experiences ?

I see nausea and headaches are common?

Best to take it with or without food? Any tips on dealing with the possible side-effects?

Should I keep taking probiotics even though I am no longer taking antibiotics?

Hi Traveler,

I think that's a good idea, I took two yesterday, and I have to say, my heart was much calmer after just the second tablet and I felt pretty enthusiastic, finally seeing a pulse 75-80 instead of always over 90 !! Really fingers crossed that the fluconazole is going to finally help me feel a bit better.

But today I felt odd in the evening, hard to explain, I could have sworn my heart was pounding faster than 100, but when I counted, it was only 80, with a sort of odd vibrating sensation (kind of like doing triple-time in a dance, like the vibration was on top of the regular heartbeat), but it was creepy, and lasted about three hours. I felt short of breath, though there was no reason for it, my pulse was really not that high.

They are capsules, so I can't split them, or I'd try 2x 100mg, then 3x 100mg and so on, but I guess I can space them 24 hours, then 18, then build to 12 hours apart, it has a half-life of 30 hours, so that would sort of be like doing 1 1/2 dose?

Also, my blood results came in - my liver is fine, but there is something odd around the iron. I was severely iron deficient with low hemoglobine, pre-tick bite, but not discovered until post- tick bite, and no cause was found. I was given iron-IVs and 6 weeks ago at the last blood test I was still ok. Now my hemoglobine was fine, serum iron was fine, but my ferritine had plungeded from 43 to 7.

What the heck? My house doc was the one who took the bloods, as my LLMD is so far away, but all she could offer was "you better take iron pills" (they didn't do anything last time, I had to resort to IVs). Christmas week, can't reach my LLMD...

Read somewhere that Candida can interfere with ferritin levels, am almost hoping that's the case, because otherwise it's another big mystery... (maybe I should open a new topic on the ferritin thing to see if I can attract some attention to it?)

Am considering taking Lactoferrin, it's anti-fungal as well as helps bind iron, but maybe it'll all be too much at once...

The Kefir is a good idea, I happen to like it, but had sort of forgotten about it.

I'll skip the fluconazole tonight, I'm a little creeped out, and have to get through a busy Christmas weekend.

Thanks for the support!

True, Jessica. it could be just a part of a herx. The problem is that all heart symptoms aren't always from a Herx reaction. They can be issues with the heart itself, caused by Lyme. Be careful to scrutinize your situation, if in doubt, go see your Doc or go to the Emergency room. Heart issues aren't something someone should necessarily take the wait and see approach to - unless they already know for sure that it's just a herx.

Try to believe in the healing powers of your body - even if it does need a little help along the way!! With still having some rather intense anxiety attacks, I can relate to how disturbing the heart pounding can be. Being concerned and wondering when the next episode will occur can make it happen sooner.

Some people here actually use alarms to help them keep everything timed just so. Since most of us have a cell phone and usually carry it everywhere with them, using a cell phone's alarms would work great!

And, no problem about the suggestions, that's why we are here!!

Awesome Scandic!! Glad you manage to get out for a short walk!

I know what you mean about that horrid 'vibration thing'!! I can't carry my cell phone in my pants pockets, because I can never tell if it's my leg just doin' it's thing or if it's my phone!!!

I'm so glad to hear that the Fluconazole seems to helping! Systemic yeast issues can be very serious!

That is so awesome, Scandic!!! Congrats!! And what a Christmas gift!!!

Interesting that your Hubby could actually feel the vibrations! I never even thought to ask my hubby if he could feel the vibrations when I was having them! I think I would have given my hubby the "you've got to be kidding me!!" stare if he had done the same thing to me too!!!

Be aware that Lyme can actually make the muscles and tendons in between the ribs really sore as well - so if they get sore at another time, it could just be the infection.


May you have a peace-filled, vibration free, 67 beat per minute evening!!

The first infection I was treated for was fungal, and fluconazole can be very effective, with the herx and everything. At one point I was on 3x200/day.

However as is often mentioned here, you may have co-infections as well. The problem I had with fluconazole was that it allowed the bacterial co-infections (which I didn't realize I had) to run wild.

Now I don't take abx without fluconazole and don't take fluconazole without abx.

Be sure to take lots of probiotics and eat lots of probiotic foods.

As far as the heart rhythm, make sure you ask your doctor, but these infections can cause heart arrhythmia and the treatments may cause it to change.

Good Luck!
SM

For completeness, in case anyone later does a search for Fluconazole or rapid heartrate and wonders what happened....

I've been on the Fluconazole now for a week and my heart is much calmer. I still have some up & down "episodes" where it goes faster, usually in the evening, and at night I still get the buzzing, but instead of the heart going 110-120, it now goes 90 instead, so everything has moved down a notch, if that makes sense. I have a resting pulse of 75 mostly, have even seen 61.

The nighttime buzzing is enough to keep me from getting any sleep, so 1/2 an ambien is helping out there.

So far, touch wood, no nasty side effects from the Fluconazole.

Feel like it's taking this holiday week forever to pass so I can ask my LLMD about my Ferritin levels, and if they are Candida related or not.

As it looks now, most of the heart issues were Candida related, and weren't the Lyme or a herx...

I'm feeling well enough to go for a short walk everyday again and have re-started the daily yoga.