HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Minocycline & Upper Abdominal Pain

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/4/2013 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone out there take Minocycline? I started it a couple weeks ago and within days all my Lyme symptoms vanished as though I never had them (joint pain, fatigue, heart racing, chills, night sweats, numb hands to name a few) but after a week I developed a nagging ulcer like pain in my upper abdomen. I had some relief with Zantac and my PCP put me on an acid reducer too. I stopped the minocycline but now after 5 days all my Lyme symptoms have returned. Has anyone else experienced this and does anyone have advice on how to take it with least side effects? I really need to get back on it asap. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I have been on other antibiotics for 8 months but this one really seemed significantly more effective. I have taken doxycycline- could not tolerate at all, omniceff, zithromax, and several supplements.
Posted 2/4/2013 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
Have you been to a lyme specialist? LLMD? My symptoms almost completely went away on Doxy and then returned shortly after. I since, have realized that I have co-infections that are preventing me from kicking the Lyme out of my body. This is why it is important to go to a specialist. Chills and night sweats potentially may be a sign of babesia. Check out the New to Lyme thread on top of the forum - lots of good info on there.
Posted 2/4/2013 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I am being treated by an LLMD for Lyme and Bartonella, diagnosed last may 2012
Posted 2/4/2013 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
Have you tried herbals? I'm concerned for my own health in regards to long term antibiotic use because they inhibit your immune system so it is kind of hard to get off that cycle. I'm sure some others on here will have some good advice for you!
Posted 2/4/2013 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
I'm on mino. I haven't seen the drastic improvement that you describe, but my LLMD says that mino. is a good one because it crosses the Blood Brain Barrier very well. That may be why you saw so much improvement.
Posted 2/4/2013 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
A few thoughts as I read your post, HappyHelen:

Did your LLMD test to make sure that you have enough stomach acid to begin with? Several members have shared that they had stomach issues and when investigated it was discovered that they didn't have enough stomach acid.

Are you eating something significant just moments before you take the Mino? You really need to protect your stomach. The only thing that eating does is slow down absorption of the abx.

Also, did you stop the Mino only because of stomach issues (as if that wasn't enough! eyes)?
Posted 2/5/2013 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
To add to what Trav. said-my LLMD put me on digestive enzymes that I take before meals and it really helps w/ the GI stuff.
Posted 2/5/2013 4:51 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks to all of you for posting. Can you tell me how you take minocycline? I am supposed to take two times a day. Do you take it before eating on an empty stomach? If so, how soon after taking it can you eat? I am taking really good probiotics. I take those at bedtime and digestive enzymes before lunch, vitamins, fish oil, and curcumin after lunch. I am open to any suggestions that may help me tolerate the minocycline better. Thanks again.
Posted 2/5/2013 6:04 PM (GMT 0)

I had terrible pains in my belly when I was on the Minocylcin / Levaquin / Azythromycin combination: the area just under my ribs. And I had diarrhoea and was so nauseous for weeks and weeks until I had to stop that combination.

My pharmacist said to take it half an hour before breakfast and before diner (she didn't say lunch was not ok, but diner was more convenient for me), with a very large glass of water - not laying down for at least an hour (same thing for the Tetralysal I got after that)! Very important she said. Also: when experiencing troubles: try taking it closer to your breakfast/diner (lunch?) - it's hard on the digestive system.

Good luck!

Posted 2/5/2013 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
Happyhelene, I take all abx. WITH meals. The containers on the prescription often say to take away from meals because the med. is then absorbed better, but my LLMD said to take the abx. with food. She said that her patients stomachs get upset if they don't and that I will still absorb adequate amount of the abx. I take the digestive enzymes 3 times per day, before any meal. I do snack in between meals and I don't take the enzymes before snacking.
Posted 2/6/2013 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for info. I am trying again, taking it on empty stomach early morning 1/2 hour before breakfast and 1 hour before dinner. I am not going to take any acid reducers as that seems counterproductive. I will not take my omnicef this week so not to confuse any questions on what meds are causing side effects if any. I am taking digestive enzymes- will try taking at every meal, and will continue ortho biotic probiotics at bedtime. I am going to also start meditating regularly- always been hard for me with 5 kids, a job and a lot of stress but I am determined to beat this and feel like myself again....it has been way too long.
Posted 2/6/2013 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
You most definitely have your hands full with 5 kids!! Why not try what is known as Mindful Meditation to begin with? I do this a lot - although I don't have 5 kids and a stressful job!!

www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-courage-be-present/201001/how-practice-mindfulness-meditation
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply