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Minocycline -side effects & how to take?

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Posted 4/17/2013 4:51 AM (GMT 0)
I started mino today and did a search here and found that people start at low dose 50 mg. Seems it can cause off-balance feeling and fatigue and some couldn't tolerate it.

Just looked at my bottle and I was given 100mg capsules. I took my first one tonight and do feel kind of off balance.

On the enclosure it says to take with a full glass of water. Is it ok to take right after a meal, or does this mean it should be taken away from food?

label says to work up to two capsules two times a day as tolerated

I tried "unscrewing" the capsule to see if I could take half next time but can't open it.

Headache at base of skull is my major symptom, but kind of think it's bartonella, so not sure why I've been given this. It was my first symptom with lyme though and had positive Igenex way back. Have gone through many abx since, but never mino.

Thanks!

 

Posted 4/17/2013 6:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Korissa,

I took Minocycline for a little while. My pharmacist told me to take it half an hour before meals (if badly tollerated you can take it when starting meals), with a large glass of water, and to not lay down for 2 hours (because of stomach acid reflux).

My dr prescribed this for Bartonella, in combination with azythromycin and Plaquenil.

Good luck!!

Marie
Posted 4/18/2013 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
I'm on 200 mg/day. It treats lyme and is mildly affective against Bartonella.

It can cause dizziness because it crosses the blood brain barrier. My LLMD warned me of this, but I didn't experience it. My Dr. did say that, for most of her patients that have dizziness w/ it, it subsides in a week or two.

My LLMD told me to take ALL abx. w/ food and water even if the bottle says not to. She said that it's too hard on the GI tract otherwise.
Posted 4/18/2013 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, if you are going on abx long term you almost always want to take it with food.
Posted 4/18/2013 10:45 AM (GMT 0)
I take it with food or sometimes an hour before if I think of it. I think minocycline is a good antibiotic. I haven't had any problems or side effects from it. It's a pretty safe one. I take it with many others.

400mg per day is a pretty high dose of mino. Usually people take 200mg even in Lyme.
Posted 4/19/2013 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I am using minocycline too! I'm starting out with just 50 mg and have been taking it for 2 weeks. So far I do have fatigue, but also have Hashimoto's with hypo symptoms so fatigue is due to that too, also have increased foot pain on the bottom of both of my feet. but I was wondering, how long to take til i start increasing meds? I"m supposed to work up to 200 mg.

thanks,
Posted 4/20/2013 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
I'm hypo thyroid too starbuxgal3 but feel anxious, probably due to bart, but coincidentally, my MD is lowering my levothyroxine a tad for a month to see if that might be part of the problem. This is probably a bad time to be testing that theory because fatigue is one of my problems with lyme.

As tired as I am I'm never sleepy and asked MD if I could try a lower dose and still be in good TSH range.,

I think I'll just take one a day for a while at supper and see if that helps.

I wonder if it's the mino itself that causes the fatigue, or the fact that it's killing stuff and we're toxic? I never experienced this kind of fatigue on other abx though.

Does the fatigue go away as our bacterial load is decreased?

Ears are ringing more too. Ringing started when on zith a year ago and had to quit.

Maybe I should take powder out of pill and put half in applesauce rather than once a day? My capsules are 100 mg.
Posted 4/21/2013 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
I don't think fatigue is a typical side-effect of Mino. It is a common herx and lyme symptom, so probably is from that.

My LLMD said that the fatigue is usually the last symptom to subside with treatment because so many different factors are involved. B12, iron, and other supplements can help.

My ears ring much worse when I'm herxing. I do know that tinnitus is a common problem with Zith, but not sure with Mino.

My LLMD typically says to give a new abx. 2-3 weeks to see if symptoms subside. If they do, then it was a herx. If they don't, then it's a med. side-effect. That's the advice she gives me. Anytime I start a new abx. and have new or worse symptoms, I now give it about 21/2 weeks and usually they have subsided by then.
Posted 4/21/2013 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
Tinnitus is a common symptom of Lyme as well.

Always go the extra mile to protect your stomach!! We only get one of them! :-) Eating just before taking your abx will usually only reduce the amount absorbed by a very small amount. It's worth it to not have major stomach issues!
Posted 4/21/2013 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
My daughter took 200mg/day of Mino for 7 months. She always took it with meals. She tolerated it fairly well compared to the Doxy.

Don
Posted 7/15/2014 5:30 AM (GMT 0)
Im on 200mg per day
Posted 11/13/2014 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
I just stared Minocycline a few days ago and have had a low grade fever that has gotten higher in the last 24 hours along with dizziness, sore throat, nausea and headache. Do you think these are side effects or herxing? I really want to continue but my body is so weak especially with the fever. I am taking 100mg/ 2x per day. Do you think it would be ok to take one pill a day until I start feeling better? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Left a message for my Dr but haven't gotten a call back so not sure if I should continue??

Thank you,
Tracy
Posted 11/13/2014 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Are you detoxing? If so, how much? We have a great set of suggestions for detoxing in the "New to Lyme?" thread that sits at the top of the forum.

Of course if you have any questions, please be sure to ask!
Posted 11/17/2014 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply. I checked out the detoxing post and will incorporate some of those things. I've since gotten off the Mino as it gave me terrible side effects. My Dr may start me on Doxy now.

Being on the RX for a few days did bring almost every single symtom of Babesia. My Dr thought I may have it but this definitely reassured that diagnosis. I read that you should treat the Babesia before the Lyme. Has anyone had any experience with that? If so, with what meds/supplements/herbs?

Also, can anyone recommend a good Lyme Dr in the Portland, OR area? I am currently seeing a Dr in Vancouver, WA that is out of pocket and he is just so busy I would love to find someone possibly closer and who is more available. I would travel for the right treatment though so please let me know if there is anyone you recommended in the NW. I did go to Dr K's office for a bit which I liked but I am looking to treat with antibiotics and herbs and they weren't as keen on the Rx's.

Thank you!!
Tracy
Posted 11/17/2014 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Ecomama,
It would be best if you started a new thread with your request for a LLMD in those areas. That way members will know right away what you are needing.

You can also email me. I have no idea if the doctors that I have on my list accept insurance or not, but a quick phone call can tell you that.

I've been hearing that doctors are telling patients that Babesia must be treated first, and that may well be for some patients, but I treated Lyme, then added in Bartonella treatments first then went after my Babesia infection and healed just fine from all of my tick-borne infections - so this isn't true for all people.
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