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HELP! I am afraid artemisia harmed me!

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Posted 6/17/2015 12:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi guys,
recently I have added Zhang's arte-2 (1 caps three times daily, as directed on a bottle) to minocycline 2x100 mg. I have noticed that my chills quickly disappeared so I was encouraged to continue taking it. However, quickly after, I have noticed I am becoming so ligtheaded, and on a day 7 I was so confused, unable to think and almost psychotic that it scared the hell out of me so I stopped taking arte-2 immediately. One week later and I still have not recovered, I have a strange psych-symptoms: fear, depression, crying, I've lost my sense of humour and my IQ dropped.
It's sooooo depressing, I feel like I've lost the ground :(((

Now the big question is: did minocycline made arte-2 working stronger than it should and the arte-2 harmed me

or

the whole situation "just" triggered Babesia? (the "psyche" symptoms are listed here: http://www.wayneanderson.com/pages/diseases/babesia.html)

Thank you very much for your help.

Post Edited (Mark987) : 6/17/2015 6:24:46 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/17/2015 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mark,

Welcome! It sounds like you could have Babesia and the Artemisia stirred it up more. Zhang's formulas pack a punch! You started with a heavyweight med. If you started both at or around the same time, that is a lot to handle!

It sounds like you are herxing from the new meds. It is normal to have die off when you start treating Lyme. You need to detox, detox, detox. Check out the "New to Lyme" thread for tons of great info, especially the info on detoxing. Herxing is not permanent, but you need to detox to move the toxins out and make sure the toxins don't overwhelm your body and harm you.

You should call your doctor and discuss your symptoms with him or her. It sounds like you're having a psychological and physical herx.

Feel free to ask questions. We're here to help!
Posted 6/17/2015 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
I agree - sounds like you could be herxing - even though you stopped the Artemisia - you continued to take the mino?

Up the detox....
Posted 6/17/2015 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your support!

I also wrote an email to dr. Zhang's clinic and they responded there are no contraindications to use arte-2 with minocycline, however the herx may be too intense. So it seems that is the case (stirring up the Babesia), not the side effect of the herb as itself. There is no way I could have known it, especially that I have already took arte-2 in the past (without minocycline) and did not have these problems.
Girlie - I stopped mino, too.
Well, that is a huge lesson for me and, for sure, no more artemisia for me in the near future. Not too much at once (as if I knew that adding one "innocent" herb to the antibiotic may cause such a trouble!)
Posted 6/17/2015 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Mark - Welcome to our community! This is a supportive group of people, hope you continue to read, post and ask any questions you have...

Have you had a chance to read through the "New to Lyme?...Start Here!" thread?
It's full of great information.
Posted 6/17/2015 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I already read it, thank you:)
Posted 6/17/2015 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
It most likely didn't harm you; it caused a herx!!!

Never start with a full dose of any antimicrobial or abx; it could send you to the ER.

I had a similar reaction from taking full doses of Flagyl for a non-Lyme related infection.

Just SLOW down, and DETOX.

Margaret
Posted 6/18/2015 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with Margaret! You need to "ramp up" slowly-starting only one thing at a time until you know how you react. You can start on a low dose and build your way. Make sure you're detoxing.

Also, the Zhang herbs are concentrated-much stronger than regular herbs. So, you were starting on a super dose of Artemisia.

Make sure you're detoxing a lot. If you need help with detoxing suggestions, feel free to ask. :)
Posted 6/26/2015 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hello guys,
my LLMD informed me just to continue the treatment with minocycline and later add Bactrim.

The thing is - days are passing by and I have not recovered from the neurological backslide after the pulse of artemisia. My gut is telling me it was neither herx nor side-effects, but the progression of one of the coinfections. Something like "touching a hornet's nest" - you can't know exactly what will happen.

Previously I took zhang's arte (double strength, 1 capsule three times daily) alone and in combination with mepron + zithromax and I had no problems with it at all. Go figure confused

It's so hard to accept. shakehead
Posted 6/26/2015 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry that you're struggling Mark! It is very common for new symptoms to come out while you're treating. It is like peeling an onion. As you successfully treat certain symptoms, latent ("hidden") symptoms can show up.

It is hard to say for sure what is going on. So, it's important that you keep in touch with your LLMD. Try not to stress. If you're having a rough time, find out from your LLMD what you should do to manage your symptoms. In the meantime, make sure that you are detoxing. If you need more suggestions, we can help.

We can also offer you moral support. This is a wonderful place with so many supportive people!
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