Brain Fog worse than ever - antibiotics or antihistamines to blame?

I started minocycline about two weeks ago after taking a two month break from any antibiotics due to Mast Cell Activation triggering while on Bactrim. I began with one 50mg capsule daily for the first week and have now been on two 50mg capsules daily for the second week.

I wanted to ease into it to prevent a histamine spike, and I’ve also added in one 180mg tablet of fexofenadine every other day as a preventative measure.

I haven’t really experienced anything I would consider herxing (and I didn’t on the bactrim either) but for the last week or so on this regimen my brain fog has gotten exponentially worse. Its difficult to tell whether its the antibiotics or the antihistamines behind it, as I started them at the same time and for the first few days everything was as it usually was.

Has anyone experienced anything similar while on either of those meds? Or could this be a strange sort of herx? I say strange because I don’t have any other herxing symptoms besides the brain fog, and I’m on such low doses of antibiotics I doubt it would cause a herx.

It might also be important to note that I have not been sleeping well at all lately, an unfortunate consequence of having to work late night shifts to be able to afford the supplements I need for treatment. It could even be that I’m simply overtired for all I know.

I need the names of lyme experts in the Tri-State area, whether or not they take insurance or not.
Thanks.

SicklySkald: Melatonin may help with sleep, also I'm sure you have heard to shut off all computers , phones, TV for a few hours before trying to sleep. No food for a few hours before sleep.

My mind used to race with thoughts when I tried to go to sleep and A friend said to do the alphabet and for me it did work. Like counting sheep I guess. Worth a try.

I also would take a epsom salt bath before bed and that sometimes helped me get to sleep.

45REED74: Hi and welcome to our forum. You have posted to someones current thread, so members may not see your request.

No problem though, you can start a new post and put in the topic box'Searching for an LLMD in the Tri -State area that takes Insurance".

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You can also search for an llmd at : /www.ilads.org/patient-care/provider-search/

and /www.lymedisease.org/find-lyme-literate-doctors/

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We do encourage all new members to take a look at our"New to Lyme" start here thrad at the top of the page.

Lots of info on Lyme, testing, symptoms, detoxing and more.


Take care.

SicklySkald said...
Interesting, I wasn’t aware that ammonia can pose an issue. Is there any way to tell if there is an ammonia build up?

As for regular sleeping I’m not sure. Even on nights when I can sleep as long as I’d like my body is too used to all the activity and I can’t seem to settle down.

Yes, its a basic insurance covered lab blood test. Mine was tested by Quest or Labcorp, forget. Both have web sites to read about their tests.

It could also be side effects from mino.
It penetrates the b/b barrier well.

When I first started it, I felt a lot of head stuff - off balance, a bit dizzy etc and it subsided after a week or two. My LLND explained it could happen - If I’m remembering correctly he had me start on half dose - 100 mg daily before going to 200 mg daily.

Thank you all for your responses!

Psilociraptor,
Brain fog has definitely always been my most pervasive primary symptom, so I suppose that could make sense. And I know herxing can happen at any dose depending on the status of one’s infection/immune system, but does that mean they can also happen at any time? The worsening of my symptoms started about a week into resuming treatment, but I always thought herxing tends to happen much sooner than that if not immediately.

Goshawk,
I’m definitely familiar with healthy sleep practices though melatonin might be worth a shot.

Girlie,
That’s exactly what my LLND has me doing; starting with 100mg daily and working my way up to 200 next month. Might ask how soon into your minocycline treatment that those head symptoms appeared?

I see, I guess its difficult to tell whether its a herx or a drug side effect, especially since I never herxed while on my last course of antibiotics, so its hard for me to know what its like. I have been taking a detox formula daily though, which is made up mostly of milk thistle.

Psilociraptor,
I quite like that analogy, it makes sense that the toxin load needs time to accumulate. I did notice a spike in some other symptoms following my morning dose of mino, so here’s to hoping that I’m just herxing and on my way to feeling better.

Thanks to everyone for their insights.