IV vs Oral Antibiotic

For members that have experience with both, did IV’s get you closer to remission vs orals? I’m currently seeing Dr. Horowitz NP John and he said that doc hasn’t put anyone on IV abx for a while because he doesn’t think it helps more than the persistent protocols. I’ve been slow to respond to oral ABX treatment so trying to cover all my bases. Thanks!

My daughter wasn’t doing so hot with orals in fact she ended up in a wheelchair after a year of them. She actually declined while on orals till she got her picc line for rocephin. She has not used the wheelchair since shortly after. However I will say, many things were adjusted in her protocol at the same time. She was switched from oral doxy to minocycline, added tindamax pulse, and rifampin all in addition to the rocephin. Prior to she was only on doxy, zyth, and mepron so it’s hard to say... she may have done well without the IV on these orals but somethings helped so we are just holding steady with the current plan. For what it’s worth, we saw quick improvement with IV but I know it’s not a magic bullet for all.

jb1994 said...
My understanding is IVs are gentler on the body than oral

Yes they are better for the GI as it’s bypassed but they can be a hassle and there’s a low risk for infection at the site.

I know that IV abx saved my husband’s life.
He was working in the garage and his elbow got sore and started to swell. By early evening the swelling was moving up his arm.
Finally late evening he agreed to go to the ER. They said he had s bad infection and gave him some abx to take.
By next morning it had travelled further - his arm looked like a football and the infection had moved outside of the felt pen lines I had drawn around it. I dragged him to the Dr and the dr called emergency and said to prepare for a patient coming there for a week of daily IV abx.
Then he told my husband it was serious and if he didn’t do the IV he could lose his arm and possibly his life.
It stopped spreading after the first infusion and then the swelling started to abate.

MEN!!!

Girlie said...
Dr H doesn’t put anyone on IV abx anymore?


I know my LLMD Dr J still uses IV for certain cases.
One criteria is if “critical structures” are in jeopardy and another is if they have bad gut/stomach issues.

I think he said 10-20% of his patients are on IV abx

Girlie, not according to what his NP said. Dr. H thinks the persister protocols are just as effective as IV’s.

Cappuccinocurls, they take new patients off and on based on current patients leaving. When you call just ignore the voicemail that says they don’t take new patients and try and talk to an actual person. They’ll tell you if they have space currently.

ElizKA26 said...
Because of the side effects I've experienced, my LLMD is has switched one of ABX's to an injection. Helps bypass stomach.

That is one reason to do IV abx - it really is easier on the GI

I’m surprised Dr H clinic doesn’t prescribe them for some of his patients.
Must not want the hassle... I guess?
They are more work - I know with Dr J you need to go back to the clinic every 6 weeks or so to do a test in person.
That eliminated the IV option for me. (Although they didn’t recommend them in my case anyway)

Not crucial - critical

I don’t know all the parameters but for example if someone has symptoms of ALS - IV is a must.

I didn’t ask him to list all the instances he’d prescribe IV.

I think anyone in a wheelchair would be a candidate.