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Rocephin Intramuscular shots vs Bicillin shots

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Posted 1/21/2009 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
I saw a new LLMD today and he recommended rocephin IM shots over the bicillin, telling me that the penicillin (bicillin) doesn't work as well as the family of drugs to which rocephin belongs.  I have taken ceftin (same family as rocephin) and it worked well for me, I just couldn't tolerate a high dosage because I have issues with oral ABX and it seems the general dr lyme opinion is that ceftin is the "junk food" of abx for Lyme.  So has anyone ever taken rocephin as a IM shot?  If so, how frequently did you have to get the shot and did it work well?  Thanks!
Posted 1/22/2009 8:49 AM (GMT 0)
I don't about that statement. Bicillin on it's own...ok..i'll give him that....but combined with an 'azole' is a different story. Plenty of research on that one done....

that's what's worked for me. The cephla's did nothing for me. Dig around and find out all you can. My doc actually had me on a diff regimen until i suggested that one and he researched it..and said ok.

take care
Posted 1/22/2009 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Chris,
What LLMD did you see? Just curious. Was this Dr. F.?
Posted 1/22/2009 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
I read in Cure Unknown that Dr Burrascano cured himself of lyme taking Ceftin until his symptoms were gone, then allowing a full relapse, taking it again, full relapse - finally the third time a complete cure. The author cured herself the same way so Rocephin must be a good drug to use.
Posted 1/22/2009 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
do they have Intramuscular Rocephin shots? Never heard anybody mention this on this site?
Posted 1/23/2009 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, they do have IM rocephin shots.
Posted 1/23/2009 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
Does any one know how many times a week you have to have them? I know when i did the Bicillin shots i had it twice a week. Thanks,
Posted 1/23/2009 2:19 PM (GMT 0)

Alfers..yes I started to see Dr. F.    Why do you ask?  Now you have me curious. 

IM Rocephin only has a half life of about 10 hours, so one would probably need a shot every day, which kind of makes IV a better choice. 

Kendal - How does any take a bicillin shot more then once a week...the needle is the biggest one possible for an IM shot....I hate my shot once a week.

Posted 1/23/2009 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Chris L, I did it for about 13 weeks and it hurt. I would try the Im rocephin if my doctor would let me. I did mention it to him once put he never heard of it.
Posted 1/23/2009 9:07 PM (GMT 0)

Kendell,

Google IM Rocephin...there are plenty of pharma sites with it listed.   I'm thinking maybe a possible treatment could be IM rocephin every other day with ceftin or another ABX on the other days.

Posted 1/24/2009 11:13 AM (GMT 0)

djf,

Thanks for the input.  I agree the best route for Rocephin is IV, but I think you are underselling it's ability to help.  From all the research I read Rocephin has helped plenty of lyme patients.  The difference between Rocephin and Bicillin as pointed out by Dr. F was that Rocephin is effective against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria, while bicillin is only effective against one. 

Personally, I saw more improvement in a week's worth of ceftin (rocephin ABX family) then all 5 weeks of bicillin.  I can also say that for the last 3 days the diflucan has been kicking my butt.  Dr. F had most of his information in print and offered to make copies for me.  He also had patient improvement charts written in the patient's handwriting.   Also, your theory that we all are dealing with much more then Lyme is the cornerstone of Dr. F's treatment.   I'm not defending him as the "end all be all" of LLMD, just pointing out some of the things I experienced with him. 

I agree with you that Lyme is not a one size fits all, but saying one way is wrong and another is right is contradicting that statement. 

PS - There is NO WAY I could keep track of all that stuff if I had to take it.  I don't know how you do it.  I take 1/20th of the stuff you take and have trouble remembering it day to day. 

Thanks again for the info!

Posted 1/27/2009 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Derek,

I wasn't sure whether to contact you via your blog or here.

First, thank you for your very informative post. I have known of you and your battle with neuroborreliosis - for quite a long time. I live in Chester County also and from time to time over the last 3 years have heard of you and your struggles. I also ended up talking with your then fiance on the phone several summers ago comparing stories. My story is long - sick in 1995, finally treated in 2003 with IV's, again in 2004, and again in 2007 - this time I am going to beat this. So much more info on it now - again thanks for yours.

Some questions about bicillin IM. My doctor has prescribed one injection per week. I am in the process of get it medically authorized so it can go towards our deductible which hits us every January. It is very expensive as you know. This last year insurance was great - approved 13 months of multiple IV drugs but I am nervous about this one. Comments?

I am having trouble finding someone to give me the first injection. Doc feels it should be done in an office or at minimum by a nurse. Others here have posted helpful info on how to do it yourself after that but I am not sure I am up to it. We'll see.

Do you have any recommendations on who I could get to administer first shot? Also doc just ordered Valtrex and I saw on your blog that Valcyt (sp?) is better?

Since early Jan back on orals of Biaxin 500mg bid and Plaquenil.

I hope to hear from you.
Beth
Posted 1/27/2009 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
Chris L, rocephin IM shots are you going to get them? how many shots per week will you get? Thanks,
Posted 1/27/2009 6:21 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Kendall,

I've decided to stick with the bicillin for now.  If I don't see any results after 4 months (per Derek's advice,) then I'm going to request for IV rocephin.  The truth of the matter is, I'm really starting to hate the IM injections for the bicillin...since they are the biggest needles one can use for an IM injection.  At this point, I'd rather have a PICC (I think   idea   and a stronger dose of medicine. 

Bcaring, are you seeing Dr. S in NJ? 

Posted 1/27/2009 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Chris,

Looking forward to these shots - oh boy. I see Dr. F in NJ. As you are probably aware my initial treatment was with a PICC line for 13 months and a mix of medications. I think the last couple of months with clindimycin was very helpful, with my legs especially. I always had very tender tissue around all around the bone in my lower legs. I say I think, because it also could have been that I was on three different IV drugs at the same time. I am really hoping the shots will take me even closer to full recovery - so that the pain will be worth it.

This whole journey has been scary as heck but I am functional today where as a year ago I wasn't.

Just got a call from doctor's office - they did testing again in early January and it seems that I have reactivated mono so I am to take a viral medication. God has watched out for us because our insurance has paid all the way (after we met our deductible, which didn't take long with the expense of these drugs.

Also, I have seen Dr. F in PA.

Take care,
Beth
Posted 1/28/2009 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Beth,

When you discuss the shots with your doctor, and if you plan getting them in your legs at any time (I rotate from buttocks to leg) then you may want to ask the doctor to prescribe a smaller needle for leg injections. I will be asking my doctor for this the next time I see him. The butt shots aren't that bad. Honestly, I ice the area before the shot, so I don't even feel it. It's the next day that is when I feel it...and again really its the leg not the buttocks. Also, make sure you take the shot out early (needs to be kept in the frig) and warm it up for injection by putting it under your arm so that the medicine (like glue) loosens up. Finally, make sure that the person injecting the medicine injects it very slowly or you will bruise badly after the shot.

Good luck!

PS - Drop me an email.  I have a question about Dr. F.   Thanks!

Post Edited (Chris L) : 1/27/2009 6:39:34 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/28/2009 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
Derek is right. Its probably better to do Biccillin IM or IV rocephin. I did Iv rocephin in the past as well as IM rocephin. I most recently did IM rocephin last spring and summer and it did help me quite a bit until i backslid after getting a bad flu. So, Rocpehin IM can definately help even though its probably best to do it IV.

I cant speak on the Biccilin IM since ive never taken them but it seems like most everybody that does Biccilin IM improves. If you cant get BIccilin IM or IV rocephin then i would definately reccomend Rocephin IM over nothing because it still can help.

Good luck,
Joe
Posted 10/1/2014 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
I realize this thread is 5 years old, however I have a doc who is willing to pretty much do/prescribe whatever treatment plan I can come up with. He will ensure there are no neg interactions and make changes where necessary.
At this point I would like to combine a strong herbal regimine with adrenal and gastro support along with a strong IV or Intramuscular abx. I have read and read but there is always more info and I'd appreciate any advice on which abx is currently the top choice.
Posted Yesterday 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lymieskier,
I too became very ill in 2011, was diagnosed last yr with LD and co-infections. This past Spring was diagnosed with high levels of mold, which I've successfully treated. I've been seeing a great LLD here in BC, Canada since March, 2013. I've been on numerous herbs, supplements and ABX. The ABX that I've had the most positive results with are: bicillin L-A shots 2x/wk, and pulsing tinidazole, 1wk on, 1wk off. I've been doing the bicillin shots for a few mths now with noticeable improvements. The tinidazole is tough but worth it. This is the second time for me, did it for a few mths over a yr ago. I've also been doing autohemotherapy iv 2x/wk for almost 4mths now. I'll continue with that until I feel like a 9 out of 10, (today I'm a 6.5 out of 10, I was a 2 out of 10 1 1/2yrs ago). Keep in touch. All the best to you!
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