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May need to get off doxy - mino instead?

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Posted 7/13/2014 6:09 AM (GMT 0)
I've been on the doxy for just over a week now, and have been fine on it...except for the sun issue.
I am wearing sunscreen, and trying not to have much skin exposed, but it's been 80 degrees here...and it's too hot to wear longsleeves and gloves ....so my hands are a bit reddish and itchy, and my nose as well.
I had sunscreen on.
I'm thinking it's just not practical to be on doxy during summer months.

So...is minocycline a good substitute? I will talk to the Dr. this coming week, but I'd like to have some suggestions.
I would prefer another abx in the same class. I maybe adding zithromax to what I'm taking in a month or so.
Posted 7/13/2014 6:12 AM (GMT 0)
I staRt mino tomorrow, it has same warning about staying out of sun.
Posted 7/13/2014 6:13 AM (GMT 0)
Also says not to take with food which I dont get.
Posted 7/13/2014 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
I read that mino can cause sun sensitivity, but not like doxy does.

I could put up with the redness and itchy, etc. but I'm concerned about it causing skin cancer.

What about zithro - if I add it to mino - does zithro kill lyme?

Chapelle - But does the bactrim kill lyme, or just bart?
Posted 7/13/2014 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
My LLMD had me on Mino. for years. It worked until I plateaued out (and got c. diff.). I never worried about the sun regardless.

If the Doxy. is helping though, sunscreen is a small load to bear, compared to the problems of Lyme. I would stick with what works. Sometimes, if you jump around too much, you won't know what worked or didn't work in the first place.

You know what they say, "Why look a gift horse in the mouth."

Margaret
Posted 7/13/2014 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
I know what you're saying Margaret. But the problem is I can't wear waterproof sunscreen...and the one I've used for years...is now waterproof. My skin reacts to it. So, now I'm trying to find one that I can wear.
I want to stay on doxy, but I can't cover every part of my body with cloth, and it's just not practical to stay indoors every sunny day for the next two months from 11:00- 4:00.
10 minutes (with my non-waterproof sunscreen) driving - and my skin was red, itchy.
Posted 7/13/2014 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
There are hats and thinner clothing with SPF in them. I have a hat that's very lightweight and pretty cute. It has a wide brim and is SPF 50. It is made by Coolibar.
Posted 7/13/2014 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
What if you used another kind that has a high SPF rating but isn't waterproof?

Yes, I think it's probably a bad idea to use a sunscreen that's waterproof. That's too many barriers between yourself and the outside world. Your skin needs to breathe, no matter what. I'd go with the most natural product possible.

Otherwise, go with what you feel is best.

Margaret
Posted 7/14/2014 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
Girlie. Bactrim (Septra DS) does NOT kill Lyme, BUT it blocks it from reproducing and ever increasing to numbers. I guess in theory you could probably go on bactrim DS or Septra DS for a few years and eventually all the Lyme germs would die of old age lol. Good thing. about septra DS, is it has a very low MIC or minimum inhibitory concentration

Plaquenil is also similar in that it blocks it from reproducing. This one inhibits the DNA gyrase. But this also makes other intracellular abx esspecially the macrolides work much better.

Girlie, one thing you have to remember about the mino. It has over double the penetration into the brain and nerves that doxy has. Actually it has 2.85 times the tissue penetration, nerve penetration, and brain penetration!!! All places Lyme likes to hide! But keep in mind the could form round body forms in these places. So a cyst buster helps with this. Also you have to consider major psych herxes!! Some LLMDs actually won't prescribe this to start because psych herxes can potentially be too much!
Posted 7/14/2014 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
girlie - you are absolutely right, you will suffer too much if you stay on doxy. I couldn't handle it in the springtime - forget the summer! look at it this way, you can probably switch back to it in sept if need be. lyme does not become resistant to antibiotic therapy.
Posted 7/14/2014 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
It is practical, I did it, did not enjoy it but you do what uou have to kill these bugs. I had limited sun exposure for 12 weeks. Besides being the hot sun usually made me feel worse. Its your decision but jumping abx could be bad long term. They are not effect ive forever. Ultimately you have to do what and your llmd think is best for you. Ive missed so many summers the last 10 years that I am willing to lose one more if it gets me moving towards being healthier and more functional.

Post Edited (Roxie60) : 7/13/2014 6:47:22 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/14/2014 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
I don't think mino has the same issues with sun sensitivity that doxy does. It maybe because the dosing is generally less with the mino. We are generally taking 200 mg daily rather than 400 mg daily with doxy.

200 mg mino still actually gets more medication into the brain than does 400 mg of doxy.
Posted 7/14/2014 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
For me it's more than just an inconvenience. I slathered the sunscreen on yesterday, also put on face makeup with sunscreen, wore a hat and long sleeves.
Drove downtown - 10 minutes there...then indoors...and 10 minutes back.

Hands were red, and wrists, I guess the sleeves were a little short...and my nose is red.
I had red bumps on my wrists, too.
So, I guess if i want to wear long-sleeves all summer and also gloves for when I'm in the car...but why, if I can switch abx?

I am fair and have had my share of sunburns as a child...but have been careful for the past twenty years...and am concerned about the sun and skin cancer.

I'll ask the ND and see what she says about switching after a short time on doxy.
Posted 7/14/2014 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
If you want my opinion. The mino is way better if you feel like the Lyme got into your brain. Mine did and I thought it worked quite effective. Mino alone though probably won't get you a successful treatment though. And you have to be aware that mino kills the dividing ones but can also turn some into cyst forms. So it's good to combine minocycline with a cyst buster.
Posted 7/14/2014 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Septra DS is usually pretty low toxicity and great to get into all your tissues. It prevents all the infections from ever getting worse and gets into all your tissues, including the brain. The new study that came out revealed this easily tolerated drug can also work at having a low MIC or minimum inhibitory concentration.

The winning combination that got me 95% well of both Lyme and bartonella was a combo of minocycline + Plaquenil + septra DS + tinidazole. I'd say tinidazole was the most toxic of them all. The other 3 were pretty well tolerated by me.
Posted 7/14/2014 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
Lymepickle - my brain is very forgetful...and althought I knew most of this before...today my brain is scrambled eggs.

What is the Plaquenil for?

and what class of abx is the septra DS?

What do you think of mino plus zithro. My reasoning - I am thinking of doing bartonella treatment after...and I can add rifampin to the mino...then if I need to do babesia, I can drop mino and do zithro and mepron.

Maybe I'll bounce that off the Dr.

Everytime i read on the internet about an abx, I see all these horrible side effects - but I guess every abx has them.
Posted 7/14/2014 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
Girlie if you have Lyme Bart and babesia and you want a good regimen that will get all 3. Zithromax and bactrim are 2 good ones that will hit all 3. Plaquenil will block the Lyme from getting worse and make the Zithromax more effective against all germs. Mepron is an effective drug for babesia. Plaquenil also hits the babesia.

Maybe to start, for your first month try:

Zithromax, Plaquenil, septra DS.
Posted 7/14/2014 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
Lymepickle: So, no point in starting with mino, then adding zithromax? And after that adding bactrim...dropping mino?

So - I should decide between mino and zithro.

My GP will give me a presc. for zithro and mepron today if i want it...maybe I should grab it.....as she may change her mind...lol

I'm going to try and talk to Dr. M. today, but may not get through.
Posted 7/14/2014 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
If you are deciing btwn those two I would go with zithrtomax and thn add septra later on
Posted 7/14/2014 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. It gets overwhelming - so many abx - and needing to get all three forms of the lyme...not to mention the co-infections. And by the time most of us get to treatment stage, we have suffered long enough...and just want to get the right recipe.

I will be changing to zithromax...and was going to add tinidazole for the cysts...so do you usually add the septra ds before you add tinidazole for cysts?

I realize you can't give me medical advise...and I will be seeing a LLND eventually, but I like to be involved in the decision. I honestly don't trust ANY doctors anymore. The lyme undiagnosis was the last straw..my family have had several mis and undiagnosises over the years and my trust is gone.
Posted 7/14/2014 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
Be careful with tinidazole since it has a risk of causing cancer in mice. U. May know this already but just fyi. It sure is overwhelming!
Posted 7/14/2014 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Chapelle, I did read that somewhere.

Did you use GSE to bust the cysts? Doxy, Zithro, and Bactrim are the abx you used - those aren't cyst busters, correct?

I also read that some LL Docs say it isn't known if you need a cyst buster, that the regular abx used in combination can bust them.
What do you think?
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