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When to switch from doxy?

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Posted 7/15/2014 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
So, the sun is just to much for me and doxy. I stayed home yesterday - in the house or in the shade in the back yard.

I have to go out for a bit today...will do my best to cover up.

My question: I am changing to Zithromax - will get the prescription on Thursday. The weather is supposed to be changing (this has been unusually hot for our area) - so if I can stay on doxy for another week or two, and then switch...is that better? August is usually the time that we get the long, hot spell...and I will want to be off doxy then.
That could give me about 4 weeks on doxy or longer if the August heat wave doesn't hit for a while.
Or, maybe I'll add zithromax right away ...and then drop the doxy in a couple of weeks. Then I can go back on the doxy in September.
Posted 7/15/2014 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
I will bounce this off the ND when I see her on Thursday, and again, she is not LL, but has been learning and researching, etc for a year and has a few lyme patients.

I know you can't advise me on my meds, but just wanting to hear your opinions.

Thanks!

PS - I know I'm a pain in the a-- with all my questions, changes, etc. Please be patient with me!!!
Posted 7/15/2014 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
Don't worry about it, switch over as soon as you can. Why wait? What is your concern? Treatment is a marathon, you'll more than likely be taking one or more ABX combos for a long time.

It's not the heat, it's the intensity of the sun. I got a real bad doxy burn in Mid April (up in New England), then switched over to mino.
Posted 7/15/2014 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Tickbite: I was thinking of switching to mino, but the Dr. said it's in the same class to doxy, and it will cause sun sensitivity, too. You found mino better for you?

I know it's the UV, not the heat, but when I say the hot spell, i mean weeks of sun, instead of clouds/rain.

The reason I want to stay on doxy as long as possible is because what I read - doxy seems to be the better choice than zithromax...and a lot of LL docs start with it. I know zithromax is used, as well, though.
The other reason, is since I've been on doxy almost two weeks, I may be getting to close to it actually doing some good...and wouldn't want to halt that if I could gain some benefit.
Posted 7/16/2014 12:20 PM (GMT 0)
Girlie,

I had been on Zithro for a much longer period of time with other ABX combos than when taking doxy. Doxy has the highest percentage of pushing Lyme into cyst form than any other ABX (but it does have its place in the various protocols).

I have taken Doxy, mino and tetra. Only doxy gave me a bad sun reaction, and I spend a lot of time outdoors with no protection while on mino. I have a dark complexion and everyone is different.

From reading your posts you sound like you have only begun treatment with ABX. Changing from doxy to zith at this point should not effect any minimal progress to date. Zith is a good choice since it works well with many Babs and Bart protocols that you will need to try as you progress with treatment. Talk with your LLMD to see when you should start to add a cyst buster, or consider trying Grapefruit Seed Extract instead and see how well you tolerate it.

Be patient
Posted 7/16/2014 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Tickbite - So, you're saying when I go off doxy, stay off? And just add something to my zithro? I think I have either bart or babesia, or both...so, yes I've read I could add rifampin to zithro for bart, and mepron to zithro for babesia.
Will zithro on it's own for a few weeks put me back on the progress i may have made with doxy?

Would you suggest a cyst buster with the zithro before I add something to treat the co-infection?

Again, I will be seeing a LL doc in august. But, I like to have a hand in what my treatment is...so bouncing ideas off veterans.
Posted 7/16/2014 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Do what ever you feel is right. But I would just stay off Doxy and phase over to Zith as soon as you can. Doxy may take a few days to wean out of you system, then enjoy the rest of summer.

Zith works different than Doxy, so it may cause a herx that may not have occurred with the doxy. Overall you should not loose any progress taking it alone till you get to see your LLMD.

Babs takes the longest to treat (min of 4 months), so if the LLMD gives you a choice on which to treat first go for it. I did read somewhere that some LLMDs say to treat Bart first because taking mepron for babs first may cause Rifampin (for Bart) to be less effective.
Posted 7/16/2014 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Tickbite - yes I read to do bart before babs. So, if doc thinks I have bart/babs, I can add rifampin to the zithro, or bactrim.

Then after do zithro and mepron if needed.

BTW - how long have you been treating? And how are you feeling now?
Posted 7/16/2014 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
I've been treating constantly since March 2010. But don't let that scare you. IV got me to about 80% but I kept hitting a plateau then would backslide with most protocol changes.

Right now I'm at 90% with more good days than bad, and hope to be ABX free very soon. I've been weaning off ABX and adding more supplements and Buhner herbs to boost my immune system. Last few weeks have been the best I've felt in a real long time.

Your bart plan sounds good. My first Bart round was Zith and Rif for a few weeks, then then added in Doxy. That was quite a potent protocol after five month on first round with Babs on Mepron, Zith and Omnicef.
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