Malarone Only for Babs?

I don't have thoughts on Malarone treatment, sorry. I was going to weigh in on the title "Macaroni only for Babs" because I was hoping at last something carbo was going to be good for us...lol...

Autocorrect strikes again!

julymorning! funny... Lymepilot - I've been the all herbal route, so I don't know much about anti-biotics. Hoping someone does. Are you integrating any herbs? I actually did a quick google search and came up with this interesting article on treating babesia. www.lymebook.com/beg_babesia.pdf
This is what it had to say about malarone.

"Malarone is a combination of atovaquone and proguanil. Although the standard dose of Malarone contains only 1000mg of actual atovaquone compared with 1500mg in 10 mL of Mepron, the proguanil helps to boost its effectiveness. Malarone is dosed at 2 tablets twice daily of the 250/100mg strength. It does not need a macrolide antibiotic along with it (azithromycin/ clarithromycin), so may be a better starting point in more sensitive patients. When cost is a major issue, Malarone is marginally less expensive than Mepron. Both need high amounts of fatty foods taken at the same time to help with absorption. Overall, I consider Mepron to be a more potent medication than Malarone; concurrent use of Bactrim DS or Septra may boost its efficacy. CoQ10 and milk thistle should also be avoided when taking Malarone."

Have you asked your Dr. why this route for the Babesia?

Another good read!
suzycohen.com/articles/babesia-testing-and-treatment/

Post Edited (multifacetedme) : 12/15/2016 5:33:00 PM (GMT-7)

Peteza - I LOVE your signature. "When life gives you lemons, just add them to water and detox."

Most LLMD's will prescribe it with something else. (malarone).

LLMD MR suggests one of the following with it:

Azithromycin, minocycline, biaxin, or doxycycline.

...and if that isn't working, then suggests adding Bactrim DS

Lymepilot - you were borderline positive on blood test for Babs?

What does that mean...borderline positive?


Either you treat it - full on...or you don't...
No matter what the tests show...you don't go 'half in' .

You don't have any other abx leftover - some zith? some mino?
- you could add?

Risk - is it may not be effective...I don't know about resistance...maybe?

It's not ideal doing Malarone alone. You increase the chance for resistance, the atovaquone is not absorbed nearly as well as in liquid Mepron, and the Malarone is dosed at a lower amount than Mepron.

That being said, the proguanil in the Malarone should be helpful.

I'd do the Malarone with an artemisia product if you're not going to add a macrolide. Either the whole herb, artesunate, or dihydroartemisinin so you don't have to pulse it (like if you were doing artemisinin).

Also make sure you're taking the Malarone with a ton of fat. The more fat you take with it, the more atovaquone you absorb. Aim for 20+ grams. If you take it on an empty stomach you'll pee most of it out, and it's too expensive to let that happen.

EDIT: reading your last post, don't mix the Malarone with Rifampin or Doxy. Both will lower the effectiveness of the Malarone. Minocycline seems to be ok.

multifacetedme said...
julymorning! funny... Lymepilot - I've been the all herbal route, so I don't know much about anti-biotics. Hoping someone does. Are you integrating any herbs? I actually did a quick google search and came up with this interesting article on treating babesia. www.lymebook.com/beg_babesia.pdf
This is what it had to say about malarone.

"Malarone is a combination of atovaquone and proguanil. Although the standard dose of Malarone contains only 1000mg of actual atovaquone compared with 1500mg in 10 mL of Mepron, the proguanil helps to boost its effectiveness. Malarone is dosed at 2 tablets twice daily of the 250/100mg strength. It does not need a macrolide antibiotic along with it (azithromycin/ clarithromycin), so may be a better starting point in more sensitive patients. When cost is a major issue, Malarone is marginally less expensive than Mepron. Both need high amounts of fatty foods taken at the same time to help with absorption. Overall, I consider Mepron to be a more potent medication than Malarone; concurrent use of Bactrim DS or Septra may boost its efficacy. CoQ10 and milk thistle should also be avoided when taking Malarone."

Have you asked your Dr. why this route for the Babesia?

Another good read!
suzycohen.com/articles/babesia-testing-and-treatment/

This article comes up a lot and I don't like it because she writes that there is no cure and that she's never seen anyone recover from babesia. Seems v. negative