Added Bactrim to the mix, feeling very sick.

[wonko]

Hi All,

I've been on Mino now since Dec. and added Zithro a few weeks ago.  Last night I started Bactrim.  

I've felt just awful since a couple hours after taking this new med.  I had horrible lucid nightmares in which I was screaming and being awful.  When I woke up, I had a lot of tingling esp. in my face and burning pains in my extremeties.  I'm also very stiff all over and this awful vibrating, crawling feeling I get in my head is set on high.

I had to call off work today, and think I'll be in bed most of the time.

I suppose this is a good sign in the long run, as it could be that the Bactrim is really killing off some of the bugs that ail me, but this is the most unpleasant reaction I've had.  I only take the Bactrim and Zithro every other day, so today I just take the Mino.  Hopefully next time I don't react this strongly.

I suppose we all probably have different reactions to different meds, based on what infections we are fighting.  I had more mild Herxes before, but wasn't expecting this, though I'm sure it's not really that bad on the grand scale.

[JackieCalifornia]

Sorry about the reaction to Bactrim.

I would NOT take a half dose without your doctor's blessing:  a therapeutic dose is what is prescribed, and if you take less, you are not taking enough to kill the bug -- instead, you are giving it a chance to survive and learn to be resistant to the medication.  That is very dangerous, because then the drug will NOT be effective against the then-stronger bug.

Skipping drugs doses does the same thing:  it kills some of the bugs and gives the survivors a chance to reproduce, and when they multiply, some of them will (as nature prescribes) have mutated slightly, and then if the mutation makes the bug resistant to the drug, the new, stronger bugs will multiply; the drugs won't work; and you won't get well.  The drug will never magically become effective against the new, stronger bug.

That is why you have to take all of an antibiotic, because if you don't take it at the necessary dose for long enough, you won't get well, and there may be no drugs effective against the mutated bug.

Think about it like this:  let's say your backyard is full of dandelions that make those nice yellow flowers that then turn into the white poofy balls that spread seeds on the wind.  They have grown all over your yard.  You go out and methodically weed half the yard and then quit.  The dandelion seeds flying will soon take over again, but in the drug situation, you may not be able to uproot the re-established weeds.

Bottom line:  Talk to your doctor before you skip or reduce doses.  There is a REASON the dosage and timing are set as they are.

[Amyloo]

Hi Patsy,

I have read a couple of your posts as well.  I actually started on the MS forum; was dxed MS Dec. 07, and fibro back in 05.  I had an Igenex WB run in Sept, and started with my (wonderful!) LLMD in December.  My neuro wanted nothing to do with my positive WB.  Shocking.  

I have read Cure Unknown and viewed Under our Skin.  Have done alot of research, and the more I learn the more I realize how much there is still to learn.  Amy

[patsy10]

  I am glad you have a diagnosis but not glad you have lyme. .  How long did it take for you to get a diagnosis?

[Amyloo]

Hi,  My name is Amy and have seen your posts.  How about half of the dose?  I am big on that.  I have just been dxed with Lyme, and today found out three coinfections.  Yuck.  Am currently on iv abx.  God bless you, Amy

[wonko]

This morning, or about 36 hours after taking the Bactrim, I started to feel better and was able to exercise and work for part of the day (which is fine since I'm on part time now).  It was definitely worse the first 12 hours after I took it, but I was very uncomfortable for all of the day yesterday.  

I'm scheduled to take it again tonight and am on the fence.  Is it a good idea, as the reaction indicates the Bactrim is effective, or is it a bad idea, since my first reaction was that severe?

I'll probably take it and see what happens.  I doubt it could be worse than the first time, and I'm so eager to get through this, or at least further along.

[wonko]

according to Ken Singleton in "The Lyme Disease Solution," Bactrim is effective against Babesia.  

I honestly don't remember what my LLMD said about it, which I know is not good.  I always bring a pen and paper everywhere I go now, but always underestimate how much I need to write down (or, in other words, I overestimate my memory).

[patsy10]

I'm sorry you are feeling so bad.  Hopefully it's a good sign.  What is the bactrim for?  I'll have to back and read but I thought bactrim was not a drug of choice for lyme treatment.