Any experience with Rocephin?

[ngageme]

I am about to start Rocephin 2gr IM q 24hrs reconstituted in Lidocaine and wonder if anyone has had any experience with 21 days of treatment? Initially my doc wanted me to have the PICC line for three weeks, however I asked that to be changed to intramuscular injections instead, as I participate in contact sports, and hence would run the risk of dislodged catheter.
My doc's treatment plan is for neuro-lyme. Can anyone share their experience in side effects, improvment, treatment outcome? Thanks!

[ngageme]

Thank you for sharing your experience! My estimate is that I had been in a chronic stage for a few years without even knowing it. Last year and a half has been especially aggravating with whole slew of symptoms I never had before.

I've read somewhere that IM injections are as just as effective but take longer to achieve the right plasma concentration levels as opposed to PICC line.

Starting the IM injections today. Hopefully this does something as I don't have any access to our one super-expensive LLMD who wants $$$ per visit.

Best Regards!

[Ricobord]

I did 2g Rocephin IM for nearly 5 months.  I felt worse at first. I can't say I felt better than when I started until about the 6 week mark.  I saw partial improvement, but plateaued, so my doc switched me to IV Invanz in February, which has been far more powerful for me.  

I also wanted to avoid a PICC line, but I have to say I'm grateful not to be doing the Rocephin shots anymore. They just hurt, even with an ice pack to freeze/numb it up before.  My PICC line was rough the first week, and then uncomfortable for another week until I got the line reconfigured on my arm so the caps weren't poking me.  Now, it's fine.  But I obviously can't do sports or lift much.  Gets me out of vaccuming!

In hindsight, I should have quit the shots sooner.  I still have some scar tissue that may or may not heal. My doc thinks that IM shots are somewhat less effective than IV meds because it's absorbed through the tissue instead of going straight into the blood stream.

Sometimes 2-4 weeks of Rocephin takes care of neuro Lyme.  But often it does not, especially someone who has been infected for a year or more.  I've had neuro Lyme, Bartonella, and Babesia for over 8 years, with over 2 years of treatment so far, so I'm a tough case to treat.  

How long do you think you've had it?

If you still have symptoms after your shots are done, and your doctor tells you that your symptoms will resolve with time, then you need to go find a good LLMD who will treat you until you're we'll, not for some prescribed period of time that may not work for you.