Ketek (telithromycin) + Liver Toxicity

Hi Everybody,

My LLMD has suggested to take Ketek 400 mg twice daily for one month, then reevaluate.

I will be dropping Biaxin, but will continue w/ Plaquenil 200 mg twice daily.

My pharmacist called to say that they don't have any Ketek, and she doesn't know when they will have it again. I looked it up, and read that it is on backorder. The pharmacist mentioned possible liver problems with this drug, suggesting that this may be why it's not available. Has anyone heard this???

I further read online about possible liver toxicty with this drug, and that you have to have your blood checked regularly.

I currently get my blood checked (GGT, CPK and other enzymes) once every two weeks. With Ketek, my LLMD said to have my blood checked every week.

So, is anyone currently taking this drug? Are you having your blood checked frequently to check your liver function? Are you tolerating this drug well? How long have you been on this drug, and at what dose?

Please let me know your experience and opinion, and also if you heard that this drug isn't available.

Thanks!

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_{*Abx combo tx since Jan/08*
Lyme disease - clinical dx ’08; Babesiosis (Positive IgM/IgG) '08;
GERD '04; Essential Tremor ’03; Fibromyalgia ’01; Osteoarthritis; Depression; IBS; Interstitial Cystitis}

Hi Deb ~

Thanks for the reply! Six months of Mepron + Zithromax should clear up babesiosis, but I have heard/read that this infection is very hard to eradicate and tends to re-occur. I tested positive (Igenex IgG) for babesia microti, and I was on Mepron + Zithromax for almost 4 months. I herxed very badly at the beginning, and was bedridden for about nine days. This treatment cleared up a lot of things for me: chronic nausea, loss of appetite, air hunger, profuse night sweats. In terms of residual symptoms, I can't differentiate between what might be babesiosis vs what might be Lyme.

I switched to Biaxin + Flagyl (metronidazole) in June/08. Again, I herxed very badly, and less more every few weeks. My LLMD changed the Flagyl to Plaquenil in mid-October. I thought the metallic taste in the mouth from Flagyl was bad, but now I have a different, nasty, medicine taste in my mouth which I think is from Plaquenil.

I haven't had a tremendous amount of improvement since being on antibiotics since Jan/08, but I'm happy to report that I am experiencing much less pain, and my right hand tremor is almost gone. I still struggle badly with fatigue, weakness, and heaviness of the limbs. I also developed postural hypotension not long ago, which is quite a drag. Feeling faint is unpleasant, for sure.

That's interesting that you decided to pulse the Ketek. After I was on Biaxin + Flagyl for two months, I was getting so sick (bedridden often) that I decided to only take the antibiotics on weekdays. I felt like I was toxic (? filled with neurotoxins).

For some -- such as myself -- it takes a long time to get better. I've been sick since about 2000, so I'm being patient with my recovery.

How would you rate your improvement? Mine is about 20% at best.

Take good care,
Carrie

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_{*Abx combo tx since Jan/08*
Lyme disease - clinical dx ’08; Babesiosis (Positive IgM/IgG) '08;
GERD '04; Essential Tremor ’03; Fibromyalgia ’01; Osteoarthritis; Depression; IBS; Interstitial Cystitis}

PS - Also, thank you, Deb, for posting web sites I can visit for more info on Ketek!

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_{*Abx combo tx since Jan/08*
Lyme disease - clinical dx ’08; Babesiosis (Positive IgM/IgG) '08;
GERD '04; Essential Tremor ’03; Fibromyalgia ’01; Osteoarthritis; Depression; IBS; Interstitial Cystitis}

Ketek was the first med I tried and I made HUGE improvements on it. I did have liver checks every 2 weeks with no change. I took it for 9 months and thought it was great.

Lucy

Hi Lucy ~ That's great news that you made huge improvements on Ketek -- Congratulations!

I'm in Canada, where I just heard that Ketek is on backorder unavailable until Feb/09.

~Carrie

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_{*Abx combo tx since Jan/08*
Lyme disease - clinical dx ’08; Babesiosis (Positive IgM/IgG) '08;
GERD '04; Essential Tremor ’03; Fibromyalgia ’01; Osteoarthritis; Depression; IBS; Interstitial Cystitis}