Ketek (telithromycin) + Liver Toxicity

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}

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