Azithromycin vs. Bartonella

I wrote this a couple of weeks ago and forgot to post it.

I was recently prescribed Azithromycin to treat Bartonella. This time it will be 30 days of 500mg. This treatment jogged my memory that my Bartonella rash disappeared to never return after a routine treatment with Azithromycin (the z-pack; 500mg for 3 days) by my regular doctor. I had wondered if this treatment cured me of the Bartonella. Unfortunately, I think one of the classic symptoms of Bartonella is shin pain, and I started having some once starting Levaquin (see more below). Of course on the negative side is the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation: "In the co-infected Lyme patient, eradication may be difficult."^ref. regardless, if a significant dent was made with a couple of days worth of treatment I am hopeful that a more concerted treatment with Azithromycin and Levaquin will take care of the problem.

The shin pain from Levaquin is a little cause for concern because I believe that the drug carries a black box warning for permanent tendon damage. And from the label: "Ruptures of the shoulder, hand, Achilles tendon, or other tendons that required surgical repair or resulted in prolonged disability have been reported in patients receiving quinolones, including levofloxacin." I personally think the shin problem is disease related since I seem to recall it happening before any treatment began. As it turns out the pain disappeared as soon as it came so no worries from the Levaquin and my tendons.

Technorati Tags: Multiple Sclerosis, Lyme, Azithromycin, Levaquin, Bartonella, Rash