Rocephin

[Ephedra]

Any experiences with IV Rocephin?  Good or bad?  

[JackieCalifornia]

I just did a quick search for

      --  do iv antibiotics affect gut flora --

and there are quite a few that seem to indicate that it does or can.

One post was on         -- LymeNetEurope  [dot]  org --          in 2008.  The article is rather short, but at that time there was no final conclusion, tho the authors seemed to be leaning toward the 'yes, there can be problems' point of view because abx affect the whole body, not just the Lyme bacteria.

It's why my LLMD wanted patients to take probiotics during treatment.  The only probiotics that could resist the antibiotics back when I was in treatment were Saccharomyces boulardii (brand name: Florastor), which is a variety of yeast.  It apparently works well in many people and can be taken at any time of day without regard to when the antibiotics are taken.

I had an usual reaction to the Florastor, however, since it appears I am very sensitive to yeast, tho most people are not.  If someone cannot take Florastor/S.boulardii, then taking regular probiotics (like lactobacillus) can work, as long as it is taken with careful timing so that the probiotic and the antibiotic do not encounter each other in the gut.  What that timing should be (how many hours apart), I don't know, but a good doc would be able to set up a time table that works.  Whether this would help you, I don't know, but thought I'd throw it out there.

Take care!

[Ephedra]

Thanks!

I thought IV antibiotics bypass the intestinal tract. But honestly, I don't know much about IV antibiotics and how they work.  I was put on actigall to protect my gallbladder, a potential issue with the Rocephin. I'm on for 2 grams twice a day. I've been asking around. And of course, it's about 50/50. Some think it's the best thing they've ever done. Others say they regret it.
  
With the controversy, I think that most doctors would be opposed to do much of anything for Lyme. Especially with the higher doses we require. Most doctors just don't get it. Not even sure who I'd ask.

It's just now been a week for me. We're trying this out for a month, see how things go.

[JackieCalifornia]

I was never on IV Rocephin, but I think I would, for myself, get a second opinion before going on it, just to hear from a doc who isn't a fan of it, so I could try to gauge the risks/benefits for myself.

[mojogal]

I was put on IV Rocephin for a week in the hospital. It was fine. I strongly disagree with the benefits of long term IV use. I have seen where it causes all kinds of problems including massive gut problems where your immune system lies and infections of the PICC line where the patients almost died.