shannah
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This is posted in the comment section of Amy's latest article at WSJ.
Xifaxan is aka as Rifaximim.
I've heard of others with Lyme turning the corner on Rifampin aka Rifampicin. Does anybody know if these antibiotics are related or similar?
http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2012/02...mes-to-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/tab/comments/
12:03 pm February 23, 2012
Esther Siebert wrote :
.Dear Amy Dockser Marcus and all ME/CFS doctors and patients,
Something amazing has happened to me using a repurposed drug that Id like to share with you. After 25+ years of severe ME/CFS, by a fluke of fatea miraculous accident reallyI have apparently recovered from ME/CFS!
Much like the accidental discovery in Norway, I was given Xifaxan, a gastric system antibiotic that doesnt go into the bloodstream, by my gastroenterologist to treat undiagnosed stomach symptoms. He suggested I try it because it doesnt cause side effects and he said there was a 50-50 chance that it would create a miracle in terms of my gastrointestinal symptoms. ( Later. after more symptoms presented themselves, he diagnosed me with gastroparesis which causes overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach and small intestine. These bacteria send toxins to the brain which Im guessing cause the ME/CFS symptoms which have resolved.)
So my gastrointestinal symptoms were treated with a short course of Xifaxan (Rifaxamin). In a couple of days, my ME/CFS symptoms disappeared, only to reappear when I stopped the medicine. I used the short-term treatment dose three times, getting better each time, only to relapse when I went off of it. Though the treatment had no effect on my gastrointestinal symptoms, it unexpectedly treated my ME/CFS.
I did some research and discovered that indeed Xifaxan was used on a maintenance basis for one condition. Now I use a maintenance dose every day. And my ME/CFS symptoms both physical and cognitivehave disappeared. Some ME/CFS doctors are using Xifaxan on their patients but I believe only on a short term treatment dose. Apparently these patients are relapsing as I did before using the maintenance dose. I would love to get the word out for doctors to try the maintenance dose on these relapsing patients.
The short course treatment dose is 550 mg of Xifaxan or Rifaximin, 3X a day, for something like 10 days as I recall. The maintenance dose is 550 mg 2X a day indefinitely. Gastrointestinal symptoms were never a hallmark of my ME/CFS.
This has been an amazing experience that Id like to share with others. Perhaps what helped me will have wider applicability to other victims with gastrointestinal symptoms. I would hate to be the only one to benefit. There are so many of us suffering in desperate isolation with no hope.
Xifaxan is aka as Rifaximim.
I've heard of others with Lyme turning the corner on Rifampin aka Rifampicin. Does anybody know if these antibiotics are related or similar?
http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2012/02...mes-to-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/tab/comments/
12:03 pm February 23, 2012
Esther Siebert wrote :
.Dear Amy Dockser Marcus and all ME/CFS doctors and patients,
Something amazing has happened to me using a repurposed drug that Id like to share with you. After 25+ years of severe ME/CFS, by a fluke of fatea miraculous accident reallyI have apparently recovered from ME/CFS!
Much like the accidental discovery in Norway, I was given Xifaxan, a gastric system antibiotic that doesnt go into the bloodstream, by my gastroenterologist to treat undiagnosed stomach symptoms. He suggested I try it because it doesnt cause side effects and he said there was a 50-50 chance that it would create a miracle in terms of my gastrointestinal symptoms. ( Later. after more symptoms presented themselves, he diagnosed me with gastroparesis which causes overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach and small intestine. These bacteria send toxins to the brain which Im guessing cause the ME/CFS symptoms which have resolved.)
So my gastrointestinal symptoms were treated with a short course of Xifaxan (Rifaxamin). In a couple of days, my ME/CFS symptoms disappeared, only to reappear when I stopped the medicine. I used the short-term treatment dose three times, getting better each time, only to relapse when I went off of it. Though the treatment had no effect on my gastrointestinal symptoms, it unexpectedly treated my ME/CFS.
I did some research and discovered that indeed Xifaxan was used on a maintenance basis for one condition. Now I use a maintenance dose every day. And my ME/CFS symptoms both physical and cognitivehave disappeared. Some ME/CFS doctors are using Xifaxan on their patients but I believe only on a short term treatment dose. Apparently these patients are relapsing as I did before using the maintenance dose. I would love to get the word out for doctors to try the maintenance dose on these relapsing patients.
The short course treatment dose is 550 mg of Xifaxan or Rifaximin, 3X a day, for something like 10 days as I recall. The maintenance dose is 550 mg 2X a day indefinitely. Gastrointestinal symptoms were never a hallmark of my ME/CFS.
This has been an amazing experience that Id like to share with others. Perhaps what helped me will have wider applicability to other victims with gastrointestinal symptoms. I would hate to be the only one to benefit. There are so many of us suffering in desperate isolation with no hope.