Home Forums General Discussion Azithromycin v. clarithromycin

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  • #461695
    aboyer
    Participant

    I want to add in one of these antibiotics. I know that they can cause heart problems so I’m wondering which is safer and has the least side effects.

    Diagnosed with severe RA 12 years ago
    Tested positive for M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae

    Current meds: Kineret 100mg, doxycycline 50mg, cbd oil, and celebrex

    Supplements: fish oil, vitamin b12, folate, b6, iron, selenium, zinc, vitamin c, and biotin

    #461701
    Spiffy1
    Moderator

    I was not aware of the heart problems due to Clarithromycin. But if all things are equal with the heart side effects I personally would go with the Zithromax because the other is well known for leading to C Diff. But they are both very good antibiotics.

    Flare fall of 2014...muscle aches, joint pains, fatigue, hair loss, rashes, etc.
    RA Factor 71 in Jan 2015 down to 25 as of September 2017
    DR4/DQ8 HLA...biotoxin illness
    IGG food allergy to wheat, egg, and dairy...probably all grains
    Vit. C&D, probiotics, milk thistle, turmeric, fish oil, methyl b 12, methyl folate, digestive enzymes, Candisol, Ubiquinol, berberine, chlorella, Moducare, LDN, monolaurin, Triphala, Patriot Greens, Paractin
    MTHFR compound heterozygous
    Igenex IGM positive Lyme, minoMWF

    #461702
    aboyer
    Participant

    Hi Spiffy1

    Have you taken zithromax for RA?

    Diagnosed with severe RA 12 years ago
    Tested positive for M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae

    Current meds: Kineret 100mg, doxycycline 50mg, cbd oil, and celebrex

    Supplements: fish oil, vitamin b12, folate, b6, iron, selenium, zinc, vitamin c, and biotin

    #461703
    richie
    Participant

    personally -why would you add another antibiotic now –you are hardly taking a therapeutic dose of minocycline -150 mg a week is hardly a dose —I would concentrate on working up to 100 mg every other day gradually at least !!!! –Hopping all over the place is certainly not productive imo

    #461704
    aboyer
    Participant

    Richie,

    I can’t tolerate minocycline. I have heard that zithromax is another alternative.

    Diagnosed with severe RA 12 years ago
    Tested positive for M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae

    Current meds: Kineret 100mg, doxycycline 50mg, cbd oil, and celebrex

    Supplements: fish oil, vitamin b12, folate, b6, iron, selenium, zinc, vitamin c, and biotin

    #461707
    richie
    Participant

    How long on minocycline and what are the toleration issues —

    #461708
    aboyer
    Participant

    Ive been on a few times. The most was several years ago and it was amazing for a few months until the head pressure and vision problems happened

    Diagnosed with severe RA 12 years ago
    Tested positive for M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae

    Current meds: Kineret 100mg, doxycycline 50mg, cbd oil, and celebrex

    Supplements: fish oil, vitamin b12, folate, b6, iron, selenium, zinc, vitamin c, and biotin

    #461709
    lynnie_sydney
    Participant

    aboyer
    Suzanne on this form has a young daughter with poly JRA. She was too young to take mino so she was on 250mg zithromax MWF – she may still be. If she sees this she may chime in, though hasn’t been on for a while. I believe she tolerated it very well and was on it for a few years.

    I take both clarithromycin and zith – but in smaller doses as part of a 4 abx protocol MWF. My situation is different to yours (I have Palindromic RA/”Lyme-like” illness” (as they refer to it here) so cant really equate. But I have had no problems with either drug.

    Be well! Lynnie

    Palindromic RA 30 yrs (Chronic Lyme?)
    Mino 2003-2008 100mg MWF - can no longer tolerate any tetracyclines
    rotating abx protocol now. From Sep 2018 MWF - a.m. Augmentin Duo 440mg + 150mg Biaxsig (roxithromycin). p.m. Cefaclor (375mg) + Klacid 125mg + LDN 3mg + Annual Clindy IV's
    Diet: no gluten, dairy, sulphites, low salicylates
    Supps: 600mg N-AC BID, 1000mg Vit C, P5P 40mg, zinc picolinate 60mg, Lithium orotate 20mg, Magnesium Oil, Bio-identical hormones (DHEA + Prog + Estrog)

    #461713
    PhilC
    Participant

    Both of those drugs interact with Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine). See:

    https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=300-0,1298-4616
    https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=685-0,1298-4616

    However, I see that you are taking a low dose of Plaquenil, so perhaps it won’t be an issue.

    Phil

    "Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
    - Albert Einstein

    #461714
    Suzanne
    Participant

    aboyer
    Suzanne on this form has a young daughter with poly JRA. She was too young to take mino so she was on 250mg zithromax MWF – she may still be. If she sees this she may chime in, though hasn’t been on for a while. I believe she tolerated it very well and was on it for a few years.

    Hi Lynnie! Yes, this is correct – my daughter has been on this dose for years and remains on it with no issues. We added mino when she was old enough, but had to stop due to intercranial pressure, so I don’t know where we would be without azithromycin. aboyer, interesting you also had that side effect because they say it is so rare.

    Phil, my daughter was on Plaquenil with azithromycin at one time. I wish I could see the interaction, but the link only says this: “Consumer information for this interaction is not currently available.” My daughter had a lot of skin issues during the time she was on both, but they stopped when she stopped Plaquenil so we blame that drug (also it never did anything for her that we could tell).

    Mom of teen daughter with Poly JIA since age 2. Current med: azithromycin 250 mg MWF.

    #461715
    aboyer
    Participant

    Suzanne

    Has your daughter’s joint pain and swelling gone away?

    Diagnosed with severe RA 12 years ago
    Tested positive for M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae

    Current meds: Kineret 100mg, doxycycline 50mg, cbd oil, and celebrex

    Supplements: fish oil, vitamin b12, folate, b6, iron, selenium, zinc, vitamin c, and biotin

    #461716
    PhilC
    Participant

    Hi Suzanne,

    I wish I could see the interaction, but the link only says this: “Consumer information for this interaction is not currently available.”

    That simply means that the information they’re showing you is really meant for (oriented toward) doctors rather than patients. The interaction info is right below that statement.

    Phil

    "Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
    - Albert Einstein

    #461717
    Suzanne
    Participant

    Suzanne

    Has your daughter’s joint pain and swelling gone away?

    It is hard to discern for another person, but we have never treated for pain while she has been on azithromycin except for injuries. Currently, she might have swelling in one toe but it is not bothersome and her rheum exam is stable for over a year. I would say she has more redness than swelling in that toe.

    Mom of teen daughter with Poly JIA since age 2. Current med: azithromycin 250 mg MWF.

    #461718
    Suzanne
    Participant

    That simply means that the information they’re showing you is really meant for (oriented toward) doctors rather than patients. The interaction info is right below that statement.

    Phil

    Hi Phil, that makes sense except the info below is only about Plaquenil.

    Mom of teen daughter with Poly JIA since age 2. Current med: azithromycin 250 mg MWF.

    #461719
    Spiffy1
    Moderator

    I have only used doxycycline and minocyclene for my rheumatic flare. I used Zithromax in the past for sinus infections. I did well on it but it would alter my sense of taste while taking it…especially to dairy which I do not eat or drink anymore…and I no longer have sinus issues.

    Flare fall of 2014...muscle aches, joint pains, fatigue, hair loss, rashes, etc.
    RA Factor 71 in Jan 2015 down to 25 as of September 2017
    DR4/DQ8 HLA...biotoxin illness
    IGG food allergy to wheat, egg, and dairy...probably all grains
    Vit. C&D, probiotics, milk thistle, turmeric, fish oil, methyl b 12, methyl folate, digestive enzymes, Candisol, Ubiquinol, berberine, chlorella, Moducare, LDN, monolaurin, Triphala, Patriot Greens, Paractin
    MTHFR compound heterozygous
    Igenex IGM positive Lyme, minoMWF

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 28 total)

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