|
TREATING
BLASTOCYSTIS HOMINIS
| |
NECESSARY
DISCLAIMER:
This information on this page is not intended to replace the
advice of a qualified medical practitioner.
The drug recommendatins are intended as a guide only.
No responsibility is taken for drug interactions, side-effects
or failure of the drugs to alleviate the parasitic infection.
Review the information provided on this site with your professional
healthcare provider & confer with your doctor before taking
the drugs. Keep your doctor informed at all times of any side-effects.
RELIANCE
ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS SITE IS SOLELY AT YOUR
OWN RISK.
|
|
This page
contains information on treatments for Blasto.
If you would like to share your treatment experiences please contact
me.
Quick links:
Blasto.
- the super bug?
Flagyl
Triple therapy - Iodoquinol/Septrin/Furazolidone
Tinidazole
Nitazoxanide
Rifaximin
Ciproflaxin
combination
Rifaximin & Nitazoxinide
Iodoquinol
(Yodoxin)
Herbal treatments
Anti-yeast
meds
Probiotics
& why they may increase symptoms
Finding
a doctor to treat the infection:
Blasto. is considered by the medical establishment as a benign parasite:
one which rarely causes symptoms. The majority of emails received
at this site are from people who have difficulty finding a medical
practitioner who consider their Blasto. infection is causing their
symptoms.
The following was received from an Australian, diag. with Blasto.
hominis, and is just one of thousands of similar reports received
at this site since 1996:
| |
"I
have today endured appointments with two separate gastro specialists
who both told me it is just IBS and I should just "forget
about it cause it'll just go away". Well
I've put up with this for about 18 months now at it has shown
no sign of going away. Dr C. even suggested that I should
just eat more carbohydrates after I explained at length how
I have tried varied diet adjustments and found that carbs
made the symptoms worse. (an increase
in symptoms when eating carbs is commonly reported by Blasto.
and d.fragilis sufferers. Click here
for the reason)
I'm
sick of wasting time and money talking to people who seem
more interested in hiding their ignorance than helping me.
Can you please advise me of a specialist within cooee of the
Gold Coast who is familiar with this parasite and won't start
ascribing every symptom they don't have an answer for to IBS.
Dr C. even said, when I asked how IBS caused the coating on
my tongue, that this was just a coincidence.
"I
usually prescribe a course of metronidazole and if it doesn't
go away, just forget about it" - I'm pretty unimpressed
and paid $160 per consult for that little pearl of wisdom."
received
20th October 2002
by D., Gold Coast, Queensland
.....................................................................................
Four years
after becoming chronically unwell B. finally tested positive
to Blasto.
During that time "two doses of Fasigyn, one week of Flagyl
+ two weeks of Flagyl" failed to reduce the symptoms:
"bloating, wind, mushy stools,
green or light yellow stools" accompanied
by chronic fatigue.
A low carb/high protein diet helped with the symptoms (An
explanation of why low carb diets help reduce symptoms under
Diet).
B. again tested positive after a combo. of Flagyl
& Septrin
He is keen to try the triple therapy
and wrote:
"I guess my main problem
is my doc is not willing to prescribe the resistant combo.
I've asked on three occasions and he's said no every time."
received Sept. 2003
Canberra, Australia.
|
|
Testing
after treatment:
Negative stool samples are evidence that the treatment has worked.
However, reliable specialised stool testing is expensive and not
everyone can afford post-treatment testing
"I had to pay £225 to have my
tests done. That's a lot of money"
E. (UK resident) tested by a private lab.
received 19 June 03
Another problem for sufferers is that Blasto's ability to "hide"
for months after treatment is medically documented. False negatives
are not uncommon.
The author of this site tested tested positive to Df in 1994 and
in 2001 to Blasto. Samples submitted three weeks after finishing
meds. prescribed for D.fragilis (Iodoquinol & doxycycline) were
negative for either parasite. However, three purged
samples submitted a few weeks later revealed the presence of
Blasto.
A recent placebo controlled study (April 2003) of the treatment
of subjects with Blastocystis hominis with Metronidazole showed
that 20% of the Metronidazole treated subjects were still B hominis
positive at 1 month post-treatment, but at 6 months this had risen
to 53%. The authors considered reinfection may be a factor,
but unlikely to be the sole reason for Blasto's reappearance.
Erratic shedding of Blasto. is medically documented. The Blasto.
testing page
has more info. intermittent shedding.
Blastocystis
hominis - a Super Bug?
The following two case histories, received in July 2003, shows how
Blasto. can survive many and varied drug therapies (see also Flagyl).
It's important that as well as standardised, uniform testing methods
are adopted throughout the world for detection of Blastocystis hominis
and Dientamoeba fragils, but also that drug treatments are standardised.
This will ensure that those infected receive the most effective
treatment in the early stages of their infection, instead of the
"try it and see" approach currently used.
Until large scale treatment studies are undertaken, using a minimum
of six fixed samples after therapy, followed by testing for up to
six months post treatment to ensure eradication of the Blasto.,
exposure to drugs which have little or no effect on Blastocystis
hominis will continue for many more years.
Case
no.1:
| 1997 |
S.
noticed "bloating in my abdomen
& an ache in lower left of abdomen. Also much gurgling".
These symptpoms were diagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
In 1999 she "came
down with chest aches, racing heartbeat & severe reduction
in physical capacity".
Diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Myalgic Encephalopathy
based on symptoms. |
| May
2000: |
Several
GSDL tests conducted, including stool test showing Blastocystis
hominis, Dientamoeba fragilis & yersinia enterolitica.
Complementary practitioner suggested a homeopathic remedy for
the Df. |
| Aug
2000: |
On
the basis of the May GSDL test, CFS practitioner prescribed
Ciprofloxacin 500mg bd for 5 days combined with metronidazole
(Flagyl) 800mg tds for 5 days
Followed by by diloxanide furoate 500mg tds for 10days |
| Apr
2001: |
GSDL
test showed Blastocystis hominis & pseudomonas aeruginosa |
| Jul
2001: |
Treated
on basis of April's results, plus the assumption that the Df
had not been eradicated with:
Paromomycin 250mg bd 6 days & doxycycline 100mg, once a
day, 10 days.
Followed by nystatin to "clear yeasts"
Tested by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine:
Blastocystis hominis still present |
| Dec
2001: |
Samples
were sent to the UK's public testing laboratory specifically
to check for Blastocystis hominis. The results were
negative. |
| Jan
2003: |
New
CFS practitioner prescribes:
Cefadroxil 500mg bd along with metronidazole 400mg bd, both
for 2 weeks
followed by doxycycline 100mg for 2 weeks. |
| Mar
2003: |
Stool
samples sent to Parascope Labs, a private UK lab which uses
specific stool collection and tesitng methods to find Blasto.
and D.fragilis, detected Blastcystis hominis. |
| Jun
2003: |
Nitazoxinide,
5 days, (dosage info. not provided).
Subsequent Parascope test: Bh still present |
Case
no. 2:
"M"
lives in Ireland and was diagnosed with Blasto. hominis. She described
her symptoms as overwhelming
fatigue & profound exhaustion, fuzzy head, a toxic ill feeling
although night sweats and headaches & weight loss
with (unusually) few bowel symptoms.
As well as taking liquid Berberine, she was prescribed a 21 day
course of combined Rifaximin and Nitazoxinide,
and reported that the treatment made a huge impact on her illness
- "more of a difference than anything
else I tried!".
Further
testing revealed the parasite had survived, albeit in reduced numbers.
She was then prescribed a 6 week course of Ciproflaxin*
(doses not provided). Further testing again revealed the presence
of Blasto. hominis.
*lab testing has shown that Blasto. is sensitive to Cipro. More
on Cipro. here
SPECIFIC
DRUG THERAPIES:
FLAGYL:
Below is a small selection
of correspondence from people who have failed treatment with Flagyl.
Despite it's high failure rate, evidenced both anecdotally and in
medical literature, Flagyl
(metronidazole) is the most commonly prescribed treatment
for B.hominis infections, considered
by many physicians to be the "gold standard" treatment
for most bowel infections.
Many of those who contact me have often been unsuccessfully treated,
often numerous times, with this drug:
"I
took 1500mg of metronidazole per day for two weeks in June for Dientamoeba
fragilis. Stool tests I did four weeks following that treatment
revealed that I have Blastocystis hominis. I obviously had it
all along but the tests didn't reveal it. So for me, the Flagyl
didn't work at all in fact, overall it has made me feel worse. I
now have chronic fatigue, my energy is very limited, and my abdomen
is always distended (before the metro. it wasn't as bad)".
Piria. 2002
Piria
wrote that she's feeling "fantastic" after treatment in
early 2003 with a combination of tinidazole/furazilodone and bactrim.
However, there have been cases where Blasto. has survived this treatment.
"I have been diagnosed as having this
infection after successful identification by laboratory testing
in Melbourne of two stool samples. These were taken AFTER(*) full
treatment for 7 consecutive days by Flagyl. "
D. 19 December 02
*Flagyl reduces bowel bacteria, which in turn enables Blasto.
to colonise more of the bowel. Testing positive after Flagyl, where
previous tests were negative, is commonly reported to this site.
S. was diagnosed with Blasto:
"I have been on at least four courses
of metronidazole (Flagyl), as well as a course of iodoquinol. Nothing
has worked, and a recent stool test says my levels are high as ever.
"
Feb 2003
After
I have seen for several doctors and mimdiagnosed with IBS, one test
from Great Smokies Lab found that I was infected by Blastocystos
Hominis, Candida Albicans,
and two other bacterias more. I was medicated with flagyl, yodooxin,
etc. However, all the symtoms came again. I feel weak, bloating,
with bain fog. Please, somebody can say me where is possible to
get a consious M.D that he know about this problem. Please, I'm
desperate!!!!!!!!
N. 21 July 02
"I took metronidazole, tinidazole, secnidazole
in high dosages. None of them worked".
E. 19 March 03
"I was diagnosed with and treated
(metronadizole) for DF about a year and a half ago. At the same
time I was also diagnosed with blasto, but my doctor told me
that it did not cause problems with the GI tract. I have recently
(past month) had diarreah again, and tested for blasto. hom. once
again. The doctor has prescribed metronadizole once again,
and I've seen some improvement, although I'm afraid that once I'm
finished with the medication, the diarreah will start again"
B. Dec 01
Hi Jackie, contacted you back in May 2001
with Blasto. I took 1 course Flagyl for 10 days with success
whilst on the treatment then symptoms came back a little for about
1 week. Went back to Travel Dr (specialist in overseas parasites)
told me to go away and pretend I never had it!! Still had like nervous
stomach, fatigue, constant colds/flu weight loss of about 8 kilos.
posted on message board by Kirsty, July 4
02
I’ve
been diagnosed with Blasto and was prescribed Flagyl. After I finished
the course, stool’s result still came positive for Blasto, and DF
was found as well.
A. 20 April 02
"I've recently been diagnosed as having
blasto and was prescribed 7 days of flagyl. After I got over the
side effects of the flagyl, I felt terrific for about 2 days, then
back into the pits.
I have previously (in the last couple of years) been treated for
what has probably always been blasto (but was presumed to be giardia)
with two lots of Fasigyn and two lots of flagyl. The former
had a very radical effect on my body."
Posted by Mel on
message board
March 4 01
"I've
suffered from chronic digestive problems since 1980. I can barely
eat and I've lost a lot of weight. Except for one test just after
I became sick it was only in 1996 that my doctor had me retested
and Blasto. was found. I've been treated with Flagyl and Fasigyn
heaps of times, all with some success, but the symptoms always comes
back."
J. Dec '99
"I have
had blastocystis for about 8 years and have tried everything
possible to be free of it.
I have tried flagyl,oregano oil, kerosine, other antibiotics that
i cant remember the name of, all types of herb combinations, but
it always comes back. "
11 March 03
It was recently confirmed that I have the above (B.hominis).
I went through the flagyl treatment and the results were that I
was very ill on the medication and of course the symptoms returned.
I had a stool test to confirm that there was still a slight colony
present.
A. 25 May 02
"I just completed my third treatment for a variety of
intestinal parasites. I gave another stool sample after treatment
only to learn that I was not able to rid myself of the Blastocystis
Hominis. So far I have taken Flagyl all three times. The
first treatment included Flagyl only. The second treatment included
a combination of Flaygyl and Yodoxin. I was prescribed
Flagyl and Paramomycin (sp?) this last time. It has been only three
weeks since I completed that treatment. I received my results from
the stool sample today and my Doctor has prescribed the combination
of Yodoxin and Paramomycin since Flagyl doesn't seem to be working
on the Blasto. "
M. 11 March 03
I have taken 400mg of Flagyl four times a day for fourteen days
in the past on two different occassions. What a waste of time that
was, all I got from it was being so very sick to my stomach, it
did nothing to get rid of the Bh. My symptoms are bloating/flatulence/irritable
bowel/nausea/now a back ache from ther bloated feeling.
M. 7 June 02
S. tested positive to B.hominis. She wrote:
"My
doctor and I have a good understanding. Her comment was that while
many people have the Blasto parasite “very few ever show symptoms”.
Considering that I was having symptoms without any other potential
cause she treated me for the Blasto with a course of Metronidazole.
After a ten day run after which I felt quite a bit better but
not 100 per cent I was retested and still showed positive for Blasto
but in reduced numbers.
S. 4 July 02
"My son, 17 yrs old, was found to have blastocystis hominis
in August of 2002, by Great Smokies Lab. The DO we were seeing put
him on Parex, an herbal formlation, for abt 6 weeks. Subsequent
stool test showed parasite still there but weaker. Symptoms of bloating,
excessive gas, stomach pain/acid continued came back as strong as
before. Then we went to an MD who put him on Flagyl, but the
subsequent stool sample showed he still had it.
E. 13 March 03
|
Blastocystis hominis cysts concentrated from faeces were resistant
to metronidazole up to a concentration of 5 mg/ml. A cysticidal
drug is therefore needed for radical treatment, to avoid relapse
and to prevent transmission.
Resistance
of Blastocystis hominis cysts to metronidazole
Trop
Med Int Health. 1996 Oct;1(5):677-8.
Zaman V, Zaki M.
Metronidazole
effectively relieved the symptoms and cleared the organism
in some but not all patients.
Blastocystis hominis infection:
signs and symptoms in patients at Wilford Hall Medical Center.
Mil
Med 1990 Sep;155(9):394-6
Wilson KW, et al
Through anecdotal reports, it has become evident that there
are a significant number of treatment failures with metronidazole....
Blastocystis hominis – Past and Future
C.H.
Zierdt
Clinical Micro. Reviews.
Jan 1991 Vol 4, No 1; 61-79
If treatment appears warranted, metronidazole is suggested
as the drug of choice, although failures of this drug in eradicating
the organism have been reported.
Stenzel
DJ, Boreham PF.
Blastocystis hominis revisited.
Clin Microbiol
Rev 1996 Oct;9(4):563-84
Blastocystis hominis cysts concentrated from faeces were
resistant to metronidazole up to a concentration of 5 mg/ml.
A cysticidal drug is therefore needed for radical treatment,
to avoid relapse and to prevent transmission.
Resistance
of Blastocystis hominis cysts to metronidazole.
Zaman
V, et al
Trop Med Int Health 1996 Oct;1(5):677-8
The study shows that isolates of B. hominis of different
geographical origin have different levels of resistance to
metronidazole. The search for more effective drugs to eliminate
th parasite appears inevitable, especially since surviving
parasites from metronidazole cultures show greater ability
to multiply in subcultures than controls.
Isolate resistance of Blastocystis hominis to metronidazole.
Haresh
K, et al
Trop
Med Int Health 1999 Apr;4(4):274-7
|
Tinidazole or metrondiazole
combined with Septrin
Dosages: Septrin Forte twice daily for 10 days (Trimethoprim 160mg
plus Sulfamethoxazole 800mg) together with Tinidazole 400mg three
times daily for 10 days.
If
Blastocystis has been pre treated with metronidazole or tinidazole
resistance can develop. Pretreatment with either drug can lower
the effectiveness.
Blasto. can survive this treatment.
Following are Septrin & metronidazole
or tinidazole success stories:
"I
have Blasto, and have had the classic range of symptoms for several
years. I've had one course of Flagyl in summer 2000 which made me
feel great for short period, and another course of another antibiotic
(don't have the name in front of me) this March. I'd like to recommend
your program to my doc.
Thanks"
May 02
"This plan worked like a champ and I am symptom free! My
big symptom was lethargy/fatigue (plus GI issues - greatly varying
stools) and it's such a pleasure to have that gone.
Your website and advice are a real asset to the world. Thanks"
JC, Boulder, USA
Oct 02
...............................................................................................
A.
from Denmark became sick after a trip to the Phillipines in March
2002. Several tests were negative for parasites, but eventually
Blasto. was found. He suffered "weight
loss (8 kg), stomach pain, swollen stomach, diarrhoea (now and then)".
His doctor advised him there is no cure. He contact the site asking
for treatment info and in June 2002 he reported the good news:
Dear
Jackie!
Things are fine here! I have completely recovered. After 3 days
of treatment I already felt much better! I finished the treatment
after ten days as ordered by you. I have a little problem with air
in my stomach but it seems that this declining as well.
So thanks again!
Kind Regards A.
19 June 2002
............................................................................................
Sue, from New Zealand, began to experience symptoms of "nausea,
tiredness, constant gnawing feelings in my stomach, and bouts of
diarrhoea. I also had lots of aches and pains and my head always
felt like I was in a fog....tremors, shakes, nausealike sea-sickness,
feeling cold, light headedness on the verge of blacking out".
She lost a lot of weight and suffered fatigue so severe she
"could hardly walk across a room".
During one particularly bad attack her symptoms were alarming enough
for her family doc. to send her to hospital for tests. Blood, heart
& sugar tests were negative. She was diagnosed with stress
and sent home. A specialist gastroenterologist performed
a gastroscopy which was negative.
Finally a gp decided stool testing may reveal the problem —
sure enough high levels of Blasto. were found.
Click here to read the outcome.
Update: 26th September 2003: Two years after treatment
Sue is again symptomatic. Despite no recent evidence of Blasto.
in her stool samples Sue's doctor is willing to repat the Flagyl
and Septrin treatment.
...........................................................................................
L.
wrote:
"Recently diagnosed with Blasto (3
of 4 level). I did a parasitology report looking for Candida (for
which I have been treating myself) only to discover a 0 on Candida
and high levels of Blasto. I know nothing of this protozoa and can
use any help in links, treatments, etc."
March 02
I
sent L the medication dosages and received this email in Sept. 02:
"Jackie
- The meds worked exceptionally well with no side effects. THANK
YOU!"
.........................................................................................
Blasto. infections.
J., who contacted me in July after being diagnosed with Blasto,
also listed among his symptoms:
"Anxiety, panic, overwhelmed w/ fear but of nothing in particular,
couldn’t catch my breath, chest tight, stomach in knots, out of
control, disoriented, scared, depressed, thoughts of suicide &
extreme dizziness"
J. gave me permission to include a diary he sent me during his Blasto.
infection. The names of family physicians and family have been deleted.
Click here to read.
He was treated with Flagyl by his family physician which failed
to relieve his symptoms. After contacting this site he took the
drug combination with the following result:
"After
the meds my symptoms seemed to change. I had much worse diarrhea
(many more times a day and more watery). The nausea was also there
but different (not as extreme).
After I'd been off the meds for about a week and had these "different"
but similar symtoms I did another stool sample. They told me I had
Clostridium difficile (aka. cdiff) at that time. Then they prescribed
Flagyl to get rid of the cdiff. That took another 10 days or so.
Then I got better. "
September
2002
.........................................................................................
H had been diagnosed with both B.hominis & D.fragilis:
" I have been unsuccesfully treated
with Tetraciclina (Tetracycline)
500 mg three times a day X 10 days for an infection with hominis
and fragillis. I noticed in the web your combination drug treatment
and told my doctor. He agrees with the treatment but is a little
bit concern about what he says "a powerfull cocktail".
Please send me the recommended doses."
26 July 2002
On the 25th September H. recontacted with the news "my
stomach still feels a little bit upset. Needs a bit more time.But
definitely the old symptoms are gone. Thank you very much for your
help and wish you well in your magnific campaign".
Note:
Whilst this treatment is very effective providing there has been
no pre-treatment with Flagyl or Tinidazole - failures have occurred
and Blasto. has been found in stool samples post treatment.
...............................................
FAILURE:
D.contacted in March 03. She reported suffering
gastrointestinal complaints for a number of years and symptoms of
general weakness and fatigue. She was diagnosed with IBS (Irritable
Bowel Syndrome) and also mild Chrohns disease (inflammation
detected during colonoscopy). Stool testing by Great Smokies Diagnostics
in 2003 revealed infection with Blasto. hominis. She believes she
may have become infected on a trip to India in 1999.
She tested positive to Blasto. after taking
Tinidazole and Septrin (dosages).
She had not been pre-treated with Flagyl (pre-treatment reduces
the effectiveness of this combo. because Blasto. builds resistance
to this drug).
Other drug treatments:
Nitazoxanide:
Nitazoxanide is
a newer drug which has been demonstrated**
to eradicate 100% of Blastocystis hominis infections in a clinical
setting in Mexico.
**participants submitted 6 samples
post treatment on days 6, 7, 8 & 13, 14 & 15.
Clinical trials involving treatment of Blastocystis hominis with
Nitazoxanide are currently under way in Western Australia.
If you would like to take part click here
for more info. (June 2002)
Combined
antiprotozoal/anthelminthic A new 5-nitrothiazole derivative,
nitazoxanide, is unusual in being the first drug to be active
against both intestinal protozoa and helminths. Mexican parasitologists
treated 246 adults and children, each with at least one protozoal
and two helminthic infections, giving them 7.5 mg/kg nitazoxanide
12-hourly for 3 consecutive days. Cure rates were 81% for E
histolyitica/E dispar, 71% for Giardia, and 100% for Blastocystis
hominis and Isospora belli. The drug is reported also to be
effective against anaerobic and some aerobic bacteria; and it
is said to be the first effective treatment for cryptosporidial
diarrhoea in AIDS.
Nitazoxanide for the treatment of intestinal protozoal and
anthelminthic infections in Mexico.
Cabello, RR et al.
Trans R SocTrop Med Hyg 1997; 91: 701-3
If you would like a copy of this paper email
me.
Other papers:
Blastocystis hominis: neutral red supravital staining and
its application to in vitro drug sensitivity testing.
Vdovenko A &
Williams J.
Parasitology Research. 2000; 86: 573-581.
Nitazoxanide for the treatment of intestinal protozoan and
helminthic infections in Mexico.
Romero Cabello
R, Robert Guerrero L, Munoz Garcia MR & Geyne Cruz A.
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
1997; 91: 701-703.
|
Availability:
USA: Romark
Labs
Nitazoxanide is available in Mexico
and other Latin American countries over-the-counter at pharmacies
without a doctor's script.
Contact me for details of where to obtain drug.
NOTE: This site does not endorse taking
any drugs without the guidance of a physician.
HAVE YOU BEEN TREATED SUCCESSFULLY WITH THIS DRUG? PLEASE SHARE
YOUR STORY.
">email me.
Since mid 2001 this site has heard from
a large number of people who tested positive to Blasto. after short
courses of this drug (3, 7, 10 days @ 500, 1,000 or 2,000 twice
daily (examples below)).
Longer treatments have had mixed results, but the majority report
negative samples and greatly reduced or no symptoms after treatment.
Contact me
for details of the longer treatment.
Below
are two examples of shorter courses:
"I
took Nitazoxanide for 10 days. Again, I felt better for a bit, but
am now back to feeling shit. Once again, the follow-up stool test
has come back showing that B Hominis is thriving inside me."
J. 25 Nov. 2002
........................................................................................
"My
illness began in late January 2003. I felt bloated, slightly nauseated
and developed a mild but persistent diarrhea. I was first treated
with lomotil and then, after stool samples revealed the presence
of Blasto, with Flagyl. The Flagyl had little effect on the the
blasto or my symptoms, in fact I felt much worse during and immediately
after the 10 day course of 750mgs three times a day
I
took the course of Alina (Nitazoxinide) May 24,25,26. The retest
took place on June 16. I am scheduled for a another stool test next
week and will let you know the results. If they indicate further
testing I will keep you informed" (see
update below)
D. (USA) June 2003
Update
from D (above)
"The last test was positive and I was given another round of
Nitazoxinide, although my doctor is convinced that the B. hominis
will eventually disappear of it's own accord."
D (USA) July 2003
S. was diagnosed with Bh:
In June 2003 she took Nitazoxinide for 5 days (no dose supplied)
Subsequent test: Bh still present
August 2003
P. from Melbourne, Australia tested positive after taking Nitaz.
Exact dosage and lenght of treatment not supplied.
August 03
Rifaximin:
Because this drug is so difficult to obtain reports of individual
usage are unavailable.
Rifaximin was successful in eradicating B.hominis in the following
study:
In
HIV-1 infected patients severe enteritis and chronic diarrhea
are often documented as a consequence of multiple opportunistic
infections. We analyzed 48 HIV-1 positive patients for the presence
of intestinal pathogenic protozoa. Patients with CD4 > or =
200/mm3 showed a higher prevalence of a single pathogenic protozoa
than patients with CD4 < or =200/mm3, who showed the presence
of multiple protozoal infections. Patients who proved positive
for only a single protozoa, Cryptosporidium or Blastocystis,
were also positive, by stool culture, for the presence of Proteus
mirabilis (3 samples), Citrobacter freundii (3 samples), Escherichia
coli (one sample) or Enterobacter cloacae (one sample). Treatment
with rifaximin (600 mg, 3 times a day, for 14 days) was efficacious
in resolving the clinical symptoms and clearing protozoan infections
in HIV-1 infected patients with CD4 > or = 200/mm3, who presented
enteric and systemic symptoms due to Criptosporidium or Blastocystis
associated with enteropathogenic bacteria.
Intestinal
protozoa in HIV-infected patients: effect of rifaximin in Cryptosporidium
parvum and Blastocystis hominis infections.
J Chemother 1999 Oct;11(5):391-5
Amenta M, et
al |
The drug can be obtained from the following international German
pharmacy:
Please note: Requires: A doctor's prescription and
government authorisation to import this drug.
Metropolitan Pharmacy
Flughafen, Zentralbereich
85356 Muenchen
Tel: ++49-89-97592954
Fax: ++49-89-97592956
email: info@metpharmacy.de
Rifaximin
& Nitazoxinide combined:
Mixed results with this combo. As
of December 2003 the few reports to this site have been positive,
with the majority becoming symptom free or greatly reduced symptoms
accompanied by negative samples.
Read here
how this combination cured a 4 year Blasto. infection, misdiagnosed
for the first 2 years as Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Unfortunately for a UK woman this treatment failed to eradicate
her Blasto. infection. Info. here
Ciproflaxin:
If you are considering taking Cipro
(Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride) read the info. on these
sites first:
US Food & Drug Administration Centre for Research includes comprehensive
info. on Cipro:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/cipro/cipro_faq.htm
Wall Street
Journal article contains important info. about the dangers of this
drug.
http://www.drugawareness.org/Archives/4thQtr_2001/record0041.html
The following are examples of people who
have been helped by this drug.
More examples will be added as they become available.
"Dear Jackie,
Your
site was helpful to my battle with B Hominis. Thanks for all the
effort you put into this site. I'm almost back to 100% after a 10
month battle.
Just
in case you want more data, I'll give you a brief summary of my
history.
11/05
I returned from a trip to rural Africa. I began having upper GI
problems by the middle of Nov. Mostly acid reflux and the feeling
that my stomach lining was inflamed, thus creating a tender bloating
that is different from a more typical gassy bloating. At first I
thought it was from my Lariam RX (malaria ).
Restricted diet -- no alcohol, fat, caffeine, spicy food. Ate mostly
bread & rice. Pepcid AC & antacids little help. Constant
symptoms.
12/01
Dx -- giardia and treated with 250 mg flagyl 3xday
1/02
Giardia gone, stool sample normal, but symptoms remain. Prevacid
and bland diet keep symptoms from being overwhelming. Prevacid was
a definite help. Chinese herbal medicne no help.
2-3/02
All the standard upper & lower GI scans, x-rays etc,. negative
4-6/02
B Hominis test positive in 1 of 3 stool samples. Got standard
advice that B hominis is not the problem. Got scoped from top
& bottom and all was negative.
7/02
B Hom treated with flagyl 750mg 3xday & cipro 500mg 2xday
for 3 weeks. Started feeling a little better after 2 weeks of
treatment. No side effects from the drugs.
8/02
Slow improvement. Stopped the Preavid. Started to expand
diet, and by end of the month was back to a near normal diet.
Thanks again for your work It gave me a great perspective on my
situation and helped me manage the medical community."
S. 27 September 02"
...............................................................................................
Trevor was also
diagnosed with Blasto. and despite the reluctance of his dr's to
treat this organism he was prescribed Fasigyn (similar to Flagyl)
for 4 days.
"Many
doctors here in Zurich told me not to treat the Blasto, rather to
leave it go away by itself"
The treatment
made no difference to his symptoms (weight loss, fatigue and digestive
complaints). He was eventually treated with: Cyprofloxacin 2 x 500mg
a day for for 6 weeks and at the same time took good quality probiotics
during and after the treatment. He wrote:
"After 6 weeks, all the weight I had
lost returned, muscle built up around my joints again...I feel much
better now and my stool is completely normal, no flatulence, no
odour.".
He emailed
the information because "I know how
bad this bloody BH can make a person feel.........if what I have
learned can help others please share it."
March 2003
IODOQUINOL...alone
and with other drugs
(Important info. about this drug on the manufacturer's
site here)
FAILURE:
"After a first treatment with Iodoquinal (21 days), I felt
a lot better for a few months, but began to go back downhill and
I again tested positive for all three six months later. After
a second treatment with Iodoquinal (21 days) followed up by a long
course of Par Qing (a chinese Artemesia Annua/valerian/other blend)
and beneficial flora, the Klebsiella and Citrobacter were gone,
replaced with Hafnia Alvei and still 'many' Blastocystis. I then
took a course of Flagyl (I believe at 750mg bid for 10 days). My
most recent test showed Pseudomonas Aruginosa (sp?) and still 'many'
Blastocystis."
December 2003
SUCCESS:
This woman's Blasto. symptoms disappeared after taking a combination
of Flagyl and Iodoquinol:
"
I am cured! But the drugs were awful. I had Yodoxin and Metronidazole
(Flagyl) at the same time. I was throwing up on the 10th day of
treatment. Then my tongue turned green and I had to take something
for thrush. Luckily, I have a wonderful doctor who keeps up with
the current therapeutic options. Anyway the whole ordeal was worth
it because I am now fine and have been fine for several months.
The other thing that I did was to take healthy intestinal bacteria
three times a day that I found at the health food store. "
FAILURE:
In the following case Flagyl was prescribed 3 times without success,
initially alone and then in combo. with Iodoquinol (Yodoxin) &
the drug Humatin (Paromomycin):
"I just completed my third treatment
for a variety of intestinal parasites. I gave another stool sample
after treatment only to learn that I was not able to rid myself
of the Blastocystis Hominis. So far I have taken Flagyl all
three times. The first treatment included Flagyl only. The second
treatment included a combination of Flaygyl and Yodoxin. I was prescribed
Flagyl and Paramomycin (sp?) this last time. It has been only three
weeks since I completed that treatment."
M. March 2003
SUCCESS:
Iodoquinol and Flagyl in combination:
"I was
happy to find your webpage. My husband and I have had blastocystis
hominis since last November. My worst symptom was a nasty flatulence
while my husband had runny bowels. I am on 3 x 210mg Yodoxin 3 times
a day (20 days) and 3 x 250 metronidozole 3 times a day (10 days).
This cure is worse than the disease. I am so sick from these medications
(nausea, loose stools, dizziness, lethargy) that I can barely get
through the day. But I am on the 7th day of treatment and encouraged
because my evil flatulence is gone. I am keeping my fingers crossed."
"Just to follow up, I took 10 days of the metronidozole and
the yodoxin and kept getting sicker and sicker (excessive dizziness
and lightheadedness, difficulty concentrating, nausea) and by the
night after my 10th day (last Sunday) I was up for a few hours dry
heave vomiting. Since I was done with the metro anyway my doctor
told me to discontinue the yodoxin because of my reaction. Although
I am not sure if one drug was more responsible than the other for
my reaction. By the way did I tell you that my tongue is slimy greenish
looking (seriously, is this a yeast infection?). Also I have a sore
back where I think my kidneys are, maybe they got stressed out a
little. Or maybe I am overreacting."
J 6 July 01
and the final result:
Here
is what I took for Blast. hominos: Metronidazole 750 mg three times
each day for 10 days Yodoxin 630 mg three times each day prescribed
for 20 days but I was throwing up by the 10th day and the doctor
wanted me to stop taking it. Anyway it worked and I seem to be fine!
Best wishes to you (by the way I had a course of metronidazole a
few months before the above regime and apparently that alone did
not work)
J – 3 Nov 01
FAILURE:
Yodoxin (Iodoquinol) and Flagyl failed to eradicate this infection:
"I
just completed my third treatment for a variety of intestinal parasites.
I gave another stool sample after treatment only to learn that I
was not able to rid myself of the Blastocystis Hominis. So far I
have taken Flagyl all three times. The first treatment included
Flagyl only. The second treatment included a combination of Flaygyl
and Yodoxin. I was prescribed Flagyl and Paramomycin (sp?) this
last time. It has been only three weeks since I completed that treatment.
I received my results from the stool sample today (pos. for
Bh) and my Doctor has prescribed the combination of Yodoxin
and Paramomycin since Flagyl doesn't seem to be working on the Blasto.
"
M. 11 March 03
and finally...the author of this site
tested postivive to Blasto. after Iod. + Flagyl for D.fragilis.
Tinizadole
(chemically similar to Flagyl):
Two days of Tinidazole failed to clear the Blasto. this woman's
stool samples:
I have Blastocistis Hominus and Dientamoeba
Fragilis. My doctor first gave me two doses of Tinidazole. (2 days
worth) This made me feel better for about ten days then I got sick
again and have both bugs still present.
K. March 02
Anti-Yeast
Meds:
B.hominis was reclassified from an intestinal yeast to a
protozoa for a number of reasons. One was because Blasto. doesn't
respond to anti-yeast medication (ie. amphotericin, nystatin, Diflucan,
Sporanox, and Nizoral.).
(reference can be supplied)
HERBS:
Some people report a reduction of symptoms using herbs with anti-parasitic
properties. The symptoms often return when the treatment has ended.
Oil of Oregano is favoured by many people with parasitic infections.
Two bottles of triple concentrate Oil of Oregano failed to lessen
my symptoms.
The following is typical of the experiences of the majority of those
who contact me who have attempted to cure their parasitic infection
with herbs:
"I believe that I contracted Blasto 30
years ago when I first went to Mexico. This is because I have had
mild symptoms all this time that could never be diagnosed and treated.
After an operation in 1998 I felt chronically fatigued and still do.
I believe that the operation lowered my immune system and the Blasto
could then cause fatigue. Last year I had a stool test that indicated
Blasto. Since that time I have gone through a complete herbal regime
including Undecenoic Acid and general parasite cleanse with Ann Louise
Gittleman's company Unikey. (last October) Guess What Came to Dinner
is one of her books. More recently I took emulsified Oregano Oil
recommended by Great Smokies Lab. Also I have used acupuncture,
Chinese herbs, severe grain/fruit free diet (except for quinoa), energywork,
craniosacral, chiropractic, therapy, "Terminator" zapper, Prill water,
biofeedback....Fortunately I do not have candida that often accompanies
Blasto. Nothing cleared the Blasto yet. "
e-mailed by Jane, 1 July 02
"My
son, 17 yrs old, was found to have blastocystis hominis in August
of 2002, by Great Smokies Lab. The DO we were seeing put him on Parex,
an herbal formlation, for abt 6 weeks. Subsequent stool test showed
parasite still there but weaker. Symptoms of bloating, excessive gas,
stomach pain/acid continued came back as strong as before."
E. 15 March 03
Hulda Clarke, author of 'The Cure for All Cancers' recommends Black
Walnut and other herbs to eliminate parasites. The following Blasto.
infected woman used these herbs as well as a diet restricting foods
high in carbohydrates:
"I have been suffering from Gastrointestinal
complaints for a number of years now plus general weakness and fatigue.
My doctor diagnosed me as having IBS and also mild Chrohns disease
but I have recently found out that i am carrying the Blastocystis
Hominis parasite in my system.
This
was found through having a stool test done with Great Smokies Diagnostic
Laboratory and i was told i may have picked it up on a trip to India
in November 1999.
I
have since followed a 50 day program of severe carbohydrate free
diet and a 40 day program of Black Walnut and Wormwood Herbal supplement.
When i was re-tested Blastocystis was still there. Also, as soon
as i began to eat the Carbs again my systems got worse."
D. -received March 03
"I was diagnosed with blastocystis hominis
last October by Great Smokies lab and have been taking Paraguard
recommended by nutritionist and the lab in two lots since (Nov -
Jan and March to August). I am still taking one tablet a week. According
to the nutritionist the paraguard should have killed the bug months
ago but says I have a very resistant infection. I have felt
so ill with the die-off from this drug with the the debilitating
tiredness and the effect on my liver. "
H. 20 August 03
D relieved his
symptoms of Blasto. hominis using the above, after a combo. of Flagyl
+ Septrin failed:
"I took Artestatin (chinese herbal
formula) for about 2 months (6 tablets per day) along with emulsified
oil of oregano....when the battle did'nt end after 7-8 weeks,
I added a very dense tea of Coptis Root one day (probably
way too strong / concentrated) and the battle seemed to subside
dramatically for a few days, then I drank some more, and a few days
later I drank yet another batch and then my stools returned to normal
(6 out of 7 days) for the last month"
5 August 02
Thus far, I only have loose stools and diarrhea
once a week or less. I have consumed Coptis Tea ( a more dilute
tea this time) a few times in the six weeks my stools returned to
normal. ".
11 August 02
For the following woman herbs, including Berberbine, only seemed
to exacerbate the problem:
"I have been diagnosed through Great
Smokies Diagnostic laboratory in the US with 'many' blastocystis
hominis....(symptoms are extreme fatigue and brain fog) i have taken
natural medicines through my accupuncturist- Candibactin-BR (2 tabs
2 times a day) a Berbine formula, alongside **Probioplex (1 tsp
2 times a day) to kill and to keep the b.hominis from 'sticking'
to my intestinal wall. The treatment created such extreme fatigue
and greater mental fog that i could not function and quit taking
it within 3 weeks. My doctor wanted me to take this for 3-4
months"
L. 19 March 03
**Probioplex is a probiotic which contains live bacteria
It is highly likely that her symptoms became worse because the probiotic,
in this case Probioplex, 'fed' the parasite and encouraged
it's growth.
.........................
D. was diagnosed with Basto. hominis & made contact in March
03. Her symptom & drug treatment details are here.
She wrote: "I have followed a 50 day
program of severe carbohydrate free diet and a 40 day program
of Black Walnut and Wormwood Herbal supplement. When I was
re-tested Blastocystis was still there. Also, as soon as i began
to eat the carbs again my systems got worse.
The above
experiences are typical outcomes of treatments with herbal products.
These treatments may help reduce the numbers of parasites, but they
are rarely successful in completely elimating the parasite. Once
the treatment is stopped, and/or a normal diet is resumed, the parasite
re-colonises the bowel in greater numbers.
TOP
|
