Mepron or Malrone - experiences of either...or both

Hey Girlie,

I wouldn't do Mepron or Malarone at the same time as Rifampin. This is because the Rifampin decreases the atovaquone availability in those medications by up to 50%. I had a journal article for this, I can't seem to find it now.

An alternative would be to switch the Rifampin for Levaquin for Bartonella, or to switch the Mepron/Malarone for another Babesia drug (Coartem or Larium, though I don't have personal experience with either, and am unsure of interactions).

Nevertheless, here's some info:
Mepron is just atovaquone in liquid form.
Malarone is atovaquone plus proguanil, in a pill form.

Mepron is more expensive than Malarone, but both are VERY expensive. Like prohibitively more expensive than most other medications. Make sure you figure it out before you pick up your filled prescriptions, or you might be in for a shock.

People seem to claim that Mepron is absorbed better than Malarone. I can't remember reading any journal articles that say this, but I'm sure there are, as it would make sense, being in liquid. In the LymeMD blog, he states Malarone seems to work a little better in his experience. I'm not sure there's a consensus one way or another.

With both of these drugs, the more fat you intake with them, the more medication is absorbed. Try to get at least 20g of fat with each dose, but more is better. Even doing the pills with home-made popcorn with a ton of melted butter is a great way to absorb it into your system. If you take the pills without fat, you're basically peeing out money.

I haven't had any negative side effects on Malarone, except my neutrophil count seems to have dropped. Could easily be a symptom of fighting Lyme. I have had herxes, I think we talked about in another thread: worsening of headache and crazy chills mostly. Others report worsening of other Babesia symptoms: night sweats, air hunger.

My dose of Malarone is 500mg 2x daily, though I have gone up to 750mg 2x daily without issue (well, besides the cost).

Lastly, I don't think there is any need to pulse these drugs. Especially if you're taking it with a macrolide (which you always should to avoid resistance... atovaquone plus macrolide is very good). Oh also, atovaquone plus a tetracycline is not so good, again because of decreased atovaquone uptake, similar to rifampin but not as severe.

Post Edited (Mustard Seed) : 6/10/2016 4:15:00 PM (GMT-6)

Mustard Seed - Thanks for catching my error....

Sorry - I will be taking Ceftin, Mino with Artemisinin and Mepron or Malarone.
(Putting bart treatment on hold)
This is following a protocol that LLMD Dr. J. prescribes (except he prescribes Omnicef).

I will be pulsing, it though...I've been following what Dr. J. does - with pulsing for the past few months now: M/W/F

Yes, I do know Mepron is expensive...wasn't sure about the Malarone. But, I'm hoping my Insurance will cover most of it...not sure..though. (probably not)

I won't do any of the Fluoroquinolones - not taking the risk.

I think the amount of the atovaquone in the Malarone dose is quite a bit lower than taking it alone...so maybe that's why it's more effective?

I don't know which one...I guess I will get my LLND's opinions.

Is 500mg twice daily the standard dose of Malarone?
Oh - my wbc count is already low...darn...that may be an issue.

Thanks bluelyme - I did know about the CoQ10....

Are you on both alinia and mepron?

"At this point I don't even know what I'm fighting :p"


welcome to the club. Well, at least you're changing things up a little quicker than I did...

How long were you on the Malarone? Do you think you've been on it long enough to take care of Babs?

Oh, I see you started the Babesia treatment the same time as lyme treatment.

7 months should be long enough - unless you're having symptoms. - you said you only had the chills and worsening of headaches...and they're gone now...?



I'm reconsidering - maybe I will do biaxin with the mepron or malarone along with Artemisinin and Ceftin.

I can go back on the mino after.

I haven't tried Bactrim....early on I read about the Steven Johnson syndrome and it freaked me out...and has stuck in my head.

Thanks, LB - did you take Mepron with both Bactrim and biaxin at the same time...or with Bactrim...and then with biaxin?

I have read that about Mepron and depression...yikes.

I wonder if it's as bad with the Malarone...it does have less of the atovaquone in it...


Not something to look forward to...that's for sure.

I had a period of time where lyme caused depression...early on in 2013 - when I first got symptoms. It was horrible...I was crying all the time...

Thanks LB - did you only take for a couple of months because of the depression it caused?

Wow, that is expensive! I guess I should check and see if our insurance covers it.

Maybe I'll have to go with Malarone, since it's supposed to be a bit cheaper...

That's just wrong for these medications to cost so much. How do we manage it...especially when many of us can't even work to pay for them...


Did you also stop the A-BAB?

Girlie,
I had 7 bottles of Mepron. My health insurance covered it. However, I was curious and asked pharmacist how much does it cost without insurance. It costs $700 per bottle. It was generic atavaquone from Prasco Laboratories.
Worked very well with me. After 3 month of using Mepron my horrible severe(!!) sweats stopped completely and after 5 month other symptoms improved. Did not notice depression.
Maybe, you will try Mepron for 2 months and then you will see how it works or not works for you….continue or not continue….

Girlie,
yes, after the 5 months I stopped babesia treatment and then did not take anything next 4 month(tinctures only) to see what’s happened and those symptoms did not return. Then I began Bart treatment( and now I continue Bart treatment). I have been free of my 3 main symptoms (severe sweats, air hunger, heart palpitations) already for a year after treatment. I have no idea did I beat babesia or not but I’m still OK right now.

7 bottles it’s just right for 5 month. 1 bottle is for 3 weeks ( 1 tsp. twice a day) , forth week off(rest) or you can take Alinia(2 pills a day). I did this 3 month. Plus biaxin or azithromycin(without stop).
Then forth and fifth months I began take double dose ( 2 tsp.twice a day) and again forth week off(rest) or Alinia(2 pills a day). Plus minocycline(pulse 3 times a week).

If you need Alinia - it is very cheap at Reliablerxpharmacy by the name Nitazoxanide from reliable Indian generic pharmaceutical company ” Lupin”( I know that half of Russia using medication from this brand).
Hope this helps.