Babesia Doesn't Respond to Lariam, Artesunate, Others BUT Drugs like Primaquine Seem to Work

I thought this old piece of literature was really interesting:

aac.asm.org/content/41/1/91.full.pdf

After 7 days, Larium, Artesunate, and Clindamycin + Quinine had parasite percentage clearances of 0, 9, and 70 respectively.

Two drugs in the 8-Aminoquinoline family worked best, resulting in 100% clearance rather quickly: Sitamaquine and Tafenoquine, two drugs that are still undergoing trials.

Another medication in this same family is currently available though: Primaquine.

In regards to these drugs vs Atovaquone:

"Atovaquone, a 1,4-hy-droxynaphthoquinone that has potent antimalarial activity and activity against Pneumocystis and Toxoplasma species, was somewhat more effective. Most experimentally infected hamsters survived infection and parasitemia never exceeded 1% in treated animals over 54 days of observation (8). Based on our findings, the two 8-aminoquinolines tested in the present study show even greater activity against B. microti than either azithromycin or atovaquone".

Another study found Primaquine to be one of the best anti-babesia medications:

aac.asm.org/content/18/2/289.full.pdf

So has anyone here taken Primaquine?

Mustard Seed, two members on Lymenet completely got rid of their Babesia with a couple rounds of Coartem with Primaquine. Pocono Lyme was one, the other member I cannot remember off-hand.

This treatment was after they had been on plenty of typical Babs treatment such as Atovaquone, etc.

Yeah, I agree, it is definitely worth trying. Not just once, but at least a couple rounds. I plan on trying it sometime if I can determine if protozoan treatment is right for me. At the moment, I'm again trying the Malarone. I am in the same boat as you. Every time I treat protozoans it seems to make things flare without me making progress. But, the anti-Rickettsial treatment only seems to help me to a certain point even though I see more morulas than pyriforms/ringforms under the scope. So, I'm a bit befuddled about what's going on.

And, yes, the Primaquine doesn't seem to be in most Lyme docs protocols, thus the few patient reports.

Girlie said...
Tooty, MS - how is it re: toxicity...side effects...compared to the others?

Is it more of a risky...or toxic med to be on?

I really can't say. It's half life is 6 hours, and I've read it's generally pulsed, so hopefully not too bad.

For resistant Malaria, it seems to be one of the only medications that eradicates persisters in the liver. One person who was on it and seemed to know a thing or two called it the "flagyl" of malaria/babesia meds.

I'm going to ask my LLMD tomorrow.