[Zimmer28]

My cat bit me and I was in the hosapital 4days getting iv antibiotics...mostly vancomycin. I am home now and my neuopathy has become much worse and learned today that antibiotics can cause it to become worse. Now i know why they kept asking me if my legs were numb or tingly daily, which weren't much so until I came home...now my neuropathy has turned just awful. has anybody else experienced this? Read it was permanent...I despair

[mrsD]

One of our long term members, Marlene, put up this link last week:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0703160623.htm

It illustrates the damage from antibiotics that was recently
photographed microscopically.

The supplement NAC (n-acetyl cysteine) is available over the counter, and you can consider trying it yourself. 600mg a day to start and you can increase that to 600mg 3 times a day if necessary over time.

Antibiotics damage mitochondria in cells (these mitochondria make energy for the cell so it can live and do its job properly).
Mitochondria genetically derive from old bacteria that mixed with mammals during evolution. It is a symbiotic arrangement. But since antibiotics KILL bacteria (pathogens), they also may damage or kill our needed mitochondria too.

NAC is not expensive, and can be found easily on the net.
iherb.com is only one discount vender that carries good brands of it. (NOW makes an affordable one).

There are other mito supplements too. Acetyl carnitine, R-lipoic acid stabilized, and magnesium. If you take any statins for cholesterol, these also are damaging drugs, and in that event you will also need CoQ-10.

Sometimes mito damage can come from multiple drugs you may be taking in combination. Statins are known to damage nerves.
Other antibiotics too will do this, the fluoroquinolones, Cipro, Levaquin and Avelox.

[Idiopathic PN]

Mrs.D, all this time COQ10 has been part of my supplements. I am not taking statin, do you think I should be taking this?

Thank you.

Mary

[mrsD]

You could try the NAC....it is not really expensive or risky.

I think the most side effect statements I have seen have been slight rashes and/or nausea.

[Zimmer28]

Thank you for all the replies...am going to buy NAC today. I already take MgGlycinate and AcetylLCarnitine. Do not take any statins..think they are lethal and am allergic to Cipro...a hateful drug! The neuropathy is so much worse and I despair.

[Zimmer28]

I received the NAC today and am so anxious to try it, as neuropathy is getting worse. All I have read about it is positive, plus am also thinking of trying L.glutathione as have read it works for this happenng too.

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by mrsD

You could try the NAC....it is not really expensive or risky.

I think the most side effect statements I have seen have been slight rashes and/or nausea.

I get occasional heartburn from it (like some get from RLA) but not bad/often enough to make me discontinue it. I just don't take the two together.

Doc