The dry spell is over. We have some promising new therapies.
Investigators have been used a method to screen large numbers of drugs which might treat Lyme. Dr. Lewis has apparently found that disulfiram, Antabuse, used to treat alcoholics and makes them vomit if they drink alcohol seems to kill Lyme. Apparently, he has discussed his findings at lectures. Practicing doctors don’t get the low down until findings are published in a journal. A recent case report of 3 patients showed efficacy of the drug. Antabuse is something I have used throughout a 37-year career in medicine. It is generally safe, but liver tests need to be monitored. Repurposing the drug empirically seems quite reasonable. Dr. Fallon, Columbia University, is doing a clinical study.
The fact that Antabuse is not an antibiotic is exciting.
The combination of Rocephin, doxycycline and daptomycin may be effective in humans. A clinical question is how long do the drugs need to be given? Will we see durable benefits in 30 days, 60 days etc.? Can an intensive IV therapy circumvent months, even years of other complex and perhaps less effective therapies? Let’s find out.
Controlled clinical trials are important. Placebos are incredibly effective. Personal interactions influence outcomes as do other confounding variables. Studying a complex disease like Lyme is challenging; coinfections are not accounted for and a million other variables are not and perhaps cannot be taken into account.. Study results must be interpreted with care, nuance and ample discussion. The limitations of the study must be addressed. And I hope investigators will not be strong armed by politically motivated institutions to parse words when stating conclusions. These few words have been misinterpreted, willfully with far reaching ramifications. The IDSA drew incorrect and absurd conclusions from Fallon's last Lyme study. And here we go with another set of IDSA recommendations.
Tafenoquine in the form of Krintafel is being used for treatment resistant Babesia. Looks good so far.
