I n part one about disulfiram, I reported on preliminary data, both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that disulfiram could be a good drug to treat Lyme disease and babesiosis.1–3
I can now say definitively that disulfiram is indeed a breakthrough in the treatment of Lyme disease and babesiosis. Ninety of my patients are now on disulfiram, and, judging from the posts on Facebook, there are many more now taking this drug.
Because of the increase in demand and the fact that Teva has stopped producing it, most U.S. pharmacies cannot supply disulfiram. My patients now get it through Canadian pharmacies, where it is sourced from other countries.
Sustained Remissions in Many Lyme Patients
Dr. Kenneth Liegner has had the longest experience treating tick-borne infections with disulfiram. He is seeing sustained remissions of six months or more after completing treatment in many patients. Dr. Liegner’s first patient had been on triple antibiotic treatment for eight years for Lyme disease and babesiosis and could not stop his treatment regimen without suffering a relapse. He took disulfiram for four months and has now been off all treatment for almost two and a half years, feeling better than ever.2
Because we have large groups of patients on disulfiram reporting their experience on dedicated Facebook groups, we are getting a lot of feedback. The biggest reported issue is still Herxheimer reactions. To mitigate these reactions, I suggest starting with low doses, 62.5 mg or 125 mg every three days. Patients who appear fragile, inflamed, or poor detoxifiers should start with as little as 15–25 mg every week, a dosage which is available via compounding pharmacies.
Doctors prescribing these doses should request that capsules be enteric-coated and time-release. Enteric coating allows the medications to get through the stomach without being broken down by the stomach acid. The medication is then released in the small intestine, which is best in this situation.
Patient took disulfiram for four months and has now been off all treatment for almost two and a half years, feeling better than ever.
Patients should increase the dose every two weeks based on tolerance. The maintenance or target dose is based on weight, but also on tolerance: 500 mg daily for patients over 180 lbs.; 375 mg for patients 140–180 lbs.; and 250 mg for patients 100–140 lbs. Patients continue the target dose for two to three months, and then stop.
Herx Management
Jarisch–Herxheimer reactions should be treated with the usual binders, anti-inflammatories, Burbur-Pinella, Epsom salt/baking soda baths, tri-salts, glutathione, detoxification treatments, and other drainage remedies.
Vitamin C, nicotinamide, selenium, and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) can help prevent herxing. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), curcumin, fish oil, boswellia, and CBD can decrease brain inflammation…..Join or login below to continue reading.
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