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anna-banana
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 5th, 2008 |
| Location: | Mesa, Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 2 |
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Posted: Fri Sep 26th, 2008 16:13 |
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I started MP a month ago with my doctor's support (due to extreme allergies and chronic, recurring sinus infections that I haven't been able to kick with regular treatment). I had my first followup visit this week & since my blood pressure has been in the low 70's, my doctor wanted me to post to see if it safe to boost my Benicar dosage to move towards the recommended dosage of 40mg 3-4 times per day.
I am 31, female, 113lbs and haven't been able to tolerate more than 20mg of Benicar 3 times/day without feeling extremely tired, low energy, dizzy, trouble breathing. Am also taking 25mg of Minocyclene every other day. I haven't been able to work for several weeks due to the extreme side effects. Last week I had 101 fever for 5 days and passed out while on the toilet. I tried increasing the Benicar to 40mg per the instructions, but that just made my symptoms worse.
Anxious for some advice.
Thank you,
Anna
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Dr Trevor Marshall
Research Team
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Posted: Fri Sep 26th, 2008 20:46 |
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Anna,
You are learning the #1 lesson of the MP the hard way, I am afraid. Rule number 1 says "Always follow the Phase 1/2/3 printed instructions exactly as written."
If you had done that, and come here for advice to understand the "extreme side effects," then the Advocates would have been able to help you. But by messing up the dosing of Benicar, and then adding minocycline long before you should have done, you have put the advocates in a bit of a bind.
They can guide you through the understanding of what it takes to recover your health. They can help you understand why the protocol is written the way it is. They can help you understand Blood Pressure. But they cannot pick up the pieces of whatever is left after you have deviated from our recommendations, and wandered into uncharted territory.
The Advocates can't give you the medical advice you requested, but if you are interested in the more general issues I cited above, please feel free to discuss them at length
Last edited on Fri Sep 26th, 2008 21:03 by Dr Trevor Marshall
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Julia
Advocate (on leave)
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Posted: Fri Sep 26th, 2008 22:16 |
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Anna, please see the FAQ My blood pressure is already low. Can I take Benicar?
To try to persuade your doctor to prescribe the full MP, you might like to select the most relevant parts of these topics and print them out:
FDA safety insert - includes a graph showing higher doses don't lower BP any further
Benicar-Basic Information
Benicar Applications Beyond Hypertension
The need for a Benicar blockade
Why shouldn't we ramp up the dose of Benicar?
Please note that there are two groups of members on this site: those who are also members of the MP study (who post mainly on the main study site MarshallProtocol.com, including obligatory weekly progress reports, and receive MP advice and support from experienced nurse moderators), and those who are on the MP independently, through their doctors.
If you want to be placed on a waiting list for study membership (there is no guarantee that a place will ever become available) please see MP Memberships Temporarily Closed for instructions. We would dearly love to be able to help everyone, but we have a very small band of volunteer nurses, backed up by a very small band of volunteer advocates.
All doctors are welcome to join the private Professionals' Forum, where all the help and support they need is available, as well as access to the whole protocol from the start. Those who are on the MP independently must refer to their doctor for medical issues, and learn to search the MP 'library' on the study site to find information.
All the information you need is in the MP 'library' on the main site. Here on this site the advocates are happy to act as 'librarians' to help you find what you need to know to make your MP journey a success. Please use the search facilities first to see if your question has already been answered - see How to do a site search.
Non-members might also enjoy reading the members' informal discussion board MP-Lifestyles.org.
There is no medical support available for independents, but you're welcome to ask non-medical questions that can be answered by more experienced members. Any medical questions exclusive to your own case must be addressed to your doctor. There is no need for independents to post progress reports, though you're welcome to drop in here occasionally and let us know how you're getting on.
We are very well aware that this situation is far from ideal for independents, but the only alternative we could see was to close the whole thing down to anyone who wasn't in the study.
Please make sure you know the following essential information thoroughly:
Phase1 guidelines - print one out for you and one for your doctor, and refer to it often.
FAQs Easy Finder & the ABC of MP - use with the search facilities to find information.
Essential Information About the MP - take this a little at a time!
Read, read, read... and let us know if you can't find what you need...
Other useful links
"What is the Marshall Protocol?"
Simple Explanations
D-metabolites tests
Success Stories
Bacteriality - a readable blog-style website by one of our members, with science-made-easy articles, an introductory 90-minute video, and interviews with recovering patients - an excellent introduction to the MP.
____________________
Always consult a physician
Essential Info; FAQ; Julia's story
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anna-banana
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 5th, 2008 |
| Location: | Mesa, Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 2 |
| Status: |
Offline
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Posted: Fri Sep 26th, 2008 22:45 |
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Your response is quite discouraging since it sounds like you are saying that I'm screwed and there is nothing I can do about it. I thought I was following the instructions exactly as written but could only get phase I since II and III don't seem to be available online. We've been fighting with insurance to get your recommended dosages of Benicar and finally gave up (they won't give me more than 30 - 40mg pills/month) and went down to Mexico to get me through.
Are you saying that I shouldn't take the Minocyclene until I'm able to handle 40mg Benicar every 6-8hrs? If so, is it even possible to get up to that level with my low blood pressure? I've already lost my job, my health insurance and my parent's support over this, so I sure would like to understand how to do it right!
At this point should I stop taking all the meds completely until I get the correct guidelines? Please direct me to the appropriate instructions. By the way, the link provided in Julia's post is exactly the instrux we've been using so I'm not sure what I misunderstood and what to do at this point. Please advise!
Thank you,
Anna
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Julia
Advocate (on leave)
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Posted: Fri Sep 26th, 2008 23:21 |
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Anna, let's see if we can help you do this right
Phase 1 is all you need for the first three months or so. Your doctor has access to Phases 2/3 in the Professionals' Forum.
The phase 1 guidelines say:
STEP SIX
Begin Benicar 40mg every six to eight hours (six hours is preferable)
Although Benicar is a mild antihypertensive agent, even patients who have very low starting blood pressure (80/50) have tolerated Benicar well.
>Are you saying that I shouldn't take the Minocycline until I'm able to handle 40mg Benicar every 6-8hrs? If so, is it even possible to get up to that level with my low blood pressure?
Exactly. Many before you have had low BP and have done just fine. Note what I said about high doses of Benicar not reducing BP any further.
>At this point should I stop taking all the meds completely until I get the correct guidelines?
Stop minocycline. Start Benicar at the full dose. Take care, because you might get a bit of dizziness as your hormones adjust.
The instructions you need most are the Phase 1 guidelines, and they must be followed to the letter for your safety. Please also read all the other links I gave you, but not all at once! 
Let us know how it goes...
____________________
Always consult a physician
Essential Info; FAQ; Julia's story
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