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Meg Mangin R.N.
Former Team Member
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Posted: Thu Jan 6th, 2005 03:52 |
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Why shouldn't we ramp up the dose of Benicar?
Patients with Th1 inflammatory diseases do not react normally to low doses of Benicar. 20-40mg per day is likely to make you feel worse. You can read about this phenomenon in Valsartan Dosing Regime Modulates Psychotic Events in Two Sarcoidosis Patients This phenomenon has been reported by non-sarcoidosis patients also. Establishing the Benicar blockade as quickly as possible allows this Angiotensin Receptor Blocker to function as it's intended in Th1 inflammatory disease patients.
The Benicar blockade dramatically lowers 1,25-D quickly (by as much as half in just 2 weeks). This rapid change causes a shift in many other hormones with resulting neurological type symptoms, such as photosensitivity, fatigue, headache, irritability, sleep disturbances, brain fog, etc. Your body struggles to adjust to the changes in hormone levels. Avoiding sun/lights diligently is critical during this period in order to avoid raising the 1,25-D at a time when the Benicar is trying to lower it. Rapid fluctuations (up or down) of 1,25-D at any level can produce these symptoms.
When you start at a low dose of Benicar and ramp up slowly, you are making this adjustment even more difficult because the level of 1,25-D is allowed to fluctuate up and down rapidly when the blockade is lost after eight hours. Anecdotal experience has taught us that people who ramp up the dose of Benicar often have a violent see-saw reaction of intolerable symptoms. If this is the only way your doctor will agree to establish a Benicar blockade, report to him immediately any adverse effects you may experience.
Dr. Marshall has said, "Please understand that benicar does induce herx, but the bacteria are weakened sufficiently at low doses. That is why folks who try to ramp up get into so much trouble, IMO, the bacteria are already weakened at low dose, and dying, but the angiotensin blockade isn't in place at those low doses to stop the nasty effect of the resulting cytokines."
When you put a complete Benicar blockade in place on day one with the recommended dose of 40mg every six to eight hours, your body will adjust to the new lower 1,25-D level within a couple weeks. Ramping up Benicar only prolongs the adjustment and may produce symptoms that are too severe to tolerate. Do not ramp up the dosage of Benicar unless your doctor insists on ordering it this way. In this case, ask if you can ramp up very quickly, increasing by 40mg each day so that you achieve a complete blockade within three days.
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Nothing contained in this site is or should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment by your physician.
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Meg Mangin R.N.
Former Team Member
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Posted: Wed Nov 16th, 2005 07:24 |
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(filelink)
By offering you the standard dose of Benicar instead of MP dosing, a doctor has not agreed to treat you with the Marshall Protocol.
Persons with Th1 inflammation often react badly to low dose Benicar but the reaction isn't life-threatening.
So....if that is the only way you can get on the MP, then ask this doctor if you can increase the dosage each day since any reaction will happen and can be assessed within 24 hours. That tactic should get you up to full Benicar blockade in 6 days, hopefully without too much suffering. If he will not agree to this, he may not ever agree to the essential full Benicar blockade.
Remind him that you are trying to avoid adverse symptoms and our large cohort of members has proven the adverse effects of ramping up the dose of Benicar and that it is not necessary. And that the MP only works with the recommended 40mg every six to eight hours.
You should, of course, follow the other essential aspects of the MP diligently to minimize any Benicar hormonal adjustment symptoms.
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Benicar acts on the your hormones in several ways. When starting the blockade it usually takes at least a week to get hormones to find a new equilibrium point. Benicar's effect (in this application) lasts about 6-8 hours.
If you were about to start some other hormone therapy, (for thyroid or menopause perhaps) and there the effect of each dose lasted 24 hours, would it be wise for the doc to ramp you up by starting you at one pill every 4 days for 7 doses (4 weeks) and then pill every every 3 days etc. until you get to the right dose? Given the timescale over which Benicar is effective compared to a hormone which is effective for one day, this is exactly what ramping is doing. I believe most docs would call that ramping crazy.... but then I'm not a doc.
Hopefully this argument/logic will help someone. ~Gary
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Nothing contained in this site is or should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment by your physician.
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