As a patient, this book has really opened my eyes. For over two years now, I’ve suffered from debilitating symptoms due an adverse drug reaction to metronidazole (aka, Flagyl). These symptoms mysteriously wax and wane—some days I barely notice them and then, due to a mild illness or physical exertion, they resurface, sometimes forcing me to back to bed to rest and recoup for days at a time or longer.
When I was taking the drug, I lost the ability to walk and speak, along with a dozen other symptoms. Even when I discontinued, almost all of the symptoms persisted. I would later realize that, if you lose the ability to walk and speak while taking metronidazole, there’s almost a 100% chance lesions have formed on the back of your brain, specifically the cerebellum, with the brain stem being the second most-hit region. It's called "metronidazole-induced central nervous system toxicity."
Along with the walking/speaking issues (I’d later learn were caused by cerebellar dysfunction), there were also several autonomic issues like difficulty swallowing, constipation, respiratory issues (it felt like my brain forgot how to breathe correctly, which resulted in me having a borderline enlarged heart), severe anxiety, insomnia, depression, heart palpitations, chest pressure, and several other problems.
Every single one of my symptoms is listed in this book. It even explains why they keep flaring up.
Doing more research, I discovered that metronidazole and thiamine are antagonists; the drug inhibits thiamine from being absorbed in the body and plummets the body into deficiency. In medical literature, metronidazole toxicity is constantly being compared to another type of brain dysfunction, Wernicke’s encephalopathy. This is because the symptoms and the lesions on the back of the brain are strikingly similar, and these two conditions are continuously compared to one another. Wernicke’s is caused directly by thiamine deficiency.
I suffered a major flare up this November; as I dealt with its effects, that’s when I happened upon this book. I started on a thiamine/magnesium regimen, and my flare up has calmed down at record speed. It’s gone from debilitating (I missed several days of work) to mild, where I’m able to work and function in social activities. I still have a long way to go, but I’ve never recovered this fast from a flare up before.
Unfortunately, there are no doctors to guide patients like me. I’ve discovered the hard way that doctors don’t believe in adverse drug reactions; not only will they not treat the condition, they won’t acknowledge it exists. I started a support group for people who suffer from metronidazole toxicity; when I created it, there were three of us. Now there’s over a hundred. All of us have the same symptoms. Only one member in the group has a doctor who believes her. We even have to warn new members how their doctors will react, in hopes it will prepare them for the reality of being dismissed by the medical community.
Now, we might finally have some answers, and a way to treat our condition. Thank you, Dr. Marrs and Lonsdale for all the hard work and dedication to give us this knowledge! Research like yours saves lives!
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Follow the authors
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Reviews with images
Everyone deserves the knowledge in this evidenced based enlightening book!
I got the Kindle copy and continue reading and re-reading this amazing evidenced based excellent book. Best money I’ve ever spent to improve my health.After suffering over ten years and being misdiagnosed by many good doctors, I finally found answers here. At the end of last year, I could barely walk with unbearable nerve and muscle pain at times. I suffered from brain fog; extreme fatigue; memory issues; bladder problems; GI/ IBS symptoms; skin concerns; insomnia; weight issues and severe cravings; hair thinning; muscle weakness; gait disturbances; dropping things; neck and back pain; mood swings, depression and anxiety; cardiac palpitations and chest pain; blood pressure problems; high cholesterol; degenerative disc disease leading to surgery; and much more, including even difficulty swallowing at times. These myriad of symptoms were misunderstood by over ten consults until ONE ASTUTE NEUROLOGIST heard my plead to check my thiamine level. After a thorough NEUROLOGY exam, reading my EMG, ordering bloodwork and researching my long history, he diagnosed me with beriberi disease or thiamine deficiency. He noted I had been deficient FIVE YEARS ago but I was never told and now suffer nerve damage that I hopefully may reverse thanks to the knowledge gained reading this book and joining Dr Chandler Marrs facebook group and HORMONES MATTER online site. The book is highly scientific with pages of well documented research after EACH chapter. For those unable to get that deep in to the science, the doctors give MANY case studies helping one understand the signs and symptoms and treatments. It’s a must read for anyone with neuromuscular, cardiac, nervous system, skin, brain disorders, cancer, and ANYONE with any diseased state. Who among us doesn’t have someone they know and love suffering? It’s been mind blowing for me who has a strong familial history of Alzheimer’s disease. It brings so much light to the many stages of thiamine deficiency and how they can lead to these further serious diseased states! Doctors are trained to treat symptoms. Thats what happened to me and most people for years. Those drugs further deplete thiamine which is the gateway to the absorption of all essential nutrients. When deficient, the body slowly deteriorates... often one organ system after another as with me. Educating oneself here can bring hope and promise to well being again! If I could afford to, I’d HAND DELIVER this book to each of the many doctors who’ve misdiagnosed me over ten years! I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE!! ❤️🙏🏼✌🏼
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2021
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2021
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2021
