Does anybody have any information on the treatment of whipples disease?

Question

a family member was diagnosed with this disease 2 years ago and we have tried numerous treatments but none seem to have got us anywhere. Can anybody help?

Answer 1

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/whipple/index.htm = search function.

Answer 2

Whipple's disease is treated with antibiotics to destroy the bacteria that cause the disease. The physician may use a number of different types, doses, and schedules of antibiotics to find the best treatment. Depending on the seriousness of the disease, treatment may also include fluid and electrolyte replacement. Electrolytes are salts and other substances in body fluid that the heart and brain need to function properly. Extra iron, folate, vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium may also be given to help compensate for the vitamins and minerals the body cannot absorb on its own.

Full recovery of the small intestine may take up to 2 years, but the symptoms usually disappear in less time. Because relapse is common even after successful treatment, the health care team may continue to monitor the patient for many years.

For More Information

National Organization for Rare Disorders Inc. (NORD)
55 Kenosia Avenue
P.O. Box 1968
Danbury, CT 06813–1968
Phone: [phone] or 203–744–0100
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Internet: www.rarediseases.org

Or try these:
European Network on Tropheryma wipplei infection

http://www.eurice.info/typo3sites/index.php?id=154

Answer 3

What is the treatment for Whipple's disease?
Whipple's disease is treated with antibiotics to destroy the bacteria that cause the disease. The physician may use a number of different types, doses, and schedules of antibiotics to find the best treatment. Depending on the seriousness of the disease, treatment may also include fluid and electrolyte replacement. Electrolytes are salts and other substances in body fluid that the heart and brain need to function properly. Extra iron, folate, vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium may also be given to help compensate for the vitamins and minerals the body is not absorbing on its own.
Symptoms usually disappear after 1 to 3 months of treatment. Because relapse is common even after successful treatment, the health care team may continue to observe patients for some time

Answer 4

Whipple's disease is treated with antibiotics to destroy the bacteria that cause the disease. The physician may use a number of different types, doses, and schedules of antibiotics to find the best treatment. Depending on the seriousness of the disease, treatment may also include fluid and electrolyte replacement. Electrolytes are salts and other substances in body fluid that the heart and brain need to function properly. Extra iron, folate, vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium may also be given to help compensate for the vitamins and minerals the body cannot absorb on its own.

Full recovery of the small intestine may take up to 2 years, but the symptoms usually disappear in less time. Because relapse is common even after successful treatment, the health care team may continue to monitor the patient for many years.

Answer 5

Whipples is a b**ch to treat. There is no easy answer as some of the above posters have said the rate of relapse is very high, 75% or more, and it takes a good medical team to keep it under control. The common drug treatments really compound the problem. They kill the "good" bacteria in the digestive tract which with whipples work against you. One thing that can be done to counter this is Lactobacillus Acidophilus (ie Acidophilus).

Acidophilus rebuilds the "good" bacteria in your digestive system which will help fight whipples. Do you know if the intestinal tract is still infected or "angry"?

This is such a rare disorder, we are talking 1 in 10 million that seems to affect middle-aged white men. We are for the most part clueless about risk factors. Has your GI doc ruled out Intestinal Lipodystrophy?

Many "experts" seem to think stress plays a big role in this disorder. I am in this camp. Malabsorption is often seen in people who are stressed out. Whipples seems to be this take to the extreme by the body. I would try a combo of Ativan (Lorazepam) and Wellbutrin XL (Bupropion) to quite the stress.

In the only case of whipples I have seen this combo of drugs seemed to aid the Pt in recovery and has yet to relapse. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist. Hope this helps. Let me know if you see a difference after 60-90 days with the drugs.

NOTE: This information is not intended to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions, or adverse effects for this drug. If you have questions about the drug(s) you are taking, check with your health care professional.

Answer 6

A drug Trimethaprim is recommended, but many antibiotics including tetracyclines and penicillin have been used.