Taking a break from the Marshall Protocol

The Marshall Protocol (MP) is a curative medical treatment, which allows patients to make progress by activating the innate immune response. In the process, this generates immunopathology. From time to time, patients want to take a break or “vacation” from their immunopathology and process of recovery. For patients who do not care or want to manage their immunopathology using any of the outlined strategies, there is the option to discontinue antibiotics.

The length of time it takes for antibiotics to no longer have an effect is variable. Determining factors include how long the antibiotics stay in one's system (often a month or more) as well as how self-sufficient the immune system is. Patients in later stages of treatment may find their immune response is relatively self-sustaining, and that it will take longer for the immunopathology to die down.

Patients are advised not to discontinue olmesartan (Benicar), as the drug is palliative and protects organs.

MP patients have cited the following reasons for taking a break from treatment:

• morale booster – prove to oneself and others that the MP is working
• upcoming event or activity
• assess progress without the confusion of immune reaction symptoms
• duties and obligations to catch up on
• simply want to feel better for a time

Having improved morale is oh so important when you have to get through the difficult patches of recovery. A little bit of herx-holiday every few months is something I strongly suggest to the doctors who call me.

Trevor Marshall, PhD

Those considering or on a break from the Marshall Protocol are encouraged to post information about their plans as part of their regular updates in their own progress thread.

We are very interested in following the long term outcomes for all our members, including those that choose to discontinue the MP as we feel we are able to learn more this way.

That doesn't mean we agree with your interpretation of your response to the MP. However, we want to respect your personal healthcare choices and would like to continue to follow the outcome of those choices.

So, again, thank you, and do let us know how things are going from time to time.

p.s., our new MP knowledge base provides links to recent papers, publications, and presentations by our research team that you may find to be of interest… http://mpkb.org/home/publications

Joyful, MarshallProtocol.com

MP patients taking a break have the option to change the way they take their antibiotics, as follows:

• decrease amount of doses
• space out timing of doses
• discontinue antibiotics altogether

Note that patients who discontinue antibiotics entirely are no longer benefiting from the mild anti-inflammatory effects that some of the MP antibiotics provide. Further, there is the distinct possibility that one's immune response can stay activated as the antibiotics are metabolized in the tissues. Paradoxically, taking a more frequent dose of antibiotics can actually modulate the immunopathology, making it more predictable.

For some, it may take a month or more for antibiotics to no longer have their effect.

For patients who take a break over more than a month, it may be best to start over with minocycline alone and only add a second antibiotic once the immunopathology indicates they are ready for additional immune stimulation.

MP patients must take adequate precautions to avoid an increase in symptoms related to light exposure. The return to getting “normal” levels of artificial and natural light is an individual experience. Stopping the MP medications will not decrease a patient's photosensitivity. The light sensitivity is part of the disease process and not due to the medications.

Those with cardiac symptoms should be particularly cautious in order to avoid a sudden severe cardiac event. Please be mindful that light exposure might cause a flare in cardiac inflammation and cardiac symptoms.

MP patients taking a break from treatment should continue to avoid all forms of ingested vitamin D during the break.

Sometimes it takes months for antibiotics to clear the body. Azithromycin (Zithromax), in particular, is metabolized rather slowly and has been known to have that kind of effect.

Also, there is the possibility that the MP has allowed to the immune response to become self-sustaining even in the absence of olmesartan (Benicar) or antibiotics.

These days, in all my presentations to physicians, I make a point of helping them to understand that it is the immune system which is doing the germ-killing in the MP, not the drugs. They tend to make the mistake of focusing on the drugs. The problem is that even after you stop taking the Benicar (and antibiotics), the immune system will keep killing the bacteria unmodulated for months.

Trevor Marshall, PhD

It is worth noting that “new” or stronger symptoms, which linger beyond an expected time frame are not “caused” by the MP, but merely revealed or unmasked.

Latent bacterial forms, except maybe the kind one sees in the rapidly degenerative disease ALS, are very slow-growing. Abstinence from MP antibiotics for a few days or even weeks will not result in a significant increase in bacteria. If patients are experiencing some symptoms of immunopathology, they are killing bacteria and making progress towards recovery.

MP patients who have discontinued olmesartan (Benicar) during a break from the MP may want to take olmesartan (Benicar) alone for a few days before resuming the minocycline. This will guard against any intolerable adjustment symptoms.

Patients taking a break from antibiotics for just a few days or so can resume the antibiotics at the previous dose.

Patients taking a break from antibiotics for longer than a few days should restart their antibiotics at a lower dose to assess symptoms as tolerable, to avoid a strong immune system reaction.

The break was very nice. When I am in the midst of herxing my emotions tell me that I have always been herxing, always will, with no end in sight. I know many of us have that psychological response. Taking this break has been a morale booster.

John McDonald, MarshallProtocol.com