Topic: If I don't herx from Rifampin is it working?
Summer3
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35286
posted
For the past many months, I have been feeling absolutely terrible. Even after glutathione IV's which used to make me feel great.
Last week I started taking Rifampin. I made it 3 days and then had to stop for 2 days because of a severe swollen throat (likely candida). I restarted Monday and then doubled the dose today. I still don't feel any major changes. Slightly more pain and muscle spasms, but that's about it. Although everything was already pretty bad. My energy actually feels a little better.
I had a glutathione IV yesterday and I felt better than I ever have from it. Almost completely normal in every way. It only lasts about a day, but it was significantly better results than I've had in many months. I don't know if it's a coincidence or the rifampin.
Is this just a honeymoon period of Rifampin, is it too early for a herx, or is it not working? I will only be taking a double dose for a week. Then I have to stop it for a week to allow my liver to rest (enzyme issues).
map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
IMO that day 3 was a start to herx from rifampin. I wouldn't be surprised if today or tomorrow you've started feeling the effects again.
Is your LLMD having you pulse rifampin? Week on and off? I had always read that rifampin wasn't a pulsing abx. But???
You can start will smaller dose and work up to max, which is always best to do. Everyone reacts different. Rifampin just made all my sx worse for first month and then better days came.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
| IP: Logged |
Summer3
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35286
posted
I will be pulsing Rifampin. I was concerned about that as well. I heard it can be dangerous to pulse it because of kidney damage or something?
My doctor tends to be on the cautious side of things. He is not a risk taker with me so I trust him with the pulsing for now but are there certain warning signs that something is going wrong with pulsing and how will I be sure it's not a herx?
I was supposed to do a week of half dose and then double the second week followed by a break for a week.
I can't take it full time because I have to watch my liver very carefully on meds. Rifampin is risky for me but we are running out of options. I hope that I continue to feel good, but I don't understand why I would. I've heard it causes pretty bad herxes.
posted
I take Rifampin everyday twice a day and the herx hit me hard on day 6. I am on a few detox supplements so my blood work has been fine.
I had to stop all orals last week due to diarrhea, and just about crumpled over in pain. Started the Rifampin back after 4 days off and the pain is better. When you are on a lot of abx, hard to know which one is causing the herx.
I am also on IV too.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
| IP: Logged |
Summer3
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35286
posted
Wow, Faithful, that sounds terrible.
I still feel okay today after doubling the dose. I wonder if the 2 day break right in the beginning means that it didn't have enough time yet to build up in my system. I take it once a day in the morning.
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic