LymeNet Flash: Rifampin users - help with new symptom

This is topic Rifampin users - help with new symptom in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by kellyb2411 (Member # 15467) on :

I was just wondering if the following symptoms would be a herx or not. I am about 5 days into

rifampin and have started on 300mg once per day for now.

I have been feeling really sore to touch in my inner & other thigh, groin and also my

lower back - partly skin sensitivity, partly sore muscle not experienced pre or post treatment before.

Would this be some sort of herx? This started yesterday along with a severly aching shoulder and hip.

The timing is consistent with my normal herx patterns of day 3/4 of starting new treatment.

Thanks [confused]

Posted by granniela (Member # 17134) on :

Hi Kelly,

Sorry to hear you're experiencing new things with starting Rifampin. I can't tell you for certain if it is a herx but it sure sounds similar to what I experienced.

I wasn't as wise as you and started at 600 mg once per day and within a couple of days had skin sensitive/sore to touch. The skin was painful enough I couldn't stand to wear clothing over the affected area.

I also ached in the low back/hip/thigh area like I had not ached before. Lying on the couch was out because it felt "too hard" on the hips.

Hopefully this won't develop for you but I also had lots of GI complaints and fever eventually quit taking Rifampin for about a week.

The second time through I started at 300mg daily for a week then went to 600 and aside from stomach ache and nausea have tolerated it since.

IMO it was helpful for me to hang in there to get the benefit.

Best wishes that you'll get through this soon.
Grannie

Posted by kellyb2411 (Member # 15467) on :

Thanks Grannie,

I will say that the herx in other ways hasn't been as bad as others which I've had.

Its more that its quite a strange feeling having the soreness. Its unusual - different than normal muscle soreness.

I haven't really had the emotional/neuro herx I expected. One of my main symptoms has been anxiety and this has been about normal. Maybe when I ramp up the dose to 600mg in a few days I'll get more of that.

Kelly

Posted by kylasrain (Member # 12031) on :

Kelly,

I start Rifampin tomorrow. We can compare notes.

I just got off minocycline as of yesterday after horriffic vertigo, insomnia, nausea, skin numbness and irregular heartbeats. It sucked.

Cheers,

KR