I took my first 150mg pill today in the evening and had biaxin 500mg earlier today as my protocal per my llmd.
I have been taking biaxin for almost 8 months and took rifampin.
After about half an hour of taking it i started feeling dizzy, confused and just out of it. Then hour later when i ate i was somewhat ok.
What can i expect from this medicine and my road ahead from your experience?
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
It took me about a month to get used to Rifampin. At first it caused alot of dizziness, vertigo, and nausea. These side effects were unbearable.
When I told my LLMD, he recommended taking the Rifampin with food. That helped. After a couple weeks I was able to take it with less food then on an empty stomach.
Posted by aMomWithHope (Member # 19255) on :
My daughter has had success on Rifampin, at least energy wise.
I always give it to her on a full stomach per LLMD's directions.
She hasn't had any bad reactions from it.
I hope your experience gets better. I've heard Rifampin has helped a lot of people.
Posted by Toppers (Member # 20083) on :
I had the same experience for the first month along with horrendous herxing. It cleared up and turned out to be the best ABX so far for me. Rifampin is great stuff.
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
I felt like I was having a heart attack after two weeks on this stuff. My blood pressure went way up and I had severe chest pain. I probably should have started on a lower dose. I also was unable to sleep because my sleep meds were not working.
I had to stop taking it.
Posted by sonee123 (Member # 18632) on :
Thank you guys!
As a side effect does any one get burning sensation while going to bathroom to pee? I had that this morning and went away after a while.
Just wondering if that will be continous or willg o away gradually.
Posted by coltman (Member # 21272) on :
Took me 3 weeks to get used to it, I recommend taking it before bed time (that way you dont feel sides) and away from other abx (hardest part)
Posted by Starfall1969 (Member # 17353) on :
I had a lot of nausea and dizziness at first with it as well.
I started taking it with food till I got used to it, now I'm okay with little or no food.
However, I reflux really bad if I take it on an empty stomach, so I still try to eat some pretzels or something.
Posted by Stacyb (Member # 13084) on :
Rifampin's potency will be reduced by up to 40% when taken with food per my pharmacist and the hand out that comes with it. That said I am sure it is more important to get the med. in some how if you cannot tolerate it on an empty stomach.
I had all of the symptoms with this abx in the beginning. I herxed for a few months off and on. I had the best improvements on it for Bartonella. I had to treat twice with it as when I went off I did relaps with Bart symptoms. I am about to come off it again and try Factive to kick the last of my Bart. symptoms for good (fingers crossed!!!!!)
Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :
Most protocols call for 300mg twice a day and that is the dose you'll get responses for. Although starting on a smaller dose makes sense as many (including myself) need to slowly ramp it up. Brain buzz and dizziness (and a rash) were common for me. But it worked. Been off all abx almost 5 years.
Posted by sonee123 (Member # 18632) on :
How long were you guys on rifampin for to see improvement? Months days years?
Posted by Stacyb (Member # 13084) on :
I was on Rifampin = 300 mg x 2 day for 8 months the first time and now 9 months again. I am hoping it did the trick this time too.
Lymeinhell did you treat other co-infections too while on the Rifampin and how long did you treat to get rid of it for good?
I saw improvement right away in heart symptoms with in days. Then I herxed with increased anxiety for awhile = a month and then that improved. I saw the most improvements by the 4th month and more each month after that. I was taking it with Zith as well as treating Babs and Lyme too.
Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :
I spent about 9 mos on Rifampin, along with low dose Flagyl. Treatment of other co-infections wasn't needed, although I did do extensive detoxing and parasite treatment. And since I have 6 pets, I continue with both periodically.
Some docs think Rifampin is a two-for, hitting Bart and Lyme. Not sure about that, but it worked for me. Hope you have the same success.
Posted by Stacyb (Member # 13084) on :
Julie,
Thanks for the explanation on your tx. Sounds like it work great for you!!! I am sure the Flagyl help a lot too.
Sorry Sonee123----did not mean to high jack the post.
Posted by asus (Member # 13881) on :
300mg twice a day, or 600mg all at once?
Posted by Kathryn (Member # 17034) on :
Since Rifampin is causing me increased insomnia -
I'd love to be able to take 600 mg in the morning.
Is this ever recommended? I'll ask my LLMD on
Monday.....
Posted by coltman (Member # 21272) on :
Here is the dilemma with rifampin -it upregulates certain enzymes in liver which makes it metabolize faster, that causes all drugs metabolized by liver be less effective.
I am not sure how bad this effect is, Rifampin has 5-6 hours half life so to have constant concentration you have to take it 2 times a day at min (better 3) , but because of this upregulation effect I am not sure. Seems like burascano advocates actually once a day dose
I am taking it away from doxy atm, but not sure about it since doxy HL is ~20h and I have to take all 600 mg of doxy at once
Posted by twingirl (Member # 13172) on :
I take my rifampin all at once in the early afternoon and it works for me.
Posted by Stacyb (Member # 13084) on :
I took mine all at once ---- first thing in the a.m. There are a lot of meds. that interact with Rifampin too. Many say it is important to have the spike in blood level concentrations to kill more too.