I started taking Rifampin 300mg 3 days ago. (I take 300mg one time a day but I'm going to take 600mg one time a day since tomorrow) I also take Doxy 200mg 2times a day.
I don't know what to think because I feel Nothing, I mean I don't herx. I've been having lyme for at least 5 years and I have many symptoms, I'm homebound.
Because I have anxiety, panic, memory, cognitive problems and body numbness, I thought I have Bartonella and maybe Brucella.
I would like to hear from others who have Bartonella or Brucella that does everybody herx on Rifampin?
Posted by Starfall1969 (Member # 17353) on :
I don't have either of those TBI's, but I'm on the same meds and dosages as you are.
I had no herxing from Rifampin either, although I dealt with some nausea and dizziness when I first started on it.
After a couple months on that and Doxy, I started to see a lot of improvement (I have Lyme and Ehrlichia).
I'd give it some time, and don't worry about not herxing; not all people do.
Posted by coltman (Member # 21272) on :
I dont herx on meds , I have some mild to moderately annoying sides. I think I had several sides from rifampin (sore neck, pain in various places all over the body -it was quite noticeable jump). I think nausea and dizziness were sides too but I was also taking 600 mg doxy so I am not sure how much of it was from rifampin (I think it did play a role)
Posted by jkmom (Member # 14004) on :
I don't herx very much at all, but I can tell the meds are doing something because I feel better pretty quickly. Have you seen any improvement?
I took Levaquin for bart and didn't herx. When I stopped it for a few days, I quickly got worse so I know it was working.
3 days on Rifampin might not be enough time to see a herx anyway. When my daughter took Rifampin, it was probably around the 3rd day when she clearly herxed. She started being extremely emotionally sensitive and angry, rather than having physical symptoms.
Posted by Toppers (Member # 20083) on :
Rifampin was (and is) my best medicine. I had almost zero herxing, and saw the most gains by far. It really contradicted what I've come to know as herxing, and progress, so now I don't worry about the herxing.
Rifampin for president!
Posted by coltman (Member # 21272) on :
ohh and one more thing rifampin is not recommended as monotherapy as resistance builds up to it quick.
Posted by MariaA (Member # 9128) on :
I have heard that many people LOVE the way they feel on Rifampin. I was pretty sick when I started on it and I think I didn't particularly herx although every other med made me do so. It also really made me get a lot better after a few months of it.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
Rifampin caused a lot of emotional herxing for me, primarily depression and anxiety with outbursts of anger here and there. I have been on it two months and my emotions are starting to stabilize a little. I also have insomnia from it. I continue to have bart symptoms such as nighttime hot flashes and pain in my shins. My headaches are getting better. I do not have as many muscle twitches. I take 600mg rifampin and 500mg zithro a day. One of my primary bart symptoms is lack of motivation - just don't want to do anything, apathetic about life, no goals. .. . I generally am faking my way through. That is lifting a little. It feels really good when I get excited about doing something, actually want to get something accomplished and take pleasure in it. Levaquin worked the fastest and cleared up my symptoms but I got tendonitis from it.
Posted by cuffee (Member # 18491) on :
I've been on Rifampin and Doxy for 7 months for Bart. When I started out, I thought I was going to die. It was an unbelievable herx which lasted about 5 days. I continued to feel definite results. Now I am doing pretty well, but want to stop the abx and just do herbs but am scared since I still have symptoms. I thought I read on here that you shouldn't go on and off rifampin. Is that true?
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Strange as my LLMD is known as one of the best in the world and he recommended this drug monotherapy.
quote:Originally posted by coltman: ohh and one more thing rifampin is not recommended as monotherapy as resistance builds up to it quick.
Posted by lymebytes (Member # 11830) on :
It is good to see a thread about Rifampin that is positive, I have read forums for years and not seen but maybe 2-3 posts that rifampin was this great. Gives me hope, I should have been on it long ago and terrified to even try it.
seekhelp, my llmd is one of the best too and also recommends mono therapy ESPECIALLY with rifampin since it can be toxic to the liver he won't rx anything else with it...not ever.
Cuffee - yes it is true, it is not good to go on and off Rifampin, and it is one abx my LLmd said not to pulse or take in lower than rx'd doses. The on and off thing, it can cause a flu-like illness, ask a pharmacist for details or your LLMd.
[ 12-28-2009, 02:26 AM: Message edited by: lymebytes ]
Posted by Jeff S. (Member # 21361) on :
I have been on Rifampin for 18 days. Standard dose of 300mg twice per day.
I was also afraid based on what I had read here. I have had no significant side effects. My stomach has been fine.
After 4-5 days, I felt pressure and tingling, primarily in my feet and around my lower back and hips. These were mild but quite noticeable.
I feel like my primary symptoms are starting to lessen. I am definitely going to keep going. I am currently taking it with Tindamax, which I am pulsing.
Posted by txgirl09 (Member # 21612) on :
I am a bit worried now, and would love some more information on Rifampin.
I was on Rifampin back in October, but had to stop. Now, my llmd put me back on Rifampin again. From what I'm researching, you should not stop and start this abx. Also, this creates resistance. Yet, with some research, this appears only to be with tuberculosis, not bart.
Has anyone else re-started rifampin? Or have any knowledge of this?
Posted by dfalcone (Member # 19035) on :
When I started rifampin on 150mg 2x a day I was not really herxing more than usual. I was also on Biaxin. Okay... I did okay on them so my Dr doubled my rifampin to 300 2x a day and BLAMMO I had the worst herx yet after a year and a half of tx. This combo is the most powerful so far and it is really what I consider my best hope b/c I am allergic to any other drugs that can breach the BBB. The good news about rifampin is that it also is effective agains many coinfections, so when i had to go off of mepron and plaquenil b/c of my eyes... well, this is a Godsend to me. I hope that it is effective for you, too. Upping your dose may do the trick!!! Take lots of probiotics... whoa... I can't slack one bit!