Just 2 doses at 300mg each. I've been off everything for almost a month trying to give my body a well needed rest. Even still, was feeling terrible, so LLMD said lets try the Rifampin.
I'm a step away from the ER. Nothing knocks down the anxiety. Not Xanax, Valium, Benadryl, Nothing !!
I know it's a Herx as I've got the chills, some body aches, etc.
It's Anxiety, but it's that Sympathetic overdrive crap back again, this time with a vengence.
I don't know what to do.........
Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
I encourage you to try and wait it out. I was like that on Rifampin for the first 3 weeks and when it broke I felt more like myself than I have in years. It's hard but it's worth it.
I kept telling myself, "This too shall pass."
Did I mention I'm taking 150mg 2xdaily or oral? Quite a difference from what you're doing...
[ 09-12-2010, 04:43 PM: Message edited by: 17hens ]
Posted by TN Kim (Member # 26729) on :
I haven't taken it by IV ... but I did just complete my first pulse of Rifampin. It took
a week before it "hit" but when it did... it really did! I felt terrible for 7 full days but
finally it subsided and I have honestly felt the best I have felt .... ENERGETIC ... and minimal
pain and fatigue... than I have since becoming ill! I am now off of it for 3 weeks and beginning
Tinidazole so bracing for another herx. Such is the life with this illness. I'm so sorry that you
are so miserable right now and I can only wish you better days ahead!
(((hugs))) Kim
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
HI Lymetwister, I have always wonder what the IV Rifampin was like. I have not heard of anyone doing this in IV form.
I had a tough time with oral Rifampin but I will try it again.
Keep in mind that sedatives are not as effective when taken with Rifampin. That was one of my big problems, other than the fact that I thought I was having a heart attack. My sleep meds didn't work, so on top of everything I couldn't sleep.
Ask your doc if you should increase the dose of the things that calm you down a bit. It should be just temporarily.
Please keep us posted on the IV Rifampin and how it works for you. I may do IV instead of oral.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
I will probably get blasted for this comment but here goes.
I just don't understand what the docs are doing anymore. In the past many docs started patients on 50 mg of oral Rifampin because they knew how hard this drug was to tolerate. Sure it might take 6 or 8 months to get to therapeutic dose, but the patient could function in the meantime.
I remember when rifampin was first prescribed to tickborne patients back in late 2003. In the next year or so those that stuck to low dosing -- well eventually many of them recovered their lives and no longer post on lymenet.
Of course at that time we were just starting to understand how important it was to treat bartonella or BLO. But historically I think the most patients who went on to recover would say that that med was a very important factor in their treatment.
But I am not sure I ever read about anyone who started with 300 or 600 mg being able to tolerate that dose without having to stop treatment.
This is just my opinion and not medical advice.
Bea Seibert
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
seibert, makes complete sense to me.. It's good to put that out there so people know there is an option.
Posted by gatorade girl (Member # 24896) on :
I'm sorry you are having a rough time. That is terrible. Email me later and let me know how you are doing. Thinking of u.
Posted by lyme in Putnam (Member # 11561) on :
I had to stop after 2 days of 600 and 3 days of 300. Havent recovered yet. Hope you feel better. I totally agree bea.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
150 mg of oral Rifampin literally made me insane.
Posted by Michael_Venice (Member # 17254) on :
I think Rifampin is THE drug I would not take again.
Oral...made my heart and BP go crazy, I went crazy, insanely sick. I hadn't been in the hospital for 1.5 years and I ended up having to call an ambulance. I thought I was going down big.
It took 2 weeks for me to get back to my normal, horrible baseline.
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
Micheal - what dosage were you taking? Maybe that is what makes the difference.
Posted by Michael_Venice (Member # 17254) on :