This is topic Herxing horribly on rifampin in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by janice victorov (Member # 22937) on :
 
Evening all.

What a horrible last day. I started with the joint pain in hands, headache. Thought I would die from it. Today worse. My back hurt.

I cried and thought this is horrible. I was able to work but when the end of the day came,,,was beat.

I don't know why the rif took so long to hit me. I started feeling something last week. This herx snuck up on me and omg,,,

Anyone else experieince this?
 

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Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
 
Yes Janice. How long have you been taking it?

I was herxing somewhat while on Rifampin but it really kicked my butt at the end of the 2nd week. I almost ended up in the ER because I thought I was having a heart attack. Very high BP etc.

I will try it again soon but ramp up slowly. last time I started with 600 mg.
 

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Posted by janice victorov (Member # 22937) on :
 
I have been on it just about three weeks. I ended up in the ER for the same reason. My heart was palpitating so much I thought it jump out of my chest. All tests were normal.

My chest was so flushed I couldn't believe it.

I feel somewhat human now. Just so tired I can't stay awake.

I know it's killing something but at what expense??

Sometimes can't tell if it's a herx or another co-infection acting up.


 

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Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
 
I'm on day 5. I've noticed a fare in symptoms, more than what I had on levaquin. I have more "spaciness", ear ringing, and I get flushing occasionally. I take 600mg in the am.

Hope it means its killing Bart
 

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Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
Don't forget that we also get monthly herxes...every 3-5 wks.

Hope you feel better SOON!!!
 

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Posted by TN Kim (Member # 26729) on :
 
Hello! I had my first "pulse" of Rifampin about a month ago. I didn't feel much of anything for

one week then it hit me hard for another full week! After that, I felt the best I have felt

since becoming ill with Lyme and Co. All of my symptoms were basically gone. The only thing I

still had was some very mild muscle twitching. I mean so mild that I think I would skip a day or

two without any or at least I didn't notice them!
After the end of that 3-weeks pulse, I had the

next 3 weeks off. I felt GREAT! I honestly thought that I was finally CURED of Lyme & Bart.

I just re-started Rifampin ... my 2nd pulse and immediately felt depressive after only 2 days.

Today is Day 6 and I've been achy all day and had a bad headache too. Also still very "down"

and have no energy. I've been very digusted because I really thought I might be "cured" from

my first pulse of Rifampin. Now I have worries because a couple of people have said that you

should NOT pulse Rifampin. I thought lots of people DID pulse it??? What are you doing?

I am considering just taking it for more than the 3 weeks and not stopping it.

All of that said .... try to stick out the bad herxing because not only myself, but many others

have had great results from this drug! GOOD LUCK!
 

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Posted by janice victorov (Member # 22937) on :
 
Thanks all. I have heard great things of this drug as well.

Even through the bad herx I noticed my twitching is stopping and the internal buzzing is going away.\\Flushing? Me too. Just every few days but today my whole chest was flushed and no fever just my skin feeling warm.

I hope tomorrow is better.
I have been drinking a lot of water and sleeping this evening.
 

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Posted by AlanaSuzanne (Member # 25882) on :
 
My daughter had the herx from hell from rifampin. She could not even tolerate an extremely low compounded dose.

Maybe this isn't the med for you?? Talk to your doc.
 

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Posted by maryland (Member # 10345) on :
 
I just started rifampin.

What is the strength and frequency of your dosaging instructions??
 

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Posted by cleo (Member # 6646) on :
 
I spoke with Dr. S at vanderbilt(expert on chlamydia) his is a dr. and microbiologist. He told me never to pulse rifampin and also not to titrate. Start at the full dose for a week and if you can't handle it stop and try again in 6 months when your load is down. You don't want to play with rif because is hits so many bugs bart, whipple and tuberculosis just to name a few. Resistance is a big issue.
 

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Posted by lyme in Putnam (Member # 11561) on :
 
I hope u feel better. If u can tolerate it, it supposed to be hitting Bart head on. I lasted 5 days, the first 2 at 600, then down to 300 for the last 3. Mentally hit me hard. Be well.
 

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Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
 
I take 600mg / day. My Rx bottle says take 300mg 2x/day. I follow Dr. S's advice and take all 600mg in the am.
 

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Posted by TN Kim (Member # 26729) on :
 
One more Rifampin question from me ... sorry! Do you take it with food or on an empty stomach.

I've been taking with food but I thought I read somewhere it is supposed to be one hour before

or two hours after a meal?

Thanks!
 

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Posted by janice victorov (Member # 22937) on :
 
I heard on an empty stomach. Also, take the last dose in the evening one- two hours before bed.
 

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Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
 
Another reason you do not pulse rifampin is taking breaks can cause you to have flu like side effects when you restart it. You have to take it as prescribed every day with no breaks.

I may restart it when I see the LLMD as bactrim has hit a plateau.
 

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Posted by TN Kim (Member # 26729) on :
 
So why doesn't my LLMD know not to pulse it? *sigh*

He is so good and he has a young daughter with Lyme as well!!!?
 

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Posted by pj1954 (Member # 11722) on :
 
rifampin is one of the more toxic abx's you need to detox big time while on it by any means !

drink lemon water, take a detox bath , detox max , and or milk thistle !
 

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Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
 
Also, keep in mind that there are people that are not having a herx but their body can't tolerate this medicine. So, be sure that you are indeed having a herx and not a reaction to this drug.

After only 2 weeks (600 mg) of this medicine (I took over a year ago) many of my symptoms subsided. That is why I have always wondered if this is the med for me. I'm just scared to take it after my last experience.

It also was difficult because my sleep meds didn't work and I was unable to sleep on this med.

Keep us posted.
 

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Posted by TN Kim (Member # 26729) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Haley:
Also, keep in mind that there are people that are not having a herx but their body can't tolerate this medicine. So, be sure that you are indeed having a herx and not a reaction to this drug.

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