Ive been reading recently that Rifampin has some action against lyme. My LLMD told me that Rifampin is good for lyme when prescribed long term with another antibiotic
I originally thought that Rifampin only hit Bartonella. Which is what I was originally put on it for. However my doc is keeping me on it becuase she says it seems to be a good drug for lyme too. I think she said it helps intracellularly with the lyme
Is this true? Anyone have light to shed on this?
Posted by lymegal23 (Member # 28573) on :
up
Posted by willbeatthis (Member # 31111) on :
Yes, to my knowledge your doctor is right on the money. If I understand my doctor properly, it is indeed an intracellular drug. And I can tell you firsthand, I had been on it for probably 6 months or so and was just pulled of it and many of my lyme symptoms (though thank heavens not my foot pain) have returned -- NECK (ugh) shoulder and some migrating pain and pain slightly in my knees. So yes, absolutely I think it works well against Lyme. I was feeling my best on it... I know he wanted to see where I was with Bart as it is known as a great bart drug... seems it did the trick for that and I am mostly left with Lyme and babs. Glad my experience is so current for you... somebody can use it Hope it helps you as much as it helped me!
Posted by dbpei (Member # 33574) on :
Willbeatthis, did you take doxy with rifampin?
Also, did you take rifampin together with your other ABX at the same time each day?
Did you take with food at meal time?
My LLNP just had me stop all ABX for a few days due to severe nausea. I am building up gradually and will add rifampin to doxy beginning Monday. Just curious to know what worked best for you. Thanks.
Posted by cleo (Member # 6646) on :
According to this it has no activity against borrelia.
Conclusions: Doxycycline showed the highest activity against B. burgdorferi by microcalorimetry, followed by amoxicillin and levofloxacin, whereas rifampin showed no antiborrelial activity. The MHIC values correlate well with the reported MIC values (Hunfeld et al., 2000). Microcalorimetry is a useful tool for rapid and real-time assessment of growth characteristics of and antimicrobial activity against B. burgdorferi and potentially other slow-growing microorganisms.
Posted by kim812 (Member # 17644) on :
I am on Mycobutin and Minocycline for Bart...not for Lyme.
Posted by willbeatthis (Member # 31111) on :
Dpei: I am taking doxy now so I did take the two together. Awesome combo.
The key for me with the rifampin was to take it on an empty stomach so I would take it with the doryx which is long acting doxy and wait an hour before I ate. Then took the other meds I am on with food. Like malerone etc.
Gosh, my doc is big on combinations of intracellulars and I have been on a bunch. I would have to say for Bart - Rifampin and Levaquin were awesome. For Babs after being on Mepron for 7 months, I was able to finally go down to malerone... I am still on malerone.
I like the Doryx as it is TONS easier on your stomach and there is a card you can get from the manfufacturer that allows you to get it for 25.00. Long acting drugs have been the best for me.
IM Bicillin was a game changer (also long acting) My doc emphasized Long acting to the other doctor training under him at my last visit. IM Bicillin did not mess with my tummy at all... Rifampin can be tricky.... It took a little bit before I could take it on an empty stomach. I think partly because my gut is healing, I am able to take things on an empty stomach where before there was no way.
I have done a diet that was a game changer for me too... The GAPS diet. That has rebuilt my leaky gut. Thank heavens. I believe this turned on my immune system where before, I was at best getting by... making some progress but not REAL progress. So for me it has been diet, exercise, the infrared sauna has also been huge (I found one in my town I could use for a small fee). I have the detox issue MTHFR and it is quite possible the Sauna was the biggest game changer. I did not know about detox really until my third year of treatment. It is key... I hope any of this or all of this helps you... Hang in there... you will get over this.... too!
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Hope it helps you as much as it helped me!