Hi all I am currently taking zith and working my way up to 600mg rifampin. Once up to dose, how long typically do people stay on this protocol? And, once initial herxing is done, do you continue to herx at times, throughout, what? Just wondering what to expect. Thanks for your advice
Posted by dbpei (Member # 33574) on :
I think that you need to be on rifampin for at least 4 months to treat bart. I herxed steadily and felt toxic while on this med. But the herxing was never unbearable.
I just felt like I had a mild case of the flu and lost my appetite. Achy bones and joints, sad mood with tears at times, fatigue... I was also taking doxy and often wondered which med made me more miserable.
About 4 months into it, I started drinking licorice tea and gradually started feeling better. I soon changed to babesia treatment and felt much better when I switched meds. Still not sure if the licorice tea had anything to do with my feeling better, but I think it definitely helped. Good luck.
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
I felt awful the entire time I was on it and had to go off it. Severe muscle and joint pain, depression. I was on it about 2 months and will not take it again. Part of the problem with rifampin is it messes with all your other meds.
Posted by amk33 (Member # 13206) on :
Rifampin has helped me alot. I haven't been waking up with the buzzing/shivering inside feeling, and I don't wake up feeling hungover anymore. I have been on it along with zithromax for 5 months, and my doc is stopping it. I'm not happy, because I don't want those old symptoms coming back.
Thinking of trying houttuynia, banderol, and coumanda as a followup.
Posted by didogs (Member # 40101) on :
Thanks all! amk-I can only dream of waking up without that hungover, full head feeling. Do you remember how long it took you to feel results? I am only at half dose so far, along with zith, and having some good moments. Praying this will help me turn the corner.
Posted by Jane2904 (Member # 15917) on :
I remember with our daughter, we saw positive changes around 8 weeks.
She was only on 1/2 dose until about 8 weeks and then went to full dose.
It may be sooner for you. Daughter was on another med at same time and having problems, so once that other med was stopped we started to see 'the storm pass."
Posted by ktkdommer (Member # 29020) on :
I didn't have issues with rifampin and have been on it 6 months. I don't have hard herxing, just continually getting better.
Posted by amk33 (Member # 13206) on :
didogs, I replied to your PM. I didn't remember that you posted that you started the rifampin already. Great! Good luck with it! I wish that I could get some more, without paying $1000 to go to an LLMD.
BTW, my son has also seen results with it. He has no symptoms other than the bart streaks. But, they have gotten noticeably lighter while on rifampin, so I'm so upset that the doc is stopping it. He didn't have a positive bart test, and the insurance company questioned her about his treatment. So, now she is afraid of the medical board, and has stopped both of us. I hate insurance companies!!!
Posted by joysie (Member # 11063) on :
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
I hate insurance companies!!!