I am on minocycline, Zythromax, A-bart and A-Bab. I just started 300mg of Rifampin daily to hopefully conquer bartonella. Since the very first day of taking Rifampin my lower back has been hurting very badly. I've had this pain before with other treatment and was thinking it could just be the drug attacking the bartonella in my back muscles, but I'm second guessing myself.
I'm not sure if I should call my LLMD and tell him about the symptom (he's been quick to take me off meds before if I call with a possible side-effect) or stick it out to see if it subsides.
Some days it doesn't hurt as much, and I started my period, which always gives me some back discomfort, so I soaked in an Epsom salt bath two days ago and the pain was substantially better about an hour after the bath. The only strange thing was that after the bath my neck started to lock up with severe muscle pain.
Has anyone else had the lower back pain with Rifampin, and have you been able to determine if it was a herx?
I had an awful time with back pain while on rifampin and for awhile assumed I was herxing, Eventually I realized it was not for me. Rifampin can be a really tough Med. It messes up the metabolism of other medications you may be taking like hormones, thyroid etc. I will never take it again.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Might be your kidneys screaming for detox help also.
Pam
Posted by Boxermom2 (Member # 38974) on :
Thanks everyone. I saw muscle pain on the symptom list. I can't decide whether to deal with it or ask him to change it. He won't change meds between appointments. I want to kick this Bartonella a lot faster than we have been and I was hoping Rifampin would be the answer.
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Perhaps it is just related to your period? I know my back gets all crampy and sore around my period?
Can you halve the pill to reduce the herx?
I started out with 150mg twice daily. Then after 10 days of that worked up to 300 mg twice daily.
I really really thank rifampin for getting rid of head pressure and eye pain. It has been a miracle abx for me.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
"...my lower back has been hurting very badly."
Do you know where the kidneys are located? If you're having kidney pain, you really should stop the med and call your doctor.
Posted by Boxermom2 (Member # 38974) on :
It's not right in the middle where the kidneys are, its across the entire back, and when I stretch my back you can feel it pulling where the pain is.
I went to the ER once with this pain back in November of last year and they ruled it as muscle, so I'm thinking this is likely the same since it feels just like it did in November, only worse.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
I had kidney pain and infection on rifampin for months. Didn't realize until I had urine tested that there was blood in my urine.
I'd had a chiro working on my lower/mid back for weeks. Wasn't working, duh?
