My daughter just started rifampin over the weekend for sinus problems and to try to knock out the last of her arthritis. She's also on doxy.
Well, yesterday she woke up with upper back and neck stiffness that is still bothering her this afternoon.
Anybody get back and neck pain from rifampin?
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Not from rifampin per say.
But from bartonella. YES!
Has she been treated for bartonella yet?
Doxy and rifampin commonly are prescribed together for bart.
Posted by marypart (Member # 27012) on :
Not specifically. And even if she was, she may have had another bite...
Her ongoing symptoms are arthritis in the knees when she goes of doxy, sinus infections every time she gets a cold, and this year a post-nasal drip that just won't quit. She's also just really fatigued.
She was on doxy, zith, tindimax and bactrim for about a year when the arthritis was gone and she felt good and went off everything. Three months later some slight knee arthritis was back, and then this winter the sinus problems.
*edited the med list
Posted by Mtn Girl (Member # 38587) on :
I had severe upper back, shoulder and neck pain after being on Rifampin for several months. A local Lyme advocate told me that it can cause inflammation.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
"...yesterday she woke up with upper back and neck stiffness..."
Low magnesium can cause muscle spasms.
She's taking antibiotics that kill bacteria. The liver uses magnesium when it's detoxifying bacterial remains.
So, when you're killing bacteria, you need more magnesium, or you'll get a Jarische-Herxheimer reaction. Many of the herx symptoms, such as muscle spasms, are due to low magnesium.
Eat magnesium rich foods and take magnesium supplements. Posted by ukcarry (Member # 18147) on :
I had severe back muscle pain on starting Rifampin too and had to stop for a week, resuming at half dose until I tolerated it.
Posted by ukcarry (Member # 18147) on :
Don't do the same as me without checking with the LLMD, as stop/starting with Rifampin is not normally recommended.
Posted by marypart (Member # 27012) on :
Thanks for all the replies!
Mtn girl,
Did the pain and inflammation go away after you stopped rifampin?
Mary
Posted by Mtn Girl (Member # 38587) on :
Yes, the pain and inflammation went away after I stopped the Rifampin. It could be that going off for a couple days or a week would be helpful but as ukcarry says, you should probably check with LLMD first. I didn't either. It got really bad on a week-end and I was desperate.
I had been on Rifampin several months and after this episode my treatment plan was changed.
I don't remember if I was taking magnesium at the time or not but it is very helpful for tight muscles and if your daughter isn't taking any it would be worth your consideration.
Posted by ukcarry (Member # 18147) on :
I later had sensitivity tests for both Rifampin and Tinidazole after i developed excruciating hives. Although the latter came out as the worst offender, i was clearly sensitive to Rifampin too.
On a later test, the detoxigenomic, i found out that a polymorphism in my liver's genetic make-up would explain the reaction to Rifampin, as it was listed as one of the drugs I might react to.
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
It could be a sideffect. The other to remember is Rifampin messes with other medications she may be taking. Muscle aches, joint pains may also be signs of a side effect not a herx. http://www.m.webmd.com/mobile-drugs/drug?drugname=rifampin%20oral Be sure she knows about the interections as well as the possible side effects listed. I developed horrible back pain on rifampin and stopped taking it.