My allergist is testing me for rifampin allergy by doing an oral challenge. They will give me a small amount and wait, then a little more and wait.
I am scared I will herx or get side effects from this challenge and not know if I'm allergic. I have a sensitive nervous system.
If we keep the total dose under 100mg should that be a herx free/ side effect free dose? I plan to start lower than this if I am able to take it.
I know nobody can say for sure. Just was wondering what would be low enough to possibly avoid a herx/ side effects so I can tell if I am allergic. Thanks.
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
I herxed at 150mg twice daily.
I believe another LN member began with small slivers of rifampin and worked up.
My LL was very adamant about starting very slow with rifampin, and to not 'jump in' with the max doses. (Like I had/do with other abx).
Do whatever you need to do, at a safe pace for your body.
We are all different.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
It will be pretty hard to differentiate allergy from herx. If you break out in a rash or have trouble breathing, then it would suggest an allergy.
Posted by opus2828 (Member # 15407) on :
Ok. Thanks. I will ask them if they can allergy test it at 50-75mg. That should be enough to know. Hopefully.
Posted by opus2828 (Member # 15407) on :
Greta M. What was your herx like on rifampin?
Posted by opus2828 (Member # 15407) on :
Greta M. What was your herx like on rifampin?
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
I had a terrible headache for about 10 days, started crying at just about everything, and was not reasonable if things didn't go my way.
Pretty much the emotional part of bartonella times 100.
It also hurt to touch my shins, my feet were full of bartonella nodules with strange pockets of swelling. Looked like ping pong balls around my ankles.
Brief spurts of anxiety, and a racing mind with impulsive thoughts.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
"It will be pretty hard to differentiate allergy from herx. "
I agree. I didn't start having a bad reaction to rifampin until the 4th day on it.
I thought it may be a herx, but by the 7th day the symptoms were unbearable. I contacted with my LLMD with symptoms, was told to stop immediately and that I'm allergic.
I also did 23andme testing and ran the data through health analysis sited. My body can't biochemically break down rifampin properly.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I lasted 5 days.
Posted by opus2828 (Member # 15407) on :
Judie, what were your symptoms that your doc said it was an allergy?
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
I had severe neurological symptoms. I lost the ability to hear or feel things I touched. I couldn't tell if something was hot or cold.
I'd make a phone call and couldn't hear the person on the other end.
My body was unable to relax and constantly tense. I only slept out of exhaustion.
It was like being on major amphetamines, but also exhausted at the same time.
Then severe knee pain, rashes and non-stop hallucinations began.
My husband would be talking to me and I couldn't hear or see him.
None of it was a herx. Never had this crap happen before. It was terrifying.
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