I'm currently treating lyme with Rocephin IV and Tindamax. My lyme nurse wants to add another drug for bartonella. I've been given the choice of levaquin or Rifampin.
I'm told both are good drugs for bartonella, she mentioned that taking Rifampin is like bringing out the big guns??
Not sure what she meant but I gather it kicks butt???
Any one with experience of either/both would you give me some feedback???
Barb
Posts: 281 | From san francisco | Registered: Jun 2006
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I had the insomnia already .... now that the bart is being treated it's getting somewhat better ... I sleep a little longer with an Ambien than I did a month ago.
My LLMD did tell me to stop taking it immediately and call him if I had any sign of tendonitis.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
I'm on Rifampin and Doxy for my Bartonella.
I was on 300 mg of Rifampin and starting tonight I will be taking 600 mg Rifampin. I'm worried!!! That's a pretty big number. So far I've only herxed a little bit. I've heard that Rifampin can really make you herx big time. That's what I'm afraid of. :-(
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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lymebytes
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posted
You could also use Cipro instead of Levaquin. It is a first generation fluoroquinolone, I personally would choose it over Levaquin simply because it has been around longer w/a proven track record. Both, be aware of any tendon pain.
If you search Rifampin here, you will find not many had a great reaction to it. Post after post talks about how many couldn't last even a few days on it.
The only person I know who loved Rifampin was my sister, but she was clinically diagnosed with Bart/Ehrlichiosis and we don't know if she had either for sure, so no herx, no problem may have been the reason she liked it.
One Rifampin, ONE pill, sent my husband into a moody frenzy, insomnia for 2 nights and weakness in his legs - he calls it the "devil" drug and said he will never touch it again.
Obviously, there is no way to tell how you will react, everyone is different.
I also have to choose one and I don't like either choice but both are good Ehrlichiosis & Bart killers. (Yes, Rifampin AND the fluoroquinolones both kill Ehrlichiosis/Bart - see page 14 regarding Burrascano's co-infection killers: http://tinyurl.com/27wxf9
I will start with Cipro, I can always switch to either levaquin or rifampin if it doesn't do the trick. I asked a similar question the other day, many said they felt great on Cipro.
Vermont_Lymie
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Member # 9780
posted
My llmd uses rifampin. I have not started it yet due to work demands, but will go with that for bart later in the year. Sounds best to start at a low dose of rifampin and work up from there if it is tolerated. In my experience, the phrase 'no pain, no gain' has been pretty apt for treatment for TBD's!
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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I did 3 months of rifampin/doxy/zith-only got up to 300mg-but I weighed at that point 99 lbs. It was tough-many emotional issues-had to go on an anti-depressant.
But, here I am today-unfortunately, not bart free.
Posts: 561 | From eastcoast | Registered: Aug 2006
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Thanks all for you feedback, it really means alot. I am definitely experiencing the insomnia with Levaquin.
I remember one of my boys was on Cipro for a short time and did fine on it. I don't see it offered much for bartonella, I'll have to run it by my Lyme nurse.
Thanks again,
Barb
Posts: 281 | From san francisco | Registered: Jun 2006
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Andie333
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posted
I'm taking rifampin, along with ceftin and tindimax.
I've been on rifampin for awhile now, and, for me, I feel it's made an incredible difference in my recovery!
I did ramp up dosage slowly and still had a pretty wicked herx reaction initially. While it was nasty, my germ load was reduced enough that it wasn't unbearable.
At this point, I've been on it long enough that I've begun cutting back my dosages (of all three abx). For me, it's been a really powerful and good abx.
Feel free to send me a pm if you'd like any more information
Andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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valymemom
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posted
Like Andie, the rifampin/doxy/zith protocol has helped to give my 25 year old son a more normal life. This is his 8th month on it, and for the first time in years he is able to take four college courses at a time. (He has been ill 7 + years.....forced to drop out of college.)
Over winter break he is taking a 3 credit course in Ireland for two weeks with his university. We are so thrilled that he feels well enough to tackle this.
Of course, I will treat his clothing with permetherin since he will be all over the countryside.
Posts: 1240 | From Centreville,VA | Registered: Mar 2005
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CaliforniaLyme
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Cipro took away my last remaining symptoms!!! Completely*)!*)! I was on it for a year with no problems- I loved Cipro-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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lymebytes
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posted
Just so you know, highly regarded Dr.S in SF (CD57 Dr. S - ILADS) prescribes Cipro for Erichia/Bart - make sure to ask your LLMD for it,so many love it. Link I gave above shows Dr. Burrascano's recommendation for these 2 co-infections, if he says it, there is no questioning it!
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