posted
I just started Rifampin, but I am on Mepron with zith and Bicillin as well.
I was told and also read that rifampin is not good to take with Mepron. I am waiting for my LLMD to get back to me, but for now I am taking it 3 hours away from each other.
Has anyone else taken these two together??
-------------------- "You'll be surprised to know how far you can go from the point you thought it was the end" Posts: 946 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Apr 2008
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posted
Heck no don't take mepron with rifampin, it makes the mepron useless. Rifampin lowers mepron blood levels by at least 40%. Stop taking one or the other. It's expensive to take mepron if you're going to render it useless, plus I'm sure taking a non-therapuetic dose could lead to resistance.
Posts: 499 | From Indiana | Registered: Oct 2007
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Rianna
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11038
posted
You **CAN NOT** take Rifampin with Mepron or Malarone
posted
well I jsut got a call and they said its fine as long as you take them apart... so I don't know ????
-------------------- "You'll be surprised to know how far you can go from the point you thought it was the end" Posts: 946 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Apr 2008
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Shandy, sort of the same thing happened to me recently. I was put on Mepron and was told to continue taking Mino and Bactrim (which I was on for a couple of months prior).
Then I heard that you aren't supposed to take Tetras with Mepron, and Mino is a Tetra... I called my LLMD about it and he said it would be fine... just don't take it together, etc., etc.
Soooo.... Who knows, right? LOL.
-------------------- 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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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
I would leave it as your own personal judgment call.
You know that it will probably decrease the amount of Mepron you absorb by 30-50% (or maybe less, I believe the study this data was from measured the levels of Mepron and Rifampin in AIDS patients...so it's also a question of if it is an accurate comparison to people in our condition without HIV).
I have struggled with the same question you are. In the end, I decided I had to assume I would loose 30%-50% of my Mepron. I decided that since my doctor only had me on 1 tsp twice daily, it wasn't worth it for me.
I believe it is very easy for Bart to develop resistance to Rifampin.
So, since you DID already start it, you might want to just ask if they will double your Mepron dosage (as opposed to taking yourself off Rifampin). In other words, if I were you (and this is my OPINION, not saying it's safe) I would call and use the study as a backup (fax it ahead of time or whatever) and say that because of this, you are uncomfortable taking less than 2 tsp twice daily of Mepron. Tell them you would stop the Rifampin, but you already started it and you're worried about creating resistance.
I just thought of that while I was typing this.....that you might not want to stop the Rifampin. I hope someone corrects me if I'm wrong, but I thought that was one of the ones you want to avoid stopping unless you're sure you want off it.
I have considered doubling up my Mepron and taking Rifampin. It is still something I'm weighing in my head. Good luck!!!!!! Hang in there!
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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Hoosiers51
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Member # 15759
posted
The other thing to consider is....maybe your doctor has seen people get better using Mepron and Rifampin in those doses (or Mepron and Mino), so they aren't worried about it.
Or, your doctor could be thinking even if it IS reduced in effectiveness, it is still "fine" or "good enough" to do what it needs to do.
PERSONALLY, I get concerned about those things, but that is because I get concerned a lot
I'm sure there are people that have taken them together and got better, but I guess it's just a matter of how sure do you want to be that what you are doing will work? I think it is a toss up.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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posted
Hey Hoos, Good looking out! I actually am supposed to be on 2tsp 2 x a day of mepron.... Now that I am on Rifampin I am defintley doubling up on it.
-------------------- "You'll be surprised to know how far you can go from the point you thought it was the end" Posts: 946 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Apr 2008
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
Good! I would just stick with that plan. I wish I could get mine to prescribe me that much Mepron....I'm jealous. Then maybe I actually COULD take them together.
Maybe i'll just switch to yours! Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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