posted
Due to my recent state of total collapse -- I'm the sickest I have ever been, and really scared I'm not going to make it -- and some pain around my liver area, I decided to stop Rifampin a few days. I have been on it for 11 months straight and was getting routine liver testing that was okay as of early Nov., but then I couldn't get testing for a couple of months as my nurse couldn't get blood the last time and then I was in the hospital and I don't think they did liver function tests there but I'm not sure.
Anyway, I'm still too sick to have blood drawn and actually wondered if Rifampin was causing liver problems once I began taking Mepron with it, because I was starting to have some of the symptoms I had the last time my liver enzymes were high.
So I stopped about 4 days ago. I know this is ill-advised as bartonella can quickly develop resistance. I am taking houttuynia (bartonella herb) and hoping that will prevent resistance, and indeed I am doing a little better since stopping.
Has anyone stopped Rifampin and re-started without problems? Should I be worried about what I'm doing? I can't take the fluoroquinolones due to tendon problems.
Posts: 929 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
Hubby has also stopped rifampin -- for him it actually makes one of his liver enzymes go low instead of high.
He has stopped and restarted it 2 or 3 times this fall since he crashed -- per docs instructions. For him anyway it still seems to work on something when he restarts it and can tolerate it. He was on the rifampin at low doses for 8 months and at full dose for 1 month before starting and restopping a couple of times over the last 3 months.
I would call medical records at the hospital -- pretty sure they probably did check your liver enzymes there. Your doc should be able to get a copy of your hospital bloodwork at no charge.
So sorry you are feeling so bad. I increased hubby's cryptolepis -- he actually seems to be doing better on 5 droppers 2 times daily than he was on 3 droppers 2 times daily. Per Buhner's book "Herbal Antibiotics" this herb works on gram-negative bacteria as well as babesia. That should include bart and the mystery bug.
There is a thread on Planet Thrive where Buhner mentioned that he now thinks cryptolepis can be taken long term at doses up to 1 tablespoon 3 times daily (5 droppers is 1 teaspoon -- 15 droppers would be 1 tablespoon or 1/2 ounce I think). Don't have that reference in front of me right now. I do plan to gradually continue ramping up the dose hubby is taking.
You could try a castor oil pack. Hubby usually finds these helpful.
Hang in there.
This is not medical advice, just my opinion based on hubby's experiences.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Thanks Bea! I am awaiting an order of cryptoleptis so that's good to know about dosage and Buhner's new thoughts about taking it long-term. Also, thanks for the reminder about castor oil packs: I did them last year when my liver enzymes were high and they definitely helped. I will try them again.
I am pulling for your hubby too!
Posts: 929 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Oct 2007
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
From what I've heard, been told, and read, Rifampin and Mepron are not supposed to be taken together or in the same regimen.
-------------------- 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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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
i've been stopping and starteing it cuz it knocks me out so much i can't take it on a holiday aor if i have an appt or whatever-i didn't know abotut the resistance factor...i'm hoping to stick with it for a few months now and make a dent...a big dent. i hope i haven't really screwed things up
so far haven't noticed anything. i stop my pain and anx goes away. i start and they come back
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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