Topic: Mino & Rifampin--ok to start with teeny doses and one at a time? Helps side-effects?
Rumigirl
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Member # 15091
posted
If you are trying to take mino and rifampin, and you have previously not tolerated them at all, due to drug side-effects,
does it cause resistance to start one abx at a time, and take teensy doses and work your way up?
And does that lessen those side-effects?
I took both before briefly and had horrific side-effects within minutes of taking the abx: no balance at all, almost falling, felt
drunk, completely out of it, horrible daily migraine---all starting within minutes of taking them, so not likely a herx (unless a Bart herx can happen within minutes!!).
I stopped for a few days, and then tried again at 1/2 dose, but had the same reaction. My LLMD at the time thought I would do
well with intra-cellulars, since I reacted miraculously to Factive, but had bad tendon and vision side-effects to that.
My new LLMD spoke about rx'ing them for me, but I'm not at all sure that I could tolerate them. The side-effects before made it
impossible to do anything at all, walk, or do anything. Plus, the pain of the migraines was unbearable.
Any feedback?
How good is this for Lyme, too? I gather mainly the mino is good for Lyme. But I don't tolerate the tetracyclines well, due to the fact that they increase intracranial hypertension and therefore cause more migraines.
Thank you!
[ 05-23-2010, 04:37 PM: Message edited by: Rumigirl ]
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posted
Personally I do feel that bart can develop some drug resistance. But for hubby the way he has dealt with that is to do what you suggested -- start low and slow with one med and gradually increase the dose of that med and then add in a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and even 5th med. Also I switch around the bart herbs he takes as well.
It took him 8 months or so to get to the full dose of 600 mg of Rifampin daily. He was on that dose for a month and then crashed badly and had to make lots of med changes. A year later he was able to start the Rifampin at 300 mg daily (did not need to start at 50 mg every other day as in the beginning) for one week and then increase to 600mg and a month or so later increased to 900 mg.
For hubby none of the meds you listed by themselves were strong enough for bart or whatever he has -- mino or rifampin or factive -- all 3 meds together though seem to be finally making a real difference. But it still looks like he will need to increase the factive -- currently at only 300 mg.
I think a fluroquinolone plus rifampin is a very good combo for bart.
Hubby started the mino at 50 mg every other day -- he did have some initial dizzyness with that med.
If you are not taking something like lumbrokinase or systemic enzymes then I would suggest adding that to your treatment protocol. I recently added back prickly ash tincture to the lumbrokinase and vitalzym hubby takes as he was having more headaches and head pressure.
This is not medical advice, just my opinion based on hubby's experiences.
Good luck.
Bea Seibert
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Rumigirl
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Thank you, Bea! That's a good, detailed response.
Up for more replies.
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karenl
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I always start with tiny doses and one at a time. If you are very sensitive it is the right way to get started unless you love to go to ER-rooms. I know most people disagree but they just do not experience this extreme sensitivity.
You have to do what is right for your body at that moment.As soon as you tolerate more you can add immediately higher doses. I had to start mino at 8 mg a day.
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Rumigirl
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Wow, kareni, how high were you able to go up with the mino? How long did it take? And, how in the world did you get such a tiny dose---compounding?
Does anyone know if mino penetrates the blood brain barrier well?
Thank you!
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Rumigirl
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up.
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karenl
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Rumi, we ordered the mino in 25 mg without any preservatives for me at a compounding pharmacy. Please pm if you need the address. I needed 4-6 weeks to be on about 64 mg and then somebody told me to switch to doxy. It is easier. I now tolerate 100 mg of doxy.I even tolerate the regular doxy, not compounded.
I think mino penetrates the blood brain barrier well but have read that doxy does better.
I met some other prople who had to start on mini dosage and it is the only way to get started if you have many bacterias and are very sensitive.
Talked to a doctor yesterday and he said people who are so sensitive do not need IVs, they get well with lower doses.
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Rumigirl
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Member # 15091
posted
Maybe that's true about people who are sensitive get better with low doses of orals---for some people. BUT I did best with IV rocephin at full strength, but 4-5 days as week.
And a few days of Coartem for Babesia helped a lot. And a few days of Factive was miraculous. BUT the side-effects of Factive were a deal-breaker (severe tendon pain and ligaments giving way and double-vision!).
I know my previous LLMD, very well-known, feels that giving too low doses creates resistance. Tough! But for some, there is no other choice, I'm sure.
Thank you, kareni.
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