posted
My daughter just started rifampin over the weekend for sinus problems and to try to knock out the last of her arthritis. She's also on doxy.
Well, yesterday she woke up with upper back and neck stiffness that is still bothering her this afternoon.
Anybody get back and neck pain from rifampin?
-------------------- Son, 26, Dx Lyme 4/10, Babs 8/10 Had serious arthritis, all gone. Currently on Valtrex Daughter, 26,bullseye 7/11 arthritis in knees, cured and off all meds. . Self:Lyme, bart, sxs gone, no longer treating. Posts: 496 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Jul 2010
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Not from rifampin per say.
But from bartonella. YES!
Has she been treated for bartonella yet?
Doxy and rifampin commonly are prescribed together for bart.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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posted
Not specifically. And even if she was, she may have had another bite...
Her ongoing symptoms are arthritis in the knees when she goes of doxy, sinus infections every time she gets a cold, and this year a post-nasal drip that just won't quit. She's also just really fatigued.
She was on doxy, zith, tindimax and bactrim for about a year when the arthritis was gone and she felt good and went off everything. Three months later some slight knee arthritis was back, and then this winter the sinus problems.
*edited the med list
-------------------- Son, 26, Dx Lyme 4/10, Babs 8/10 Had serious arthritis, all gone. Currently on Valtrex Daughter, 26,bullseye 7/11 arthritis in knees, cured and off all meds. . Self:Lyme, bart, sxs gone, no longer treating. Posts: 496 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Jul 2010
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posted
I had severe upper back, shoulder and neck pain after being on Rifampin for several months. A local Lyme advocate told me that it can cause inflammation.
Posts: 9 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Aug 2012
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
"...yesterday she woke up with upper back and neck stiffness..."
Low magnesium can cause muscle spasms.
She's taking antibiotics that kill bacteria. The liver uses magnesium when it's detoxifying bacterial remains.
So, when you're killing bacteria, you need more magnesium, or you'll get a Jarische-Herxheimer reaction. Many of the herx symptoms, such as muscle spasms, are due to low magnesium.
Eat magnesium rich foods and take magnesium supplements.Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
I had severe back muscle pain on starting Rifampin too and had to stop for a week, resuming at half dose until I tolerated it.
Posts: 1647 | From UK | Registered: Nov 2008
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
Don't do the same as me without checking with the LLMD, as stop/starting with Rifampin is not normally recommended.
Posts: 1647 | From UK | Registered: Nov 2008
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Did the pain and inflammation go away after you stopped rifampin?
Mary
-------------------- Son, 26, Dx Lyme 4/10, Babs 8/10 Had serious arthritis, all gone. Currently on Valtrex Daughter, 26,bullseye 7/11 arthritis in knees, cured and off all meds. . Self:Lyme, bart, sxs gone, no longer treating. Posts: 496 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Jul 2010
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posted
Yes, the pain and inflammation went away after I stopped the Rifampin. It could be that going off for a couple days or a week would be helpful but as ukcarry says, you should probably check with LLMD first. I didn't either. It got really bad on a week-end and I was desperate.
I had been on Rifampin several months and after this episode my treatment plan was changed.
I don't remember if I was taking magnesium at the time or not but it is very helpful for tight muscles and if your daughter isn't taking any it would be worth your consideration.
Posts: 9 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Aug 2012
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
I later had sensitivity tests for both Rifampin and Tinidazole after i developed excruciating hives. Although the latter came out as the worst offender, i was clearly sensitive to Rifampin too.
On a later test, the detoxigenomic, i found out that a polymorphism in my liver's genetic make-up would explain the reaction to Rifampin, as it was listed as one of the drugs I might react to.
Posts: 1647 | From UK | Registered: Nov 2008
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Ellen101
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35432
posted
It could be a sideffect. The other to remember is Rifampin messes with other medications she may be taking. Muscle aches, joint pains may also be signs of a side effect not a herx. http://www.m.webmd.com/mobile-drugs/drug?drugname=rifampin%20oral Be sure she knows about the interections as well as the possible side effects listed. I developed horrible back pain on rifampin and stopped taking it.
Posts: 1748 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2011
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