posted
My doc is starting me on Rifampin and has given me 150mg to start 2x a day. I asked her if I should cut the dose in half at first and she said I could but she thinks I should go ahead with the full 150mg. Would like to get others experience and opinions. I have a list of all the possible side effects that I have collected from doing a search here on the forum. Posts: 51 | From Albuquerque | Registered: Feb 2014
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Tickbite666 Did you just dive right in at 300mg 2x day or cut it in 1/2 at the beginning? Did it cause a strong reaction?
Posts: 51 | From Albuquerque | Registered: Feb 2014
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150mg 2x a day is the normal starting dose, and that is what i started with.
Im now doing 600mg 2x a day. Keep monitoring your liver while on rifampin and you should be ok. Ive found milk thistle somewhat helpful keeping liver values low, but even more so the herbs from buhners 2013 bartonella protocol.
Rifampin is metabolized in your body by CYP3A4, but rifampin also strongly induces CYP3A4 activity over time. So after a couple of days you will automatically get less of the drug in your body because its broken down at a faster rate.
Posts: 381 | From The Netherlands | Registered: Nov 2013
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Dove right into full dose. I was on Zith, (had just stopped Mepron and Augmentin), added Rif, then 30 days later added doxy. It was a powerful combo, and could feel it working in my brain, but no real side effects, except for orange urine.
After 80 days liver enzymes were a little elevated so I took a 20 day break from ABX, before starting IV Rocephin and Zith, then added Rif back again after 30 days.
good luck with this protocol
Posts: 119 | From ground zero | Registered: Mar 2014
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S13 I am doing Buhner protocol along with my ABX and have quite a few of them in my herbal tincture collection although right now only doing 3 or 4. Which of his herbs do you think would be the most helpful for liver? Very interesting info the the detox pathway. I don't think I have a defect in CYP3A4….does that matter?
Posts: 51 | From Albuquerque | Registered: Feb 2014
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tickbite666 I am on Zith now also and have been for about 7 mos. Dr has also given me Doxy to start 30 days after starting Rifampin. Not sure why she wants me to discontinue Zith before starting Rif. Maybe I should ask her more about that. Sounds like had a good experience with all three together. Thanks, yep know about the liver thing and she wants me to have blood work every month to monitor my liver.
Posts: 51 | From Albuquerque | Registered: Feb 2014
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
One important thing to know about Rifampin is that it can lower the effectiveness of Armour Thyroid. So be aware if you take Armour.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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I think its primarily the Rhodiola and Cordyceps, but i can only base that on the information that Buhner provides in his book. With all the herbs from the bart protocol its difficult to say whats causing what, so all i can tell is the entire protocol keeps liver enzymes nicely within normal range. With milk thistle only i could do 2 months of 1200mg rifampin/day before enzymes got too high. And with too high i mean ALT levels were over 250.
I think you should be ok with milk thistle on 600mg/day rifampin, but just keep in mind there are other herbs that can be of help as well.
Not having a defect in CYP3A4 doesnt matter. Auto-induction (thats what they call it) happens anyway, and shouldnt be a problem. Most on rifampin will experience that urine will become less pronounced red over time (in like 1-2weeks), and that is from the auto-induction process.
Posts: 381 | From The Netherlands | Registered: Nov 2013
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
I took Rifampin a few years ago . The view then was that Rifampin should not be used on its own, as it is strongly prone to resistance. When I queried the sole use of it, my then LLMD gave me Azithromycin/Zithromax alongside it.
I know that doesn't answer your question, but just wanted to mention it.
[ 02-19-2015, 04:15 PM: Message edited by: ukcarry ]
Posts: 1647 | From UK | Registered: Nov 2008
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ukcarry Thanks for the info. I am on Zith now and emailed my doc yesterday to ask her why she wants to take me off it before starting rifampin and doxy. I am feeling so much better since starting Zith. 7 mos ago along with 3 herbal tinctures, so I am hesitant to give up the Zith. It seems like the more combinations you throw at lyme, Bart, Bab, & CPN the better your chances are at making a dent in these illnesses. I'm considering ignoring her instructions and continuing with the Zith. When I began the Zith I cut the dose in half until I was able to tolerate it before going to full dose. I notice that some rotate ABX but I'm always concerned about building up resistance…...
Posts: 51 | From Albuquerque | Registered: Feb 2014
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
Good luck with it anyway. I took some time to get used to it, as it caused strong back pain at first. I was pulled off it for a week and then restarted at half dosage initially.
I had orange wee with it, but not orange tears!
Posts: 1647 | From UK | Registered: Nov 2008
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I am currently taking doxy and rifampin. I started taking 150mg x2 daily to start, then went up to 300mg in the morning and 150mg at night, and then up to 300mg twice a day.
Rifampin is definitely helping my neurological symptoms and I will only be on the full dose for one month at the end of this month.
My headaches have decreased, as has the throbbing pain in my teeth and slurring my speech. Its not helping my muscle or joint pain, but definitely the neuro symptoms.
I take NAC every day to protect my liver and kidneys and my blood work has been fine.
Posts: 187 | From Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2013
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Thanks Oceangirl Can you tell me how long you took 150 x2 day before going to 300 pm & 150 am? Then how long on that before 300mg 2x day? Are you considering 300mg 2x day the full dose? Here on the forum I have noticed people take anywhere from 150mg to 1,200 mg 2x a day so I'm not quite sure what full dose is.
Posts: 51 | From Albuquerque | Registered: Feb 2014
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