LymeNet Flash: rifampin headaches

This is topic rifampin headaches in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :

Hi everyone,

I have been taking rifampin for two weeks, and I have developed a terrible headache and burning sensations in my spine and legs. [Frown]

I was wondering anybody had an increase of these symptoms while on this drug?

Also, is it possible to pulse rifampin or should I stick it out and see if I can pull through this herx?

Thanks

Posted by valymemom (Member # 7076) on :

I don't know what advice to give....but these are two bart symptoms, for sure.

Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :

Hi savebabe,

Sorry to hear about the headaches and burning legs. While you should ask your doc about whether you can pulse rifampin, my llmd says definitely NOT to stop taking and then start again with rifampin. Unlike other abx, I have heard that if you stop taking rifampin and then start up again, one's tolerance is lowered and you need to take a lower dose. (This is why I have not started it yet!)

However, whether that applies to stopping just for a few days or how long, I do not know. Hope your doc can fill in with information. Take care.

Posted by shoney (Member # 9925) on :

Savebabe-I took rifampin for 3 months..I thought I was going to die the first month..by month 2 it eased up, and by month 3, I actually wanted to take it because I started feeling better.

I would wake up in the middle of the night feeling as if my body was on fire.

Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :

Thanks guys!! [group hug]

How long did everyone stay on rifampin?

Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :

I'm not on Rifampin, but I wanted to mention it took six weeks for my symptoms to let up when I started Bart treatment ... the herx was horrible. I ended up taking Vicodin for the pain, and I never even take aspirin/tylenol.

Now that I'm on the other side of that initial herx, I feel the best I've felt thus far. [Smile]

I had headaches that first six weeks ... and I've never really gotten headaches before, so it was a new symptom.

Posted by TheCrimeOfLyme (Member # 4019) on :

I've taken Rifampin twice. Once, I took it about three years ago. The first two months, as someone else said was HORRIBLE. After that, yep, it was like taking water to me. It gave me horrible migraines, semi resembling the ones I originally got sick with.

I am on it again now for suspicion of still having bartonella. I recently had a sinus infection and did a skit of Cipro ( which also treats bart). not only did I herx, but after the two weeks on Cipro, I felt GREAT ... for a whole two weeks [Wink]

.

So, I'm on rifampin again. I just started it two days ago and at a very low dose. 150 mg a day. I want to rip my head off, it hurts that bad. But, I am hoping that as before, after two months it stops and I just reap the benefits.

Bart seems to be my only infection left. Seems to be...

Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :

I am starting to think that rifampin is also a cyst buster. I have taken levaquin and septra in the past, but never had a reaction like this.

I am in week three and my head is still pounding and my skin is still burning.

I will post when this breaks and I get relief.

Thanks for the responses everyone. [group hug]

Posted by TheCrimeOfLyme (Member # 4019) on :

I dont think its a cyst buster, it IS however one of the very few oral abx that penetrate the blood brain barrier, at even a pretty low dose.

Its pretty potent.

Ive been on abx for a LONG time and rifampin still got me by the head.

Posted by lymex5&counting (Member # 7202) on :

Savebabe,

I totally feel for you. I took a morning and an evening dose of Rifampin. 2 weeks after starting my Mepron. Then I was supposed to add Biaxin 2 weeks later. After a 3 1/2 week break on Rocephin. After being on Rocephin for 9 months. I thought I was going to die. My head hurt so bad from the Rifampin.

My TMJ treatment, chiropractic, Cilantro nothing helped and I totally crashed. I couldn't remember a thing along with feeling like I wanted to chop my head off. It was a major relapse. My ILADS LLMD gave it to me more as a cyst buster than for my Bart. But it totally kicked my *** . And I had to stop atleast for now.

I can't imagine how it will be when my 4 kids go on it. They are all on Flagyl right now and everyone is short tempered.

I wish you the best. I haven't been on for a long time and am glad I read this about the headache from HELL! Because the Pharmacist was no help but I couldn't function.

I need to go back on my Rocephin but my white count is soooo low. We need to figure that out first. I am just totally brain dead without it.

The Mepron and Zith are getting me thru these days barely.

Best wishes, lyme x 9 [group hug]