LymeNet Flash: Rifampin, Mino or both making me an emotional/anxious mess?

This is topic Rifampin, Mino or both making me an emotional/anxious mess? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by robi (Member # 5547) on :

Wow ........... I just want to cry all the time since starting these. Is this a usual side effect?

I am also bouncing off the walls with ANXIETY!!!!!!!

I have done both of these rx's before but it was long ago and don't remember ...........

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

Sounds awful!!!!

I would think the combo could really do you in. Both are really rough drugs, as they work on the brain.

Rifampin may be giving you a bart herx. What's the dosage of each?

Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :

Both are known to do that. If it becomes intolerable, lowering the dose slightly on the Minocycline should alleviate symptoms. Consult your physician before making any changes though.

I'm on Minocycline and Rifampin, I just started. I expect hell to break loose. I'm on a lot of things, but this is the core antibiotic portion. It's going to be brutal.

Posted by Clarissa (Member # 4715) on :

Both drugs are hitting BART which will cause herxes involving:

sobbing
depression
crying jags
horrific anxiety (crawl out of your skin)
calf pain
feelings of doom

The good news: You're hitting the Bart HARD and killing.

The bad news: The herxes are right out of Nightmare on Elm Street

That was me Jan 07-March 07. Xanax was my only relief. I highly recommend you get your LLMD to prescribe you some to get you through the herxes.

As everyone on the forum already knows, I would have jumped off my roof during those herxes had it not been for my anti-anxiety Xanax meds.

Hang in there. TOTALLY normal...just be easy on yourself and get some meds to control herxes.

Hugs,

Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :

clarissa has given excellent advice.

feelfit

Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :

Wow thanks for this thread!

I have been having SEVERE anxiety and was wondering what the heck was going on. I am on Rifampin and Zith. The last few days have been so bad.

I keep having these doom and gloom feelings too.

I have been on Rifampin for 2 months now. The initial herx was rough and I have been ok until this anxiety.

I sure hope this goes away for all of us.

Melissa

Posted by Mo (Member # 2863) on :

years ago when treated with rifampin - my daughter and i had raging herxheimers (funny, actually, in retrospect, to see a mom and toddler yelling randomly throughout the day..good thing we live in the boonies)
but we had much improvement after that initial period passed.

son, on different treatment time/course, only got better with it - mainly in areas of personality and lucidity.

i think emotional lability is common on this drug and tbd's, tho. see it mentioned here allot.

hang in there, it will pass. try and set yourself up with some outlets for relief.

mo

Posted by minoucat (Member # 5175) on :

When I started on rif and mino, I became incredibly anxious and emotional, and very very cranky.

3 months into rifampin and mino, my anxiety and emotionalality are much reduced, though still present at a low-moderate (varies daily) level. I'm still quite snappish, although that's not as bad either.

So my take is, it's 70% die off and 30% med side effects.

Rifampin in particular affects hormones (the literature on it particularly discusses its depression of adrenal and sex hormones) and can cause insomnia (my insomnia has been horrendous since I started it).

Hang in there. Take what you need to take to sleep -- I don't think that any "sleep hygiene" practices can overcome the insomnia effects of rifampin, so I've resigned myself to sleep meds for the time being.

Tincture of passionflower or passionflower tea may help with the anxiety. Definitely go for more intense relief, like Xanax, if you need it.

"Anxiety" is such a mild term for describing the feeling that you're hanging by your peanutbutter-coated toes over a rift between Universes, and rats with sharp teeth are a-coming...

[ 28. August 2008, 11:38 PM: Message edited by: minoucat ]

Posted by bernieb4 (Member # 14654) on :

I did Rifampin 600mg with Minocycline 400mg. It tore me apart in every way. My moodswings were out of control, as was my libido. One second I'd be raging with unprompted anger, the next my libido would kick in, then I'd feel depressed. It felt like a longterm acid trip. But my brain was sick and I was desperate for help. In the end I think it definitely killed off some bartonella and lyme.

I did have a bad sinus infection and case of conjunctivitis flare up for nearly 6 weeks, which I wrongly accepted as a herx. The doc put me on Augmentin and that cleared things up.

He was sure the Minocycline caused my eye probs, so be careful.

Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :

My rate for phone call consultations has gone down due to the bad economy.

Now, instead of being 2 cents an hour... I am running a 1/2 price special for anyone living within a 40 mile radius of you.

For everyone outside the 40 mile radius.... it is free.

[lol]

I'm here huckleberry... so use me up and spit me out.

And a meal on the pier would be nice!

If you promise not to jump off.

[Big Grin]

But really dear one...

I am feeling your pain.

If you need anything.. give me a ring a ding. OK?

Posted by sweet pea (Member # 6495) on :

I believe I had an emotional herx when on the strong stuff. I learned what true depression is. Example: I was also having the chills, and it was wintertime, so my partner heated up a blanket in the dryer then wrapped me in it on the floor...for some reason I imagined myself wrapped up like a corpse and felt very morbid! Then the emotional herxed passed after a couple of weeks and I've been fine since then.

So I think this could be a good thing for you. So unless you're suicidal or just can't take the hurt, hang in there! And obviously, take good care of yourself!

Posted by aklnwlf (Member # 5960) on :

Hang in there Robi!

Posted by Rianna (Member # 11038) on :

Its so tough Robi but hang in there, make sure you use a band aid like clarissa says 'valium or xanax' just to get you through - I had to use valium but ended up backing down no probs - I still use it through bad herx's.

I sure know how this feels but you will get through and then life is oh so sweet - Hang in there but again get something to take the edge off and then one day you will forget to take it or just know you can lower your benzo dosage.

Rianna