This is my 2nd attempt at trying to take Rifampin. The first time, I developed several petechiae rashes on my upper chest/neck area, and because we weren't sure if that was purpura, I was told to stop the Rifampin.
There was a warning on my write-up that you should stop ASAP is purpura develops, as it can lead to cerebral hemmorage.
Well, I've tried taking 1 per day, and getting the petechiae again. It looks like small pinprick red or purple dots, and they come in clusters. Basically looks like hickeys.
I'd love to know if anyone else has gotten this. Also, if you continued taking Rifampin. It doesn't seem to be a very well-known side effect, but I googled purpura & Rifampin, and found some documentation about it.
Someone here has to know something about this, I hope.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I know nothing about that particular side effect.. but I personally wouldn't mess with Rifampin if that happened to me.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Petechiae are a well documented symptom of bartonella.
Have you had your VEGF tested? -- vascular endothelial growth factor. I would expect that to be elevated in your case. If so, that would indicate a bart infection and would probaby make petechiae more likely to be a herx symptom.
Bea Seibert
Posted by Tiramisu (Member # 15082) on :
No, I haven't had that tested, but thanks for the idea.
If it's a herx symptom, it's seems like a fine line between remaining petechiae and turning into purpura. Maybe I'm just confused between googling these rashes and looking at the photos, and the fact that my llmd never commented on what my petechiae might be from...
Thanks for the feedback. Any one else?
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
I have/had the petechiae rash for years. I have clusters of bright red new ones that pop up regularly during bart flares.
This happens with or without abx. So for me it's just the bacterial pattern. My arms/legs and torso are covered with petechiae.
They start bright red then lighten to reddish/brown and never disappear regardless of any treatment.
Heat will make them stand more. Bea, I'll write down and research the VEGF. I've never tested + for bart, but there is no doubt I have one or more of the supposed 23 strains. Thanks.
Pam
Posted by Hambone (Member # 29535) on :
How small are these petechiae? I have little red "dots" about the size of poppyseed, scattered over my breast area and hips. Not many, maybe about 20-30 total, not in clusters. They came along around the time I started abx.
I haven't ever taken Rifampin, though.
Is this the same thing you are talking about?
Posted by Tiramisu (Member # 15082) on :
Map - good to know someone else gets them, too. I've gotten them off & on for years, but never as many clusters of them as when I try Rifampin. I can't seem to find where the petechiae is a Bart symptom, but for you it definitely seems to be part of Bart. Mine also start bright red or purple, and fade.
So, Rifampin makes me look like I have a bunch of hickeys on me. I don't care about that, as long as it's not dangerous or going to lead to purpura.
Ham - the petechiae rash I'm describing is really like a hickey or sucker bite. It's a cluster of small red/purple dots, but they do fade & disappear within about 7-10 days. Sometimes they are itchy in the beginning. They are never raised bumps....just discolored under the skin. If yours are single red dots that are raised, it may be just a cherry angioma. do they fade away?
Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
I get red bumps and rashes with my bartonella flares.
The rashes don't itch and I wouldn't even know they were there unless I'd seen them. But the bumps are very itchy in the beginning and then take a while to go away. I get them on my chest and my hands.
Also you CANNOT start and stop Rifampin, so please don't do so without asking your doctor! It only take one or two times of stopping/starting for the bacteria to build a resistance to it, and then you may as well not even take it at all becuase it won't kill anything! Rifampin MUST be taken continuously, or not at all.
Posted by Tiramisu (Member # 15082) on :
Thanks, Olive.
Seems this rash issue with Rifampin is tricky stuff. If nothing else, I hope this thread will make people more aware of what rashes they develop on Rifampin, because even if it's 1 in a million chance of brain hemmorage, it's not something worth playing with.
Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
I'd be more worried of liver failure, which is a well-known side effect. Get your liver function checked periodically!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)