I started Rifampin 3 weeks ago. Building up very slowly to full doses to try and minimize emotional herxes.
I've been crying at the drop of a hat and had wide mood swings, but I expected that.
My back pain (which is my primary symptom) has been very, very bad lately. The pain meds I usually take (Percocet, Soma, Valium together) are not helping nearly as much as usual.
When my LLMD prescribed Rifampin she told me that it could make the other drug more or less effective. Now reading about the drug, it seems like "less effective" is more the norm and I think that is what is happening. Also, sleep meds aren't working as well. My coping skills are being sorely tested.
I was also thinking that the extreme pain could be a herx. I'd really like to get through this, as maybe it might finally touch this pain, which hasn't responded to anything in 3 1/2 years of treatment - the problem is how?. My primary doc prescribes my pain meds (he thinks I have fibromyalgia).
Trying to stretch out my meds and still control the pain is adding to my anxiety. Also, I have an appointment with a new pain doc next week and I'm not looking forward to explaining this whole situation and my need for more pain meds, at least for now.
Any personal experience and suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
Posted by pooldog71 (Member # 21722) on :
Look for PM
Posted by cologirl (Member # 34409) on :
I tried all those pain meds nothing. Try Lyrica that did the trick for me, helped with sore muscles, nerve pain, etc. I started with 25mg 3 times per day and noticed within a few days less pain. Now I am on 50mg and doing really well pain wise. Ask your Doctor this may help you.
Posted by searching4truth (Member # 28481) on :
I had the same problem with rifampin. My LLMD is also a pain management doc, and we tried increasing my pain medication and added other sleep meds. I am afraid to say, nothing changed my pain levels or helped me sleep. I stopped taking rifampin a few weeks ago, and my pain is now managed and I can sleep again. As a matter of fact, I have been soooo tired, sleeping 12 hours a day does not even touch my fatigue. I guess my body is making up for 6 months of no sleep!
Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :
Have you tried Zyflamend, an herbal anti-inflammatory? If you're herxing, you would have more inflammation than usual.
I swear by this stuff. My LLMD would not give me pain meds - rather, it was always a detective story of sorts, pairing up facts to try and address the particular cause of the pain. And luckily, for me, Zyflamend made by New Chapter, and Flexeril (because I also had muscle pain) at bedtime got rid of my pain.
As you have discovered, there are many types of pain, and not all can be masked by pain meds.