posted
Hi there, I will be starting Rifampin next week to kill of Bart, which is hopefully all that is left. I still have muscle twitching, brain fog, GI problems, and classic Bart skin problems. I was just wondering what percentage of people did poorly with this medication and how did you feel? Also, how long did it take for you to start feeling better on it. I can't wait to start this medication to get rid of Bart, but am also a bit concerned of the side effect Thanks so much!
Posts: 188 | From Winnipeg | Registered: Dec 2009
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droid1226
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 34930
posted
Rifampin stunk the entire time I was on it but once off, I felt much better.
posted
That's good to know. How long were you on it for?? Thanks!
Posts: 188 | From Winnipeg | Registered: Dec 2009
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Summer3
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35286
posted
Rifampin wasn't too bad for me. I had a few really bad anxiety herxing days in the beginning and my typical flu-like herx. I've been on it 8 months. I haven't had drastic improvement, but it did get my liver enzymes into the normal range for the first time.
posted
Rifampin was very rough for the first two weeks then gave me my biggest improvements.
Posts: 520 | From Maryland | Registered: Jan 2007
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CherylSue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13077
posted
I tried rifampin the second time, and the first few days it made me sleepy, but then afterwards, nothing. It did take care of a cough I had after a bad cold.
i took it for a month and had no other reaction.
I tried it a few years ago during a bad relapse and could only take it 2 days.
I guess it depends on how large your pathogen load is.
Posts: 1954 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
My daughter, a friend and I all had emotional/anxiety herxes with Rifampin. I stopped the first time, but the second time I started at a very small dose and worked my way up slowly and it was much more tolerable.
-------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." Anonymous Posts: 450 | From California | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
I started at 150 mg once a day for about three days, then increased it to twice a day and stayed there for two months. I tried at about three weeks in to take 300 mg in the morning and within 15 minutes felt increased major symptoms. My doctor told me to go back to 150 mg twice a day. After two months at 150 twice a day, I increased the morning dose to 300 mg and evening 150 mg. I herxed and I am feeling symptoms more often, but tolerable. I plan on staying at that dose for about one month and then increase the evening dose to 300 mg so that I am taking a total of 600 mg a day.
I was terrifed to take Rifampin because of all the negative remarks I had read. But my experience is that starting low dose and increasing slowly, the effects are tolerable.
I also take azithromycin 250 mg twice a day.
Wishing you the best. Let us know how it goes for you.
Posts: 138 | From US Virgin Islands | Registered: May 2012
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gmb
Unregistered
posted
I had no issues while on Rif (w/Zith) for 4 months. It was only after adding Doxy to the mix after the first 30 days I could tell it was hitting something in my brain pretty hard.
In the fourth month my liver enzymes were a bit elevated so I stopped all ABX for awhile.
If you are concerned, just start at 1/2 dose per day for the first week, and increase from there.
posted
I loved rifampin. My favorite med so far. It was really bad in the beginning though.
Posts: 908 | From Albany | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
Just started it about a month ago, still on a relatively low dose. I've only noticed a few minor issues (increase in muscle pain & headaches). I do better if I keep pushing fluids all day (especially lemon water) I have had to use Pinella & Burbur drops 2x since starting it. So far it's been better than anticipated.
Posts: 25 | From N. Texas | Registered: Oct 2012
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posted
My advice would be to start slow. I recently restarted rifampin at 150mg once per day. In a few days, I plan on increasing with my goal being 600mg. I have huge emotional herxes-crying, anxiety and increased head pressure. The first time around I started at 300 twice per day and it was just too much for me. I had to back down. But we are all different. When I did backdown and take a break, I did notice that my anxiety, head pressure were better than before I had started this drug. This gave me hope that it does work. My llmd told me she has had great success with this drug. Good luck
Posts: 238 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2013
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tricia386
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29623
posted
Also it can lower other medication so please watch for that. Other medications such as thyroid meds.It also messed with my thyroid to much so I had to come off. The longest I was on it was 3 months and I did like it. Herx like heck in the begining but noticed imrprovement.
-------------------- Lyme activated in April 2010 by gardasil vaccine. DX: Lyme,Babs,Myco,Bart 11/10 Treatment Started: 3/28/11 Posts: 1752 | From Albany, NY | Registered: Dec 2010
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