lymielauren28
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13742
posted
Hey all, wondering if anyone else has had this experience. I've been on Rifampin, Zith and Ceftin for almost three months. Last week my doc had me add in Mepron. We do know about the Mepron/rifampin interactions, but at this point we're trying to treat everything at once.
Since starting the Rifampin I've been having pretty bad insomnia and have felt wired and anxious, but otherwise ok.
So last night I fell asleep around eleven. I woke up at four and heard someone in my kitchen banging pots and pans around and slamming cabinet doors. My first thought was, "What in the world is my husband doing in the kitchen??" But I rolled over and realized he was in bed with me sound asleep.
My next thought was panic. "Someone's in the house!!" (I was awake but really out if it haha). I flipped my bedside lamp on and looked over and my dogs were snoozing away. I was coherent enough to realize that if someone had broken into my house and taken my kitchen hostage my dogs would NOT be sleeping through it - they would be in there begging for scraps
So that's when it hit me that I was, in fact, hallucinating. As I layed there listening to the sound of pots and pots clanking a bright green glowing orb appeared in front me, hovering and then bobbing up and down. Then the orb started to morph into a very scary face. I started to panic and closed my eyes. After I closed my eyes I could still see the bright green face, kind of like an after image. I started to pray and as I did the image began to fade and so did the noises. I got up and chugged a glass of water and was eventually able to fall back asleep.
Has anyone else had anything like this happen to them? I've done Mepron in the past (long ago), but have NEVER hallucinated. Was this some weird brain herx or a side effect? I actually feel pretty good today, but last nights experience was disconcerting. Any feedback??
-------------------- "The only way out is through" Posts: 1434 | From mississippi | Registered: Nov 2007
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Judie
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Member # 38323
My first problem with rifampin was the inability to relax. I couldn't sleep unless I was exhausted.
Then rifampin caused me to have HORRIBLE hallucinations. I also eventually lost my sense of touch and hearing. That's when I knew I had to stop. It was scary.
I would dial the phone and couldn't hear the person or touch something and couldn't feel if it was hot or cold.
Someone would be right next to me talking to me and I couldn't hear them. I would just stare into space. I was so out of it, I couldn't even feel panic at that point.
I do great on mepron and malarone. I'm taking both right now. No issues.
I found out later I have gene that doesn't process rifampin and other meds correctly. It totally explained the scary reaction for me.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
That sounds very similar to the hallucinations I had on Lariam, which also treats babesia.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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lymielauren28
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13742
posted
Thank you Judie, I'll check the links out. I've actually done great in the Rifampin. Lots of herxing, but lots of improvement. No insomnia until starting the Mepron.
Six, did you continue Larium in spite of the hallucinations? Did you consider it to be a herx or a side effect of the drug? I'm due for my evening dose in a couple of hours. NOT looking forward to it, but going to push through and hope tonight isn't a repeat of last night.
-------------------- "The only way out is through" Posts: 1434 | From mississippi | Registered: Nov 2007
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lymielauren28
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13742
posted
Well, no more hallucinations...but I may need to buy some stock in Kleenex. Lord, the crying jags on this stuff!
-------------------- "The only way out is through" Posts: 1434 | From mississippi | Registered: Nov 2007
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Tincup
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Member # 5829
posted
If you need any help with the depression, please lettuce no!
GretaM
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Member # 40917
posted
Gosh! Sounds scary!
Hopefully it means you're hitting both those devils in one pop-bart and babs. Grrrr...
Your mention of thr rifampin herx brings me right back to mine. Yikes!
Good for you for sticking with it!
I like. You and your docs plans of hitting them all at once. Ideally I would like to do that but I'd think I'd be floor-bound if I tried! Haha.
I had auditory things going on with rifampin.
I think it had to do with bartonella, as I could always hear my neighbours arguing. (even when they weren't home! Lol) and olefactory hallucinations where I smell strange obscure things like hot vomit, hot metal or cat pee.
One time I woke my bf (at the time) and asked him to get me a gravol. The smell of his skin smelled so strongly of cat pee (to me), that I was gagging and dry heaving. In reality he always smelled of armani cologne. But I could smell cat pee just wafting off him.
Who woulda guessed a relationship doomed to failure. Hahahaha.
Also sometimes I search around my house for poops, because I can smell poop and think my senior cat has left me a "communication bulletin".
Anyways, I am trying to share to reassure you. "you are not losing your mind-it is these darn infections!"
Keep on truckin'
Also, mepron can cause severe depression and suicidal thoughts. If you feel like you can't go on, want to end it please stop the mepron and call your doc. It is well known for causing the mepron blues.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
quote:Originally posted by lymielauren28: Six, did you continue Larium in spite of the hallucinations? Did you consider it to be a herx or a side effect of the drug? I'm due for my evening dose in a couple of hours. NOT looking forward to it, but going to push through and hope tonight isn't a repeat of last night.
It's a known side effect of Lariam. I didn't tell my doctor about it, it only happened twice. I stayed on the med.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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lymielauren28
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Member # 13742
posted
Thanks for the input y'all. I haven't had any more visual or auditory hallucinations thank God! But Greta yes to the olfactory stuff!! I smell stuff all the time that I know isn't real. It's crazy! I smell coffee a lot (which is nice) but also dog poop haha. I'll walk around thinking one of my dogs had an accident, but nope! Just my crazy brain making stuff up.
-------------------- "The only way out is through" Posts: 1434 | From mississippi | Registered: Nov 2007
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GretaM
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posted
That's a relief I am not the only one on constant Poop Patrol...
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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CD57
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posted
lauren how is it going?
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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lymielauren28
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13742
posted
It's going okaaaaay. I had a pretty severe two day herx Sunday and Monday. Everything hurt head to toe and I cried all day Sunday - and I do mean ALL DAY long. It was ridiculous. Yesterday I had a meltdown because I couldn't find my car keys which I thought were in my purse. I ended up throwing my purse across the room, screaming at the top of lungs and then fell into a heap of tears in the floor haha. Jeeeeze. You can't make this stuff up. But! Today has been much better. Very clear headed and happy and much less pain Thank you all for your input!! Y'all are the best!!!
-------------------- "The only way out is through" Posts: 1434 | From mississippi | Registered: Nov 2007
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lymielauren28
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13742
posted
CD57, how are you??? Any improvements? Are you treating right now?
-------------------- "The only way out is through" Posts: 1434 | From mississippi | Registered: Nov 2007
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Thank you all for your input!! Y'all are the best!!!
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