posted
For Bartonela is is necessary to take zithromax or another drug with rifampin for it to be effective for Bart or can you just take the rifampin alone? How soon would one notice a herx for bart? I'm taking the rifampin as a test to see if I actually have Bart. Thanks,
Posts: 69 | From NYC | Registered: Apr 2015
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posted
Also - if something were to "go wrong" with the Rifampin what would the symptoms be? My doctors have nearly scared me out of taking this because apparently it can cause liver or renal failure in like two days. I'm doing a blood test on day two. I read that you should stop if you have flu-like symptoms but I have those anyways so I'm not sure if I could tell. I know I sound paranoid and I am. I don't know why my doctors have made this drug sound so dangerous when it seems like everyone takes it and is fine. Thanks
Posts: 69 | From NYC | Registered: Apr 2015
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posted
Also (sorry) did anyone start with a 300 mg dose and work up to 600 mg or is that not necessary? One of my doctors says to do that but the others don't. Thanks,
Posts: 69 | From NYC | Registered: Apr 2015
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
This page says to expect a herx in the first week or so:
posted
I have been taking rifampin and azithromycin for 7 months with little improvement for bartonella. I pulse the zith three days a week. My LLMD says that rifampin can not be taken by itself. It supposedly works better when paired with a macrolide. I have my bloodwork done every 4 weeks to check my liver and kidney function. I started on 150mg of rifampin a day and worked my way up to 600mg a day so I could tolerate it. No problems with the rifampin but the zith hurts my stomach. My doctor believes I will see improvement soon but I have had bartonella for over 15 years. Some people are having better luck pairing the rifampin with biaxin which is a macrolide like zith. I am thinking about switching to biaxin. Good luck to you!
Posts: 68 | From Kentucky | Registered: Jul 2010
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Well I did 2 days at 300 mg a day and had zero side effects! Also zero herx. I've stopped taking it because I don't think I have bart just lyme.
Posts: 69 | From NYC | Registered: Apr 2015
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WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33581
posted
I did very well on Rifampin. It was very helpful for me. I don't think it's know to be particularly dangerous. Any drug can be dangerous. I think you just need to start slow and watch for side effects, and if you have them, stop and let your doctor know.
We are all so different. What is terrible for one person may be great for another. For example, mino makes me dizzy and I became allergic to Bactrim, so those are bad for me. But I haven't had any problems with the flouroquinolines to date, and they can be very dangerous for others.
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Two days is not a long enough test. You would want to take it a little over a week to see if you herx.
So, you won't know anything if you stop it now.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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