Health
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6034
posted
Hi everyone,
I am supposed to be starting Rifampin soon and wanted to ask if anyone had problems with it regarding adrenal insufficieny?
Just be chance, I saw an old post on here/lymenet, saying that Rifampin can cause adrenal problems, so am wanting to know if others had this?
Has anyone had a bad reaction to Rifampin? I normally am not afraid to start a new antibiotic, but because of the gigantic hive/hives I got from the tinidazole/teracycline
combo, after being on them for over 2 months, I get a little afraid. I am back on the tetracycline, but it did not cause hives, so maybe it was the tinidazole.
I am to just do the Rifampin alone, to see how I react, which is fine by me, for one month, then go from there, depending on my reaction to the Rifampin.
I am making a list of symptoms I have now, that have that are new, and see if they got away with Rifampin.
I have been treated for lyme and babesia, but still not better, I had had some symptoms go, new ones come, then go, and now, still lingering ones, and new ones.
I had a positive Brucella Abortus test with a titer of 40, had this done 8 years ago, never knew I had lyme, ID Dr would not treat.
I read that Rifampin and Doxy would treat Bartonella and Brucella. I have these marks though on the body that may? be bartonella, that is why the rifampin, so one thing at a time.
I may need Brucella treatment, the Rifampin, the Doxy and the Streptomycin I read on here is to treat the Brucella.
Trish
[ 18. May 2007, 05:44 PM: Message edited by: Health ]
Posts: 1250 | From Canada | Registered: Aug 2004
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Dear Health,
I can't comment on the adrenals...I just don't know.
I recently started rifampin following incredible insomnia with levaquin.
The side effects that I have had include some spasming of my bladder...kind of hurts.
Not being able to sleep through the night. I have this magic 4:00am wake up call.
Weird foot cramps and leg cramps.
I mean cramping in the arch of my foot, cramps in my achilles tendon area, and calf.
Most of these occur during the middle of the night.
Talked to LLMD about it just this past week...
I am going to pulse it with one day on and one day off.
I don't know what my liver enzymes look like yet...but hoping for the best.
Good luck.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I made a lot of progress on rifampin. First few days it did irritate my bladder. Maybe it was a herx because it cleared right up.
Posts: 925 | From California | Registered: Sep 2004
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TheCrimeOfLyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4019
posted
Yes, it can cause adrenal problems. It can also cause A LOT of weight gain- just be wary that it can cause problems. ALL antibiotics can cause problems. Zithromax can cause a heart attack, for example.
Rifampin did WONDERS for me and I may be going back to it this weekend. It was one of "THE" abx ( and I did alot) that wiped out my neck/head/face/shoulder pain.
I HAD AWFUL HERXES. It made my lungs hurt BAD. BUt it was well, well worth it.
-------------------- You want your life back? Take it. Posts: 3169 | From Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Registered: Jun 2003
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I am thinking of pulsing rifampin or just cutting my 6000 mg dose in half because i have been very sick on it.
Question - How many mgs. are you pulsing?
And do they worry about resistance with pulsing?
Do people get similar benefits if they cannot tolerate the 600 mg. dose?? I seem to be ok on 300 mgs. but at 600 mgs. I am sick with the flu etc. the whole time. I have another post to thsi effect, but nobody has responded.
Thanks!
Sara
Posts: 589 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Jun 2006
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Health
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6034
posted
I just started the Rifampin today, and am so scared.
My breathing is very weak, and I am so weak again, not able to shower, no strenght, just ly in bed and collapse and sleep, even lifting a glass of water is tough, and have not read that Bartonella can cause all that I am feeling, or anywhere near it, but
because of those marks, we are giving the Rifampin a try.
Trish
Posts: 1250 | From Canada | Registered: Aug 2004
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lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
Trish, Could it be your breathing feels weak because you are scared? Or is this an actual side effect?
You are braver than I am. My bottle of Rifampin has sat here for one month..I am very scared.
PLEASE - report back, let me know how you do - I need a shove, or I will NEVER get that pill in m mouth.
I am in agony and know I must switch, not only have I plateaued, I feel I am now going backwards, where I was making progress, I am not anymore on my current abx.
My sister had no herx on Rifampin and just felt better and better. I envy her, because I know I won't get off that easy.
Post soon! I hope it helps you & the herx isn't awful.
Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
I pulse all 600mg on and off....
Take 600mg one day, then nothing the next...
It was a choice between doing this, or doxy....
I can't do doxy during the summer. My kids live outside in 95 degree heat.
I just started the pulsing, but boy I can feel it.
It's like a mini herx every other day.
Plus, I only have the cramping issues on the days on the rifampin.
My LLMD feels this is a more aggressive approach to bart and that I may have more success with it.
I hope there are no resistence issues, or I'll have to wait till winter time for doxy.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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suki444
Unregistered
posted
Hi I used to see Dr B and took Rifampin...the first day I awoke with stomach cramps, and felt nauseous and faint & had to run to the loo...that passed quickly and I just felt more and more fatigued on it.
Around 10 days in I faxed him and he said to stop - that people go one of two ways on Rifampin and it looked like it wasn't doing anything positive for me so just stop.
So it was not the drug of choice for me but I had no severe side effects. Others I know have responded marvellously to it and made great improvements. I guess it depends what the bugs you have are sensitive to in the end!
posted
Suki, you feel like you made great progess on it even though you reacted sort of poorly? And with only 10 days on it? OK - this is an edit. I don't know what I was reading but I was half awake at the time. Sorry to hear about your reaction Suki.. It sounds like you responded like me.
And for the people who get the very run down and even fluish effects, I wonder if it is helping us at all?
Health, My doc said that we could herx from bartonella. She didn't say when. I think I started to herx within a few days at 300 mgs. and within a day at the higher dose.
She said that rifampin is also a cyst buster and so that could be partly what we are feeling.
[ 20. May 2007, 12:00 PM: Message edited by: luvdogs ]
Posts: 589 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Jun 2006
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Health
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6034
posted
thanks everyone,
Suki, I am glad to read this, your reaction to the Rifampin. I am on day 2 of it and have to go back to bed, I just got up, I am sooo tired.
I will watch to see what happens now that i hear what you said.
Lymebytes, My breathing is weak, because my system is weak, I think also possiby because I still have the flu? I dont know, hope you try it, get it over with and see how you do, especially if you have the Bartonella.
Trish
Posts: 1250 | From Canada | Registered: Aug 2004
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