posted
I took my first 150mg pill today in the evening and had biaxin 500mg earlier today as my protocal per my llmd.
I have been taking biaxin for almost 8 months and took rifampin.
After about half an hour of taking it i started feeling dizzy, confused and just out of it. Then hour later when i ate i was somewhat ok.
What can i expect from this medicine and my road ahead from your experience?
-------------------- May God Bless you, answer your prayers, relieve you of your pain and make you stronger than what you are today. Ameen. Posts: 341 | From Columbia, MD | Registered: Jan 2009
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
It took me about a month to get used to Rifampin. At first it caused alot of dizziness, vertigo, and nausea. These side effects were unbearable.
When I told my LLMD, he recommended taking the Rifampin with food. That helped. After a couple weeks I was able to take it with less food then on an empty stomach.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
I had the same experience for the first month along with horrendous herxing. It cleared up and turned out to be the best ABX so far for me. Rifampin is great stuff.
Posts: 501 | From Cleveland Ohio | Registered: Apr 2009
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Haley
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Member # 22008
posted
I felt like I was having a heart attack after two weeks on this stuff. My blood pressure went way up and I had severe chest pain. I probably should have started on a lower dose. I also was unable to sleep because my sleep meds were not working.
I had to stop taking it.
Posts: 2232 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2009
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As a side effect does any one get burning sensation while going to bathroom to pee? I had that this morning and went away after a while.
Just wondering if that will be continous or willg o away gradually.
-------------------- May God Bless you, answer your prayers, relieve you of your pain and make you stronger than what you are today. Ameen. Posts: 341 | From Columbia, MD | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
Took me 3 weeks to get used to it, I recommend taking it before bed time (that way you dont feel sides) and away from other abx (hardest part)
Posts: 856 | From MA | Registered: Jul 2009
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Starfall1969
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Member # 17353
posted
I had a lot of nausea and dizziness at first with it as well.
I started taking it with food till I got used to it, now I'm okay with little or no food.
However, I reflux really bad if I take it on an empty stomach, so I still try to eat some pretzels or something.
Posts: 1682 | From Dillsburg, PA | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
Rifampin's potency will be reduced by up to 40% when taken with food per my pharmacist and the hand out that comes with it. That said I am sure it is more important to get the med. in some how if you cannot tolerate it on an empty stomach.
I had all of the symptoms with this abx in the beginning. I herxed for a few months off and on. I had the best improvements on it for Bartonella. I had to treat twice with it as when I went off I did relaps with Bart symptoms. I am about to come off it again and try Factive to kick the last of my Bart. symptoms for good (fingers crossed!!!!!)
Posts: 476 | From Columbus, Ohio | Registered: Aug 2007
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lymeinhell
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4622
posted
Most protocols call for 300mg twice a day and that is the dose you'll get responses for. Although starting on a smaller dose makes sense as many (including myself) need to slowly ramp it up. Brain buzz and dizziness (and a rash) were common for me. But it worked. Been off all abx almost 5 years.
-------------------- Julie _ _ ___ _ _ lymeinhell
Blessed are those who expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed. Posts: 2258 | From a better place than I was 11 yrs ago | Registered: Sep 2003
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How long were you guys on rifampin for to see improvement? Months days years?
-------------------- May God Bless you, answer your prayers, relieve you of your pain and make you stronger than what you are today. Ameen. Posts: 341 | From Columbia, MD | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
I was on Rifampin = 300 mg x 2 day for 8 months the first time and now 9 months again. I am hoping it did the trick this time too.
Lymeinhell did you treat other co-infections too while on the Rifampin and how long did you treat to get rid of it for good?
I saw improvement right away in heart symptoms with in days. Then I herxed with increased anxiety for awhile = a month and then that improved. I saw the most improvements by the 4th month and more each month after that. I was taking it with Zith as well as treating Babs and Lyme too.
Posts: 476 | From Columbus, Ohio | Registered: Aug 2007
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lymeinhell
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posted
I spent about 9 mos on Rifampin, along with low dose Flagyl. Treatment of other co-infections wasn't needed, although I did do extensive detoxing and parasite treatment. And since I have 6 pets, I continue with both periodically.
Some docs think Rifampin is a two-for, hitting Bart and Lyme. Not sure about that, but it worked for me. Hope you have the same success.
-------------------- Julie _ _ ___ _ _ lymeinhell
Blessed are those who expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed. Posts: 2258 | From a better place than I was 11 yrs ago | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
Here is the dilemma with rifampin -it upregulates certain enzymes in liver which makes it metabolize faster, that causes all drugs metabolized by liver be less effective.
I am not sure how bad this effect is, Rifampin has 5-6 hours half life so to have constant concentration you have to take it 2 times a day at min (better 3) , but because of this upregulation effect I am not sure. Seems like burascano advocates actually once a day dose
I am taking it away from doxy atm, but not sure about it since doxy HL is ~20h and I have to take all 600 mg of doxy at once
Posts: 856 | From MA | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
I took mine all at once ---- first thing in the a.m. There are a lot of meds. that interact with Rifampin too. Many say it is important to have the spike in blood level concentrations to kill more too.
Posts: 476 | From Columbus, Ohio | Registered: Aug 2007
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