Rifampin...very low dose

I am taking 75 mg (opening up a 150 mg and taking about half) of Rifampin every other day. On the opposite day I am taking 1 Zithromax/day.

Prior to this regimen, I tried taking one full Rifampin and immediately felt the herx for 4 days. So, I was told to NOT take the Rif and instead take just Zith alone...I could only tolerate every other day (did this for 2 months ) and had plenty of herxing. Started to feel very slight improvement and then dr s aid to add in the half dose every other day of Rif.

I took the first (half) dose Saturday night and within hours felt shin pain, hand and foot pain, nerve pain in the back of my neck. Last night took the Zith. Today feeling super anxious, super dizzy and EXTREME fatigue (also dealing with prolonged perimenopausal bleeding at the moment, which is not helping!)

Anyway, the dr says I seem to be on the bottom side of the "S" curve...I don't know what this means, but I am assuming this means that less is more in my case.

Can I possibly get well at such low doses?? I honestly can't imagine taking any more than this, since I can barely function now and have to go to work every day....

you need to work yourself up. i couldn't take 100mg doxy 2x/day when starting to treat bart so went to 50mg 2x/day until i could. my wife is on some lyme herb and she can only tolerate 1 drop 2x/day when she should ultimately be on 15 drops 2x/day.

to control symptoms you really need to focus on the inflammation response aka cytokine cascade. any anti-inflammatories along with detoxing should help here. if you haven't had your methylation checked (MTHFR gene) you probably should it'll help understand whether you need some supplements (or not).

I'd try to increase over time if I were you, that's a pretty low dose.
I weigh 20 lbs more than you and am taking 16x the daily amount you are.

Im in the same boat. Every time i try to kill bart Im left suicidal and panic attacks. Im currently weaning off houtt as i feel like death. So sad and scared

jennydancingfish....I feel so bad when I read your post. Did you attempt alternative treatment for bartonella?

The other option might be to try Bactrim for Bart with azithro.
Maybe you can use it to get the bacterial load down and then after hit it with rifampin.

Just beware one riisk of Bactrim is Steven Johnson syndrome...but it's rare.

Thanks for the info girlie!

Cheryl felice have you tried Byron White A bart or Beyond Balance?

Hi arterimix we switched to cowden houttuynia but the same thing happened. I am super suicidal panic attacky today. Im going to stop taking it. Llmd cant see me for another three weeks. I dont know whats wrong with me im very sad and scared.

Honestly i just want the panic attacks and suicidality to ease

Girlie dont wory about that pulsing is actually working extremely well in the northeastern lyme trials

Jenny baby doses of zanax and lots of holy basil with mucuna bean has save my life ...the more that bee venom works the less anxiety i have also ..it aint for the faint

Yes, Jenny he does. What I've read about Dr. J. I like. His history with treating AIDS patients...that's where he started the idea of pulsing.

He seems to be very knowledgeable and works hard to get his patients well.

Yes to the bee venom therapy ...holy basil is a adaptogenic herbs used to calm anxiety ..the mucuna bean is a source of dopamine as is the venom...and since our guts dont make any more we really need it ...planetary herbs has holy basil ..and biotics has a good mucuna extract called dopatropic ...i am trying to wean off the xanax ...let me know if i can help ..the bees are cheep and easy ..you need a few things to start ...