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what should I expect w/rifampin?

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Posted 9/26/2018 10:54 PM (GMT -5)
Hi, this is my 1st EVER, to use rifampin. Im still on Alinia, and temporarily ceased Doxy. Anyway, will rifampin increase leg pain, muscle pain, joint aching etc? Does it cause heartburn or bad herxes? What was your experience w/rifampin?

But now that I think about it...y-all will likely say it depends on the individual-LOL!!!
Posted 9/27/2018 1:54 AM (GMT -5)
First - it should be taken on an empty stomach. Your pee will turn a burnt orange color.


I usually take it and eat about 1/2 hour to 45 mins. later (although one hour is better)


I actually can't remember what I felt when I first went on it....I think I had an uptick in my nerve pain...as I usually do when I herx... no matter what the treatment is.


I did 'lose' a lot of symptoms on it. I took it mostly with minocycline.
What is your Alinia schedule?
(You should be taking something daily with the Rifampin - like mino, or azithromycin, or biaxin...ceftin...etc)
Posted 9/27/2018 2:04 AM (GMT -5)
I didn’t get heartburn from it
Posted 9/27/2018 10:16 AM (GMT -5)
I had a mild herx for a few weeks on it. It was some mild joint pain and connective tissue soarness, especially after any exertion. This lasted about 4 weeks but i did herx a little on bartonella herbs prior to the rifampin so it may have lightened the load. My herx from the herbs was predominantly anxiety
Posted 9/28/2018 10:12 AM (GMT -5)
Rifampin has been good for me. It made joint pain and depression better. I quit it to do homeopathic remedies, but I am seriously considering going back to it. It is pretty rough on you at first. I had some pretty bad malaise with it. And you have to watch your liver. I had liver pain when getting used to it. But if you're diligent to detox, you should be okay. It's give or take though. Some people take it and do well. Some people take it and have the worst herxes of their life. Wishing you the best! Don't be afraid to go low and slow for a while. Honestly, the Alinia was way worse for me.
Posted 9/28/2018 5:09 PM (GMT -5)
Aren't you supposed to combine the Rfampin with the Minocycline?

Is it acceptable to ingest the Rifampin together with a breakfast devoid of calcium? I don't feel comfortable ingesting abx on an empty stomach...

And is it okay to pulse the Rifampin/Minocycline combo? Let's say M/W/F ?

Post Edited (insomniaaa) : 9/28/2018 4:17:35 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/28/2018 5:29 PM (GMT -5)

insomniaaa said...
Aren't you supposed to combine the Rfampin with the Minocycline?

Is it acceptable to ingest the Rifampin together with a breakfast devoid of calcium? I don't feel comfortable ingesting abx on an empty stomach...

And is it okay to pulse the Rifampin/Minocycline combo? Let's say M/W/F ?

Rifampin is typically taken alongside a macrolide or tetracycline

Rifampin has to be taken on an empty stomach, at least 45 minutes before a meal
Posted 9/28/2018 5:51 PM (GMT -5)

insomniaaa said...
Aren't you supposed to combine the Rfampin with the Minocycline?

Is it acceptable to ingest the Rifampin together with a breakfast devoid of calcium? I don't feel comfortable ingesting abx on an empty stomach...

And is it okay to pulse the Rifampin/Minocycline combo? Let's say M/W/F ?

Yes. But 1/2 hour to 45 minutes apart is fine. I would take Rifampin first....then 45 mins later eat my breakfast (or dinner) and then take minocycline. Minocycline can cause Throat issues for me.

Yes, you can take rifampin with a meal if you must - you just won't absorb quite as much.
I didn't find the Rifampin upset my tummy. Have you tried it?

Maybe discuss with your LLMD.
Posted 9/28/2018 7:34 PM (GMT -5)
I took it for about 6 months. Rifampin is very, very strong. I split the powder in the capsules into two and started low and slow. I am very medicine sensitive.

It takes a few days to kick in, but once it did, it really kicked my butt. My symptoms got really, really bad. Herx was horrible. Headaches, nerve pain, weakness in the legs, vision problems. Joint pain. I was in a lot of pain.

But after a few days, the symptoms started to dissipate. Then, I began to feel soooo good. Almost normal. Maybe it was because of how bad I had felt the prior days, but it felt so good. I began to sing in the shower again, I began to smile and tell jokes like my old self. It was as if they had lifted a huge load off of my shoulders.

It got rid of a lot of symptoms that Clarithromycin and Amoxicillin could not get rid of. It has been one of the nest medicines that I have taken.
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