Rifampin w/Alcohol Tinctures

I don't have Lyme but I am using rifampin for something else, in combination with some other antibiotics. My signature details them. I started on 300mg rifampin 2x daily. It's intense and I am having mega die off. The reason for not starting low and ramping up is because I am dealing with mycobacteria which develop resistance quickly, so it's recommended you start with everything at full dose.

I'm aware of the risks of alcohol with rifampin... but I'm wondering how this applies to taking herbal tinctures? Specifically, I really want to take some milk thistle tincture to shield my liver from the harsh effects of the drugs and die off, but I'm concerned that even the alcohol of the tincture could be a problem. Can anyone speak to this? I know a lot of people use herbs around here.

My other question is if liver support like taking glutathione pills could help?

Connor77 said...
So I really shouldn't have even the tiniest amount of alcohol?

That's up to you - how strict you want to be. The reason is because Rifampin can be hard on the liver.
Are you getting monthly liver function tests while you're on the Rifampin?

Interestingly - when I was on lyme antibiotics (no rifampin) - my liver enzymes started to climb - had to take a
2 1/2 month break.
Then once they normalized, I went on Rifampin plus another antibiotic and my enzymes stayed good and have been ever since.

I would try the tinctures in the hot water - sitting for awhile...

Also - if that's the only tincture you're taking - it will be a very small amount of alcohol. Probably negligible.

Many of us are taking several tinctures 3X day.

The Rifampin has a relatively short half-life - 3-4 hours.

So if you take the Rifampin once a day...in the morning...the Milk Thistle could be takin in the evening.

If Riffy taken twice daily...then maybe take the MT in the middle of the day.

ccc-better said...
I think I looked at more than the half life. It was more about time to peak blood level and the difference between the two.

I was looking at it from the P450 issue, so my aim was to have one peak get through that before the next peak hit. I didn't want to two drugs (rifampin and herbs) interfering with each other.

I'm so sorry, i really can't remember which way around it was though.

And it's all very theoretical in that we all process things at different rates anyway. All these medical data are just statistics from a sample group.

oh okay - you weren't concerned with liver damage...but if one was inhibiting or enhancing due to P450?