HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Rifampin Reaction; Rifampin + Alcohol

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/28/2012 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
I have early Lyme and am on 200 mg Doxy BID and 300 mg Rifampin BID. I have three questions:

1). I am going on vacation next week and would like to have a glass of wine with dinner. Why can't one have alcohol with rifampin? When I drink, I "feel it" after only a half glass of wine (I only weigh 115) so if I have a half glass what is going to happen when taking rifampin?

2). My doctor said to start with one rifampin per day and see if I tolerate it and work my way up to two per day. Why?

3). How would I know if I did not tolerate rifampin? (I forgot and have already taken two (12 hours apart) and just feel a little fuzzy or sleepy and I feel like I have a lump in my throat when I swallow. Should I be concerned?

Thanks.

Hoosierlyme
Posted 7/28/2012 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi hoosierlyme,

It is recommended that you not use alcohol while taking rifampin because the drug is very hard on your liver. Alcohol increases the chances of liver damage.

Many Lyme Literate doctors suggest gradually working up to the full dose of medication. This is to allow your body time to cope with the bacterial die off caused by the antibiotics. If the toxins from this die off accumulate faster than your body can deal with it, you will notice flu-like symptoms and a general increase in symptoms.

Everybody handles this process differently, there is no telling how you will handle it. Make sure to get lots of rest, drink plenty of water. You could read the section on detoxing in the "New to Lyme?" thread at the top of the forum.

Enjoy your vacation -- perhaps you can think of a different "treat" instead of the wine. There will be plenty of time to enjoy your wine after your treatment is over.
Posted 7/29/2012 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
You might be able to work up with rifampin easier than some folks. My daughter seems to be tolerating it at full strength for her age/size.  I on the otherhand had to gradually work up to this drug. For about one month I got sick (vomiting) after I took it. I gradually worked up and now its not a problem (been on it for nearly 5 months).

As far as alcohol, beware.  This is tough on the liver.  Bart is especially tough on the spleen and liver. try not to compromise the healing process.

I had a tough time with rifampin and the dieoff from bart initially. I especially had  the brain fog and dizziness. discussing this with my LLMD, she put me on glutathione and things cleared up and my healing seemed to accelerate.  I doing so much better now...You might want to ask your LLMD about this also,

Rifampin is a very effective drug for Bart. I'd suggest to give it a chance if you can...

Hang in there

Posted 7/29/2012 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
I was VERY worried to start rifampin last month because of liver issues . I have had high enzymes that were unexplained (on and off meds). I was having an incredibly difficult time lowering my enzymes despite staying off everything and doing aggressive liver detox.

Eventually when my enzymes were not responding, my doctor decided to restart meds cautiously. Doxy halved my enzymes and Rifampin got them into the normal range for the first time which was shocking. We'll see how long it stays like that..........

Personally, having had elevated liver enzymes that severely compromised my treatment (I had to go off all meds and started rapidly getting worse), I would not risk drinking ANY amount of alcohol.

Rifampin can be rough. I started on 300mg once per day for a week and then doubled it to 600mg once per day. I got pretty flu-like and then really tired with increased pain. Nothing unbearable though. I haven't seen any improvement yet but my glutathione IV seems to be having an increased positive effect which may be a sign of improvement.

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply