Questions for KB

Hi KB

Thank you for the thoughtful, uplifting, caring posts on my anxiety thread. You are so sweet!

I was wondering who prescribes your Valium? LLMD or psych doc? What dose do you take? How many times a day do you need to take it if you are feeling very anxious?

Can you tell me more about your herx on rifampin? Was it 150 mgs? How did you feel on 300 mgs? Did you herx again? How did you end up in the ER?

I know many on here take 600 mgs of rifampin! Maybe you just need to work up to that dose slowly.

I'm jealous that you have a LLMD appt coming up. Mine isn't until January. They always make me feel better at my appts.

Good luck starting Travelers Hooch!

child not asleep yet . . .but I can probably respond.

My llmd prescribed me the valium when I asked them I take 5 mg pills. I have been able to get by once a day- and pretty infrequently. At the peak of the anxiety I was taking them maybe 2 or 3 times a week, then after treatment once a week, then down to once every three weeks, once a month, etcetera. At the end of treatment I was like less than once a month. Then when the anxiety crept back in I was up to 2 times a wek. Sometimes even 1/2 a pill helps.
Ask your llmd and they will prescribe it for you.


When I went to the ER, it was because I thought my tongue was swelling up and that I was having an allergic reaction to the rifampin! It was my first rifampin. I took a small dose, went to pick up my kid from school, drove him to a store and had the most intense panic attack in the store- scariest thing ever. Had to drive home 15 mins with my kid. Got home. called my husband and took a valium. Husband came home and I felt that my tongue was swelling up and I called the llmd- they said take a Benadryl and if it doesn't change in 20 mins go to the ER! So I went to the ER and they said I Was fine.

Then with the rifampin for the next few days I just felt really sick- like sickest I have ever been, and more anxious for a while - I can't remember for how long. the slowly over a week or two things started to clear though I remained anxious for many more months, but not as intense. But still even on the rifampin I had lots of panic attacks for maybe a couple of months. I forget the timeline. Just that I was worse than before I started treatment for many months of treatment including after the rifampin for a few months. But the first couple days were the worst, then couple weeks pretty bad. etcetera.

I like our llmd but oh man I hate how much they cost! My husband and I wonder how they can charge us that much! And it is supposed to be stormy again so we may have to do a phone consult again- I hope we can actually see them in person.
I am glad they make you feel better. I think they are a really good practice and you are in good hands.

I hope you feel better soon. Didn't you say that when you started treatment things got worse, but then it eased up when you changed meds? And has your current awful feeling come recently since you started the rifampin?

that is hopeful and good that things changed so much when you switched meds, so it indicates it is probably the meds doing it. Hopefully the rifampin will be so good for you soon!