Rifampin appears to of petered out after 2 weeks

Switched from Zithro/Mepron to Cipro/Rifampin as my doctor thinks I might be fighting Bart. After only 2 days the chest issues subsided and were pretty good until the last few days its back to being bad. Yeah I know you'll all tell me you need more than 2 weeks to see continual progress but I know given my history when something starts/stops working it happens fairly quickly and stays that way. I was on Zithro/Mepron two times almost 6 months and I knew when I plateaued and stayed that way. Same thing with Cefdinir/Tinidazole was good for almost 2.5 months and then I just hit a wall.

I'll be on this combo at least another 2 weeks so I'll have a month to see the full picture. Maybe the doctor will add something to it for another month to get more data. Kinda annoyed as I can't seem to get the head or chest thing under control and herbs and such don't appear to be impacting it.

I'm taking 600mg once per day in morning on empty stomach. I take Cipro 500mg 2x per day the first I take with Rifampin. I probably need more time for it to work to see if I have in fact Bart. My primary head and chest symptoms the way I describe don't seem to fit any classic symptoms of Lyme, Babs or Bart which is frustrating to say the least.

Thanks Girlie. The research I came across from Dr. Ross in 2013 said rifampin decreases doxy and biaxin blood levels and I quote:

Rifampin-based Treatments: In these treatments Rifampin is the main effective ingredient. I combine Rifampin 300mg 2 pills 1 time a day with one of the following: minocycline 100mg 1 pill 2 times a day, bactrim DS 1 pill 2 times a day or azithromycin (Zithromax) 500mg 1 pill time a day. Doxycycline 100mg 1 or 2 2 times a day can be substituted for the minocycline, but rifampin decreases doxycycline levels in the blood. Clarithromycin (Biaxin) 500mg 1 pill 2 times a day can be substituted for azithromycin but rifampin also decreases clarithromycin blood levels.

Hopefully you will notice something in the upcoming weeks.

Are you sure it's not a herx?

Maybe discuss with him trying the Rifampin without the Cipro - maybe it was just too much?
They're not usually paired together - (I'm not an 'expert' - but just going on what I see here on the forum and on other 'blogs' on the internet, as well as several Dr.'s treatment protocols)

Are you talking about Dr. M.R. Tier 1 treatment?
He doesn't have them together:
Tier One

Rifampin-based Treatments. In these treatments Rifampin is the main effective ingredient. I combine Rifampin 300mg 2 pills 1 time a day with one of the following:

minocycline 100mg 1 pill 2 times a day,
bactrim DS 1 pill 2 times a day or
azithromycin (Zithromax) 500mg 1 pill time a day.
Doxycycline 100mg 1 or 2 2 times a day can be substituted for the minocycline, but rifampin decreases doxycycline levels in the blood. Clarithromycin (Biaxin) 500mg 1 pill 2 times a day can be substituted for azithromycin but rifampin also decreases clarithromycin blood levels.

Flouroquinolone-based Treatments. Flouroquinolones are a class of antibiotics that include a number of members like levofloxacin (Levaquin) and ciprofloxacin (Cipro). I combine levofloxacin 500mg time a day or rciprofloxacin 500mg 1 pill 2 times a day with one of the following:

minocycline 100mg 1 pill 2 times a day,
doxycyline 100mg 1 to 2 pills 2 times a day, or
bactrim ds 1 pill 2 times a day.
Clarithromycin and azithromycinare not used with flouroquinolones because together they may cause heart rhythm problems. Levofloxacinseems stronger than the ciprofloxacin.

Not only are the swollen/sore lymph nodes a sign of infection...but they are also a symptom of Bart in particular.

My worst constellation of symptoms (shoulder blade- sore/stiff, radiculopathy - upper back/left arm/hand/finger) also include a swollen and sore lymph node in the clavicle on my left side.

i also had one behind my ear on the right side.

BTW - I hope I haven't upset or angered you by questioning the rifampin/cipro combo....I'm sorry if I have.
It's because I am concerned about that combo being 'too harsh'...and don't want you to suffer.