Hi UBTough,
It was quite a few years ago that I started the antibiotics now, and I was to only take them for 10 days to kill off my unhealthy flora starting before 2 weeks of FMT infusions so I didn't do the ramp-up and I didn't have any side effects but I think the dose was a little lower than that used for long-term treatment (I'm sorry I can't remember the dose but it was still quite high). I will say that these are not like normal antibiotics, I usually have a terrible reaction to antibiotics also, I nearly had to go to hospital once after taking a single amoxil because the diarrhoea was so severe that I started bleeding profusely from a tear. But I responded to these antibiotics within days, it felt completely different, my bleeding stopped, my stool became formed and I essentially went into remission and felt very "strong", you know that feeling you get where you know you can eat anything and be fine.
Rifabutin is the one that can cause side effects I think, raised liver enzymes and nausea etc? I think that tends to be the one that they ramp up. They'll monitor you closely and the side effects can always be managed by either ramping up slower or taking something until your body adjusts. Clofazamine is a dye and can cause pink sweat and urine I think but in the scheme of things that ain't so bad, maybe just don't have white sheets or wear white t-shirts when it's hot outside
. Plus side, I've seen some people get a really nice golden tan! Personally I wouldn't bother with a probiotic, the half life of the drugs are quite long I think so they'll be in your system between doses rendering the probiotic useless, but maybe check with your doc to see there's not something you could take. Perhaps you could do what I did and have a fecal transplant afterwards?