Rimpapin herxing?

[pathfinder]

My ds17 has been on Rimpapin for last 10 days for Bartonella. I know I am going to give it a full chance and ride it out as much as I can but my ds is really suffering since day one of starting this medication. My ds had many symptoms of pandas+bartonella over the years but one thing he did not have was depression( he forgave himself very easily while he could not do that to others hence holding grudge OCD )but since the Rimpapin he started to express his regrets over how he had lived his life. He wished he could go back in time and relive high school years but he also said that he was feeling that way because he was actually getting better. I had nothing to add there as I felt that it was his due to pay growing pain which he missed out by focusing on OCD ( my little revenge to all his OCDs) but he took a bad turn in couple of days into Rimpa.

He became very sad and depressed and I still did not make connection with Rimpa and his emotional state until early this week.

 

He and I went up to NY to attend one of his prospective college open house last few days and since I was with him almost 24hrs I noticed that he was sweating a lot even in chilly up state weather and his eyes sometime turned orange color. He hyperventilated and almost fainted 2 times.

orange urination

orange eyes/ red face

sweating, depression ( regrets), and weep in that order.

 

He said that he could not take this misery anymore but when I asked him if he wanted to stop Rimpa, he said "no"

he wants to get better so he would not have another regret in next 4 years.( good sign, I think)

Is this that infamous herxing I often heard about?

How long does it last?

He is on only half of his targeted dose and I am afraid to make it full strength.

I have Dr appt in next Monday but I am too anxious to wait so I would appreciate your input very much.

If that was herxing, does that mean this med is right for him? How do we know differences between herxing and regular medication side effect?

thank you in advance

[ShaesMom]

I think you need to call his Doctor and let him/her know how your son is behaving ASAP. Depression can lead to more serious thoughts/actions.

[MichaelTampa]

I think the orange is more just simply a common side effect of that drug, rather than herxing. But yes, the emotional stuff is very likely part of the herxing. Whatever the herx, it is a sign that it's working which is good, and it's a matter of managing the level of it to make sure it is bearable and not causing permanent harm. The hyperventilating, sweating, almost fainting, gosh, that is tricky, I don't know about that one. Have you read the common side effects they list for rifampin?

[lismom]

My son had horrible herxing with the first 2 or 3 weeks of rifampin. He is 14 and had his depression kicked into high gear. Bart is notorious for depression. It was hard to live through those first weeks but things are not as bad now. It has been 2 months on rifampin. His stretch mark rash has blown up over his lower back. This confirmed to me that alot is going on. The orange color is the rifampin. however, I would call doc about the fainting and other symptoms. It could be the lyme kicking up as well. my son had those symptoms at the very beginning of the illness 2 yrs ago before he was diagnosed. They have not returned, but he did have them. But check about rifampin side effects just in case.

[sf_mom]

The sweating, lightheadedness... can also indicate Babesia. You might check on him while he is sleeping to see if he has night sweats. Or, he could be flair'ing with hormonal shift causing him to be over heated. Like hot flashes, plus.... I would document everything to report to your Dr. I too believe the weepiness is associated with a herx response.

 

For me, the first 3 weeks into a new antibiotic have been awful, the next three weeks mostly bad days with a few good mixed in, thereafter I hit a stride and feel much, much better.

 

Plan on it being rough for a while.

[pathfinder]

Thank you all

All of my ds's symptoms were listed as rifampin 's side effects, one as more serious than the others but side effects all the same. I took him out to lunch today and again watched him very closely all day ready to rush him into emergency room if he were showing any sign of serious side effects but he was doing fine other than excessive sweating. I wonder his strange behaviors ( depression and weeping )were due to long plane ride flying from LAX to Chicago and to Rochester back and force within 5days. I read it somewhere that lyme gets stimulated and activated on high altitude. It seems that the worst herxing/side effect period is passing. ( crossing my finger here ) thank you for your help

pathfinder

[KaraM]

Have you done anything for detoxification? Epsom salt baths? Milk Thistle? Charcoal? I'm pretty new to this, but my understanding is that as the disease is being treated and the bacteria die off, toxic die off cells are released into the blood ((I think this is what causes the herxing). You can help the body get rid of the waste using various detoxification methods. There are a lot of previous posts about detox on this forum.

 

Obviously, check with your doctor before adding anything to the protocol.

 

I do think some of the things you mentioned that are side effects of the drug are also symptoms of Bartonella - so this has got to be very conusing. I'm so sorry.

 

Best wishes,

Kara

[pathfinder]

Can you please all come back and answer one more question?

My ds has a significantly swollen gland on his neck today.

I am thinking rifampin is fighting bartonella in full force. ( I put him on full dose starting yesterday)

Do you think there is other reasons for ds's swollen lymph nod other than I mentioned above?

We could not do detox while away from home but we resumed benito clay (thank you sfmom) regime yesterday and I believe it is doing its job very well.

thank you

pathfinder

[pathfinder]

I just found this web page which describes herxing symptoms of antibiotics use in Lyme and co.

 

 

The Jarish Herxheimer reaction is seen when antibiotics are having a therapeutic effect. There can be a worsening in the symptoms, which may include the periostitis, and the psychiatric and cognitive symptoms. Some patients become very impulsive, aggressive, depressed, and suicidal during a Herxheimer reaction and may require close monitoring during these times.

 

from http://www.mentalhealthandillness.com/tnaold.html

 

I suppose it means my ds's depression is from rifamin herxing and the treatment is working.

pathfinder

Edited April 30, 2011 by pathfinder

[mama2alex]

It does sounds like a herx, but keep your doctor apprised of serious symptoms, ie depression and fainting. Don't forget the basics of detox - flushing the body out with LOTS of water (adding a lemon is good for detox) and exercise every day. Our LLMD recently added Burbur for detox when my son started herxing with Cipro - he was already taking several things for detox, but she felt he needed more. Sounds like you are on the right path and your son knows this intuitively.