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Unusual side effect of Rifampin
I have been taking the big three for about 6 months with very few side effects until two weeks ago. About 5 hours after taking my meds, my mouth broke out in what looked like blood blisters and over the next day or so I noticed unusual bruising on my arms and legs. I called my doctor, but this was not a side effect he had seen before. He ordered blood work which showed an extremely low platelet count. He took me off of Rifampin and within a week everything was back to normal. He would like for me to try it again in 2 or 3 weeks and if I have another bad reaction to it he will look at alternatives. Has anyone else experienced this and if so, what worked for you as a replacement for Rifampin? Needless to say, I am disappointed after having done so well for 6 months. Thanks for any input!
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@allegress...hi there...did you try taking Rifampin at 9:00 at night..Mayo Dr suggested this to sleep through symptoms
@Meghan123 My platelet count dropped to a dangerous level and I had blood blisters in mouth as well as unusual bruising and red dots. I had to off of it, but thanks for the suggestion.
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1 Reaction@tay4rake That's great! It gives me hope.
I was just taken off rifampin due to low platelets and petechiae and bleeding. I went off all 3 antibiotics for 2-3 weeks. My ID doctor wants me back on just azithromycin and ethambutol now. I feel like I&m having a return of night sweats and culls and cough so probably will do as she suggests and start back on 2. Has anyone had any experience with this plan of action?
I had thrombocytopenia from rifampin
It is possible to get a blood test to show drug dependent antibodies through Versiti labs
If present , it is dangerous to use rifampin ever again as drop in platelets can be rapid and severe. The test needs to be done quickly after stopping rifampin to avoid missing the antibodies
I have not specifically seen your bleeding issues, but I had a very hard time with Rifampin, starting and stopping several times during treatment in 2018/2019 due to nausea and other effects. Now I have learned that the dosage probably should have been adjusted when I was using it daily.
According to my ID doc, there is still a lot of discussion as to whether it really adds enough to the effectiveness of MAC treatment to offset the numerous side effects, If I ever need to go back to antibiotics, I am likely to request an alternative to rifampin.
Sue
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1 ReactionThanks sue and dulwich. Night sweats ended in relapse. I started back on 2 antibiotics. Still chasing a fever. Second vacation that has ended in bed. Feeling pretty down. Will send in sputum and do labs tomorrow.
My dr. Did not suggest that at the time but did order at least 15 labs. All came back “normal and a hematologist reviewed all. My platelets popped back to normal after 2 weeks off rifampin. So consensus was to not go back to rifampin. I will discuss that antibody lab when I see my ID doc in late may. She wants another platelet count in 2 weeks to see where they land. After starting back on azithromycin and ethambutol.