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@beatitnow

Hi everyone. This is Amy. I wrote a couple weeks ago saying I was starting on Clarithromycin last week, and I started on Rifampin this week. (@katemn...I started on this one because I have to get my baseline vision test this week before I start Ethambutol). So, my first day of Rifampin was yesterday (Monday), I took it at 6:00am. At 1:15 am this morning (Tuesday) I had a pretty bad headache...I managed to get a little more sleep, but I still have the headache this morning. Questions:

1) Has anyone else had a headache as a side effect of Rifampin?
2) If so, did that side effect go away after your body adjusted to the medicine?
3) I just called Walgreens to see if I am okay taking Tylenol or Naproxen. My head usually responds better to Naproxen. They said I was okay taking it short term. Did anyone else have to take either Tylenol or Naproxen for a little while on the 3 drugs?

Thank you for your help, if you can! Amy

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Replies to "Hi everyone. This is Amy. I wrote a couple weeks ago saying I was starting on..."

I did not have headaches that I recall from the meds.  Before and while on the antibotics I  did however take 2 extra strength tylenol almost daily for unexplained fevers.  I now am able to take 1 aleve (Naproxen I believe) for my fevers instead of the tylenol  (and still on the antibotics)  I feel it might help me better with any joint aches if I have them.  So not sure why the pharmacist seemed to indicate they are okay for short term, unless it's just they are harsh on your stomach.

Hi Amy, this is Kathi. Yes, i did get terrible headaches in the beginning, but they've mostly subsided after about a month. I'm now on the 3 meds about 2 1/2 months. Nausea is mostly gone now , and i did lose about 12 pounds. I find the worst part now is fatigue. I'm not used to it as i've always been so active. My doctor said that may get some better as time goes on. I had a good- sized mass on the right lung two months ago that my doctor suspected was a glob of MAC, but when i got the second CT scan after two months, it was about two thirds gone, so no biopsy is necesary. She and my husband and I are so happy with that news. It sure was a rough ride in the beginning, but my advise to any one is don't give up. It does get better. I'm living proof! Oh yes, I took tylanol for headaches. It worked pretty well. Kathi(21042)

Yes, Aleve is Naproxyn, and anti-inflammatory...I take for my RA...works very well, and not quite as hard on the bod as Tylenol. I also take something for the stomach to keep acid reflux away...