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Turkey Hunter

Turkey Hunter

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 11, 2001
Messages
799
Location
The Great Buckeye State
Hey everyone, I am curious as to anyone's experience or knowledge of a drug called "Rifampin".

My Gp is prescribing this to me. He is very sure that I am a carrier of strep throat. I have a long history of the problem and I was diagnosed a couple of weeks ago with it again. He prescribed the "Z-Pack" antibiotics and the soreness went away and I feel great. He then asked me to have another throat culture and of course, it came back positive for the strep.

When they called tonight they first wanted me on two days of the new drug. As I began to ask questions of possible side effects and any reaction with my current meds or heart surgery, the nurse put me on hold then came back lowering the amount to one day. The only side effect she mentioned to me was it would turn my tears and urine orange.

Sounds pretty strong to me. I will e-mail my cardio in the morning, but was just curious as to all of your input.

Thanks guys and God Bless,

Ben
 
hi ben!
wow! too bad about the strep; that's no good!
have you tried asking your pharmacist or looking rifampin up on the web? orange urine and tears, huh?
i used to take sulfa drugs for uti's and they would also turn my urine bright orange.( i no longer take them, developed a severe allergy to them).
hope you get some answers. please let us know, i'm curious.
good luck and be well,
sylvia
 
Hey Ben

Sorry to hear it. Have your kids been down with strep? They are the 'true' carriers.

Wish I could help you out with the antibiotic. Sounds like it will knock it out without a doubt!

Blebs had a great point about the liver. Make sure you inquire about an enzyme level if you choose to take it.


As for Zithromax......that stuff never works on me. Whatever I have goes underground, like in your case...returns with a vengeance.

Response in my experience with the strep....better served on a penicillin based drug.

Keep us posted.
 
Well, now we know why you keep coming down with strep. And perhaps you can get it cleared up with this med - or another. Am sure your dr will do as good as possible for you. But check out ALL meds before you take, as I am dealing with a real problem because of my brother's rx of a horrible medicine. And we just didn't know to look it up. God bless
 
Hi Ben-

After reading about this med. it sounds as if this could knock out just about anything. They're keeping you on a short course anyway, right?

Kill those bugs, kill those bugs.
 
Re: refampin(rifadin)

Re: refampin(rifadin)

Ben, I'm interested to know the specialty of the MD who prescribed for you. I know the antibiotic as one that has been used for tuberculosis and occasionally for prophylaxis of meningococcus. Never heard of it being used for strep. A short course would probably do no harm but before I would take it I would check with an infectious disease specialist. This drug can have severe side effects.You want an internist with special interest and qualification in infectious diseases and antibiotics. All the best.
 
Thanks for al the responses

Thanks for al the responses

My GP is not an MD however, he is a DO.
His speciality in Family Medicine.
He said he did consult with an Infectious Disease guy. who changed the scrip amount to four days.

I actually got a call from my GP today and he did not seem to like the idea of me not just doing what I am told.
I told him I would be happy to take the med following an OK from my cardio. I just feel as if I can't be too carefull.

Thanks again,

Ben
 
Ben, yes please be careful. I am really surprised a DO prescribed that med. They usually want to go the conventional an or natural route.

I will tell you this.....only because we have met and I feel I can be upfront. Get yourself a regular GP, MD.

I was treated by a DO up in Chicago. He deemed my 'heart murmur' as nothing more than mild MVP. Well....we all know that was not the case. Wasn't' until transferring to Memphis and changing doctors that this was picked up. 6 months in between and I was looking at OHS.

Take care my friend.
 
Congratulations on getting a REAL phone call from your dr.

As to doing what you are told, I would take offense at that one, too. When it comes to meds, they can take a rotten toll sometimes and that's why we ALL should look them up on the net and get all side effects. And if you don't like the side effects, object. I am living with proof with my brother because of bad side effects that are permanent. Not saying you should not do this, just investigate first.

As to those coccus bacteria, they can stick around if not gotten rid of so you just has to makes yo choice here. Please let us know. God bless
 
Nasty Stuff!

Nasty Stuff!

Darn it, Ben. Sorry to hear about the nasty stuff inside of you and outside too! Sounds like the remedy is just as nasty!

Hang in there, and let us know how you are.

Heart-buddy regards,

PerryA
 
You may endup with orange contact lenses

You may endup with orange contact lenses

This information is from :
http://www.wholehealthmd.com/print/view/1,1560,DR_545,00.html
<P><FONT COLOR="#CC0000"><B><U>Special Concerns</U></B></FONT>
Rifampin can lower your white blood cell count and the number of
platelets in your blood, temporarily increasing the risk of
infection, slowing healing, and making your gums more susceptible to
bleeding. Try to delay dental work until after therapy.
<FONT COLOR="#FF0000"><B>Soft contact lenses may become permanently
discolored.</B></FONT> Oral contraceptives containing estrogen may be
ineffective during use.</P>

<P>Just be careful and let us know if this medication worked.

Jack.</P>
 
Re: Fighting bacteria...

Re: Fighting bacteria...

Jessica_B. said:
Hi Ben,

I am actually surprised he prescribed such a potent antibiotic... When it comes to fighting bacteria and the use of antibiotics, the big guns (i.e. very strong antibiotics) should not be used unless there is a serious problem.
/Jessica
:D
Click to expand...

Actually, if left untreated, streptococci (Strep throat) infections can cause Rheumatic fever...which in turn can cause serious, debilitating damage to the heart.

Therefore, for any valve replacement patient, strep is not something to be toyed with, thus the aggressive treatment, especially if Ben has had previous infections.

Hey, are there any other members of the ross-procedure mail list that hang out here? I recognize Ben Smith, was curious if there are others. Today is the first time I've been at this site.

Regards.
Cary Mader
 
Welcome Cary

Welcome Cary

Glad to see you found us here Cary. (By the way, if I knew you were in Scottsdale, I would have stopped to see you when we had our VR.com reunion out there last April)

As far as my med goes, I did get the OK from my cardio and went ahead and took the four days worth of Rifampin.
NASTY stuff. It made me feel horrible the whole time I was on the stuff. No hunger, or desire to do anything. Difficult to work or enjoy the family even.

I have to go in for another throat culture in about 1.5 weeks.

We'll see if this has worked.

P.S. Yes, an infectious disease guy was consulted prior to me taking anything.

Ben
 
Re: Welcome Cary

Re: Welcome Cary

Sorry I missed it...I surely would have gone had I known.

BTW, I was at the pharmacy last night and picked up a prescription...and was flipping through a prescription drug reference next to the pick-up window. Rifampin was described as a drug to treat tuberculosis...which seemed rather interesting. In some cases its used against leprosy as well. So it must be rather nasty.

Hope you get the strep cleared up. I'm having a hard time getting rid of a sinus infection myself.

Cary



Ben Smith said:
Glad to see you found us here Cary. (By the way, if I knew you were in Scottsdale, I would have stopped to see you when we had our VR.com reunion out there last April)

As far as my med goes, I did get the OK from my cardio and went ahead and took the four days worth of Rifampin.
NASTY stuff. It made me feel horrible the whole time I was on the stuff. No hunger, or desire to do anything. Difficult to work or enjoy the family even.

Ben
Click to expand...
 
Cary....

Cary....

Had I arrived this morning on a turnip truck I would not have known that infections need to be treated vigorously in people with valve disease... But I do have considerable experience in just how bad you get if an infection goes to the heart since I have a new heart to show for it...

My point was that this drug is used to treat tuberculosis which makes it somewhat less potent than vancomycin. In my book such treatment needs to be warranted and supervised by a doctor skilled in the field of infectious diseases. If it supervised and a very potent drug is prescribed then I would too take it. Just so that we understand each other.

/j.
 
Re: Cary....

Re: Cary....

Jessica_B. said:

If it supervised and a very potent drug is prescribed then I would too take it. Just so that we understand each other.

/j.
Click to expand...


I get the impression that you found my remarks offensive...if so, I apologize, I did not mean to imply that you in any way were uneducated regarding bacterial infections. My mother (the nurse) always beats me over the head with the strep thing whenever I mention I have a sore throat.

And I just found the information I read regarding Rifampin to be rather interesting...I wasn't trying to be critical of the physician who prescribed it...or Ben Smith for taking it.

Besides, it's not everyday you see a drug that's used for TB & leprosy.

Sorry, I'll shut up now.

Cary
:eek:
 
Jack, you brought up a good point about antibiotics and birth controls. My gdaughter has a wonderful little girl, born July 3, 2001 - because her pharmacist forgot to tell her that the antibiotics can negate the birth control. Just thought all you folks of childbearing age ought to know this so you don't get surprised like my gdtr did. They weren't ready, but got a wonderful result as this is such a great little one. God bless:)
 
antibiotics yet again...

antibiotics yet again...

I have had an analphylactic shock due to antibiotics so I feel quite strongly about them. On the other hand vancomycin was used to save my life when I got a resistant strain of pneumococciae bacteria. I have relied quite heavily on antibiotics to keep me alive since 1994, especially now when I have an impaired immune system and my body not being able to ward of infection on its own. All infections (if bacterial) should of course be treated appropriately with the right kind of antibiotic so that adding to the problem of strains turning resistant is avoided but of course also so that you do not get yourself into trouble with your own health.

/j.
 
Hensylee...

Hensylee...

I can imagine the shock of the parents but like you said, such a wonderful outcome anyway :) . Children are such a blessing -- my sister had her first child on Christmas Day 2000 and I love that little one above all
:D .

ALl my best,

/jessica
 
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