Rifampin and Itching: What Users Say

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2025

For Tuberculosis, Latent "Really bad headaches the day after taking it and consistent nausea, dry heaves the next day. I've tried taking it in the morning, my nights and the next few days are horrible. I've tried taking it at night, the next day waking up vomiting. Not sure if I will continue this treatment. My skin is also quite itchy and more sensitive, no hives yet, but definitely itchy. This is only my third week of taking 900 mg every seven days. By the time the symptoms begin to subside, it is time to take the medication again. This really blows!! Urine is orange after day 2, lasts for like 2 days. I don't know if it's effective or not, as I didn't have symptoms of TB and believed to have had a false positive T spot, being treated for latent TB because he says I am high risk due to my employment and probably was exposed. I truly like the fact that I am being treated, but now I am wondering if I am having these major headaches and nausea so early because perhaps it really was a false negative."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2025

For Tuberculosis, Latent "Really bad headaches the day after taking it and consistent nausea, dry heaves the next day. I've tried taking it in the morning, my nights and the next few days are horrible. I've tried taking it at night, the next day waking up vomiting. Not sure if I will continue this treatment. My skin is also quite itchy and more sensitive, no hives yet, but definitely itchy. This is only my third week of taking 900 mg every seven days. By the time the symptoms begin to subside, it is time to take the medication again. This really blows!! Urine is orange after day 2, lasts for like 2 days. I don't know if it's effective or not, as I didn't have symptoms of TB and believed to have had a false positive T spot, being treated for latent TB because he says I am high risk due to my employment and probably was exposed. I truly like the fact that I am being treated, but now I am wondering if I am having these major headaches and nausea so early because perhaps it really was a false negative."

• Hop...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 24, 2022

For Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, Treatment "I took rifampin plus azithromycin and ethambutol for 17 months. Rifampin in the morning, then lunch later. Then the other two drugs at around 3 pm, dinner at 6. I tolerated these drugs well, had the itching, burning, wave of night sweats, but kept going. Then, a week ago, after taking the rifampin, I had a serious headache plus the wave of sweats that would not ease up. I felt dizzy, nauseous, with pain in my back and stomach. This lasted all day into the night, and I kept drinking water to flush it out. By 4 am, I felt some relief, and after communicating with the doctor, I stopped taking all the meds. My potassium level is elevated from the last blood work. Now I’m praying the MAC does not come back. I wish all of us well."