Rifampin and Nausea: 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."

• LWD...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 17, 2015

For Tuberculosis, Latent "I just finished a 4-month regimen of Rifampin. It was prescribed when I was tested for TB in preparation for starting on a biologic for rheumatoid arthritis. I have no idea how/when I was exposed to TB, but I couldn't start the biologic until the latent TB was addressed. I will never know if it was 'effective' since I will always test positive for TB antigens, but I'm glad I took it-I didn't have much of a choice! It was not an easy medication to take, but I got through the course of treatment better than I anticipated. I did have slight nausea at the beginning and intermittent watery diarrhea throughout. I don't know if the other side effects (fatigue, primarily) I experienced were side effects of Rifampin or symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis."

• Anonymous
• September 17, 2011

For Tuberculosis, Latent "This is a very intense antibiotic with persistent side effects. I have been on this medication for one month and continue to experience nausea and vomiting. I have been fortunate to not experience reddening of my saliva or tears, but other body fluids have changed. My hepatic enzymes have more than doubled baseline values and continue to climb. It does its job well, but it is a tough 4 months to get through."

• GMC...
• February 7, 2013

For Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, Treatment "Currently on rifampin therapy along with ethambutol, Zithromax, IV amikacin, and Prilosec for the MAC. Experiencing numerous side effects to include diarrhea, nausea, intermittent episodes of severe vomiting, extreme fatigue, headaches (almost all the time), dizziness, double vision, generalized body aches, and severe cramps in my extremities. It is hard to tell which drug is the culprit. I have experienced two incidents of elevated liver enzymes, which have returned back to within normal limits so far. At this point in my therapy, there has been no documented improvement, but I am told to expect it to take up to two years of therapy for a cure. I will update my experience as time progresses."

• 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."

• Jil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2021

For Tuberculosis, Latent "My first day of R, diagnosed with latent TB. I took mine on an empty stomach, 2 hours later, I felt nausea and lightheaded. I ate and took a nap on my lunchtime, then woke up groggy, and now I have a headache as I type this. Advil, okay? How can you function with all the side effects?"

• Min...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2020

For Tuberculosis, Latent "I was prescribed Rifampin in January of 2020 for latent TB. I have about 3 more weeks. When I first started taking it, I only had headaches. The headaches subsided. As the months go by, it gets worse. I now have no appetite, consistent diarrhea, extreme fatigue, and nausea. I had to take this medication to be able to continue taking my RA medication. I will be so glad when this is over. It seems as if there is nothing that can be done."