Moderate to Severe Kidney Pain with my Antibiotics?

[Hope75]

Has anyone experienced this with treatment.  I'm on zith, omnicef, rifampin and flagyl.  I am feel like poo, which could be part herxing, part flare, part side effects.  My main concern is this low back pain.  It is in the area of the kidneys.  After an hour of taking my meds - it starts.  I'm also sick at my stomach, headache, tinnitus, the works.  I called my LLMD nurse triage line, but it takes 48hrs for them to answer me.  I got labs done yesterday, so maybe that will have kidney function tests in it?

Just concerned, If I have to pick my kidneys over Lyme, guess I'll HAVE to pick kidneys.  

[Hope75]

Sure thing!:)

[JackieCalifornia]

So glad to hear you are feeling better and that your drs are watching closely.  I wish my own LLMD did 'safety' labs ... three months at a stretch with no labs leaves me feeling at sea sometimes.  So your drs sound pretty vigilant, as they should be.

Again, glad you're doing better!  Herxing vs medication reaction is a tough one to figure out ... been there, done that.  (Sometimes I have wondered if it's Herxing AND medication reaction, not either/or.)

Keep us posted, hey?

[Hope75]

Thanks Jackie.  You make a good point, and it's scary.  My bloodwork came back normal and it did include liver and kidney function.  They call them "safety" labs.  The triage nurse asked alot of questions and was concerned.  I think she is giving me the go ahead because I feel a great deal better today.  I still have a headache, slight diarrhea and tinnitus, but it's much better than it was.  My kidneys stopped hurting.

However, I am being vigilant and I'll go to urgent care if I am worried about anything.  I have the week of Christmas as a med break, so I'm not taking anything next week.  Then I do three weeks and go back to the LLMD.  I don't expect I'll be on this regimen for long and I have the safety labs again in two weeks.

I will definitely have your list in mind, though.  I have had all but a few of those side effects.  Part of me wonders which of those are herxing, though.  I am taking a fistfull of supplements per my LLMD twice a day also.  I am on a gluten free diet per Dr.s orders too.  I think I'm in good hands and just have to watch my side effects/symptoms like a hawk.

Hopefully, it will all be over soon and part of this illness is herxing

[JackieCalifornia]

That's quite a few antibiotics you're on.  

Have you read the pharmacy advisories that came with the meds?  You could call your pharmacist and ask about interactions among the four meds you are on. I'm not medically trained so don't rely on me.  

The website double check md [dot] com [run those words together] has the following list of possible side effects:
=======================
Rifampin-isoniazid may cause abnormal kidney function:
    * Dark urine or red or orange urine
    * Inability to produce urine/decreased urination
fever, loss of appetite, malaise, nausea and vomiting, darkened urine, yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes, and pain or swelling of the joints.
--This med can also cause some other meds to act too strongly on your body.
==========================
Flagyl side effects (from the same website):
    * seizures (convulsions);
    * fever, chills, body aches, sore throat, flu symptoms;
    * numbness or tingling in your hands or feet;
    * white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
    * pain or burning when you urinate; or
    * diarrhea that is watery or bloody.
===================
Omnicef side effects:
# diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
# chest pain;
# fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
# unusual bleeding;
# seizure (convulsions);
# pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness;
# jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
# fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; or
# increased thirst, loss of appetite, swelling, weight gain, feeling short of breath, urinating less than usual or not at all.
=========================
Azithromycin side effects:
# diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
# chest pain, uneven heartbeats;
# nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
# fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.
============================
So there's a lot of overlap among these meds in the side effects they can produce.  Listed above are just the major, more serious side effects, not the ho-hum annoying ones from the website.  

If you're concerned, I would suggest you bug your MD or pharmacist or even go to the ER if you  feel it's warranted.  48 hours to respond to a medicine interaction seems awfully long.

Golly that's a lot of heavy duty meds all at once. I too would be concerned about my kidneys, and would highlight that pain to your medical folks.  Good luck.  Let us know what happens.