Questions on treatment using Doxycycline for Lyme Disease?
I hаνе recently bееn diagnosed wіth Lyme Disease… Mу doctor hаѕ prescribed Doxycycline @ 100 mg twice daily fοr two weeks. I wаѕ wondering hοw long іt’s going tο take fοr іt tο kick іn аnd hеlр thе pain subside? I thіnk I аm іn thе second stage οf thе disease. I hаνе slight swelling іn mу knees аnd pain іn mу shoulders аnd knees… More tired аnd exhausted everyday… Thanks іn advance!
Hi Cindy~
I’m sorry to hear you have Lyme but it’s great to hear you know what you have and can get on the road to recovery with appropriate treatment.
I agree with Dekayel…and…
From our experience (which is waaayy too much to get into) 100mg of doxy 2x’s daily is a typically an ineffective low dose. However, also be aware of the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction…which is an intensification of symptoms or a surfacing of new ones due to to the toxins from the die off of the bacteria. You may be experiencing your symptoms more.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herxheimer_reaction
It’s good that your doc recognizes you are infected but he is apparently using an outdated protocol…unless he is planning on ramping you up in a week or two after this 2 weeks. Are you scheduled to go back in 2 weeks? I doubt it. My guess is that he will say you are cured and say if you still have symptoms it’s not Lyme:(. This is really not his fault – he is likely following the outdated, faulty IDSA guidelines.
Unfortunately, as you may or may not know, Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment has been very controversial for quite some time.
However, there is now a light at the end of the tunnel since the IDSA guidelines have been found fraudulent.
You can read about that here on the CT Attorney General’s website:
http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?a=2795&q=414284
Here are the appropriate diagnosis and treatment guidelines:
http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=4836&nbr=3481&string=lyme
http://www.ilads.org/guidelines_ilads.html
Finding a knowledgeable Lyme doctor (known as a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor/LLMD) is not easy but obtainable.
Here are some sites that can make referrals and recommendations:
http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org
http://www.healingwell.com (lyme forum ask for ticker!)
Tick Born Illnesses are the fastest growing vector born diseases in the US, more than AIDS, Avian Flu and West Nile all put together with over 200,000 NEW cases per year. It can be very serious if mis -diagnosed or under treated.
Ticks carry and can transmit several other diseases known as co-infections to/with lyme disease. They are Ehrlichiosis/ Rickettsial Diseases, Babesia, Tulerimia, Micoplasmas’, Chlamydial PN, Bartonella or Bartonella like organism, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and more.
Here are some reliable sites for more information:
Please read all you can – your life could depend on it:
http://www.canlyme.com
http://www.lymeinfo.net/coinfectionartic...
http://www.underourskin.com
http://www.igenex.org
Feel free to eamil me if I can help in anyway.
Best wishes and God Bless~
The "standard" treatment for Lyme in this country is two weeks of doxycycline, as you describe. Unfortunately, many people find that the standard treatment isn’t enough to get them well. Many find that longer treatment with doxy, or with different drugs, is what is needed. The standard treatment is "one size fits all," and if that ain’t your size, you are out of luck.
Recommend you read up on Lyme disease at the following websites, and then try to find an ILADS-affiliated doctor who will treat you according to what YOU need, not what the one-size-fits-all guidelines say.
Good sources of info about Lyme disease:
http://www.lymedisease.org
http://www.ilads.org
http://www.canlyme.com
http://www.lymenet.org
http://www.lymeinfo.net
http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org
http://www.lymedoctor.com