Questions On Treatment Using Doxycycline For Lyme Disease?
I have recently been diagnosed with Lyme Disease. . . My doctor has prescribed Doxycycline @ 100 mg twice daily for two weeks. I was wondering how long it’s going to take for it to kick in and help the pain subside? I think I am in the second stage of the disease. I have slight swelling in my knees and pain in my shoulders and knees. . . More tired and exhausted everyday. . . Thanks in advance!
Tags: Disease, Doxycycline, Lyme, Questions, Treatment, Using
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:09 pm
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_…
It’s good that your doc recognizes you are infected but he is apparently using an outdated protocol.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 This is really not his fault – he is likely following the outdated, faulty IDSA guidelines.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…
Here are the appropriate diagnosis and treatment guidelines:http://www. guideline. gov/summary/summary…http://www. ilads. org/guidelines_ilads. ht…
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. orghttp://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. comhttp://www. lymeinfo. net/coinfectionartic…http://www. underourskin. comhttp://www. igenex. org
Feel free to eamil me if I can help in anyway.
Best wishes and God Bless~
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:35 pm
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. orghttp://www. ilads. orghttp://www. canlyme. comhttp://www. lymenet. orghttp://www. lymeinfo. nethttp://www. lymediseaseassociation. orghttp://www. lymedoctor. com