Dosage & Length of Doxy for Early Lyme?

I am in southern Indiana (very little Lyme here) but got bit by a tiny tick while in eastern NY state.

about 7 days later got a small pink rash. By day 13 it was a bulls eye rash. On day 15 started on doxycycline 100 mg twice a day. Four hours after the first dose, got fever (101), chills, aches, headache, diarrhea, lightheaded. That lasted about 24 hours. On day 17 the center of the rash got tiny blisters on it. (I did use cortisone cream once and spray benedryl twice --perhaps that caused the blisters?)

My MD put me on doxy for 10 days, but I have been educating him on Lyme and he will extend my prescription for a few more weeks. I am currently on day 15 of doxy.

I located a Lyme literate physician in Indiana but the soonest appointment is December!! which is 5 months from now!! So I need to tell my regular doctor how to treat me. I think he will give me whatever I need. He did a Lyme Western blot and a PCR, but the results are not back yet. However, it is clear to me that I have early Lyme disease.

My remaining symptoms are a full-time mild headache -- mostly at the temples, very slight stiff neck, and neck "crackles."

Questions:

1. Can the headache be from the doxy?

2. I have read about higher doses e.g. 200 mg twice a day. I am 57, 5'3' and weight 115 lbs. Do I need a higher dose? Has anyone had side effects from this high of a dose? (I do take probiotics.)

3. I have also read to stay on doxy for 4-6 weeks to really kill Bb. Should I stay on 6 weeks? Has anyone had side effects from this long? Should I expect the symptoms to disappear before I stop the antibiotics?

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Desperate in for help Indiana -- can't wait until December for help,

Hoosierlyme

Hi hoosierlyme,

At a recent presentation from a LLMD it was suggested that new infections be treated with doxy, zithromax and flagyl (or tindamax) for 6 weeks. This will combat all 3 forms apparently. Another option for the cystic form is grapefruit seed extract (GSE). This is just one doctor's opinion.

Since the headache came right after doxy, I would think it was a herx which is an increase in symptoms due to Lyme bacteria die off. I am not medically trained. This is just my opinion.

It has been shown that doxy alone in a low dose (200mg per day) converts Lyme into the cystic form at an increase of 200%. I would treat at least 6 weeks and I would treat until symptoms disappear. If you are not able to add in other meds, I would definitely ask your doctor about a higher dose of doxy and try to stay on that until you get to a LLMD.

I have been on doxy and others for many months. I have not had any side effects. For me, my Lyme and co-infection symptoms are far more severe than the majority of antibiotic side effects that are even possible.

I would also call the LLMD office and make sure to inform them that this is a "new" infection. Often new infections are taken in sooner to prevent them from getting severe/chronic.

Good Luck!

I feel a little like I am up a creek without a paddle....

Thanks for all this great info and your responses. I read the "New to Lyme?" info and I have printed ALADS Treatment Guidelines and Burrascano's paper and brought them to my physician. That is how I got him to extend my doxy prescription! I also gave him "Under Our Skin" and asked him to view it.

I read the Prescribing Information on tindamax and apparently since I am allergic to Flagyl I will be allergic to tindamax as they are very similar chemical compounds, so I guess I am out of luck on killing the cystic form. Oh no!

I have asked to be on the "on call for cancellations" list at the LLMD's office. The problem is it is a four hour drive, so I really need a day's notice to get there.

Any other ideas on how to deal with the cyctic forms?

Thanks so very much.

Hoosierlyme

Hi again
Sorry my brain isn't functioning properly, I meant GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT
Tickledpink

I have also heard that plaquenil may have some cyst-busting properties.