HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Headache: Lyme or Doxy?

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/18/2012 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
I am wondering if my headache is from Lyme or Doxycycline. Any ideas?

I have early Lyme. I was bit 30 days ago. On day 15 I got EM and flu like symptoms. I also started on doxy that day. I also got the headache that day - just behind my temples. The headache is mild, but has not stopped for 15 days. I have also been on doxy, 100 mg twice a day for 15 days.

So is the headache the Lyme or the doxy? The only ongoing Lyme symptoms I have are headache, neck "crackles" and slight ache in the bones in my hands.

I have read about intercranial hypertension from doxy. How would I tell if this is what I have? The fear of intercranial hypertension has me afraid to increase my doxy dose to 200 mg twice a day, which is what I have read is ideal for early Lyme.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Hoosierlyme
Posted 7/19/2012 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
I think 400mg will be better than 200mg but some Lyme doctors do not believe that doxy alone is helpful even for early Lyme. It can actually encourage the Lyme bacteria to transform into cysts. The increase into cystic form from doxy alone was at a rate of 200% via a fairly recent study. Once in the cystic form, you may feel better as the bacteria is dormant, but when you stop meds, the bacteria can emerge from the cystic form and cause problems again.

At a recent presentation, a Lyme doctor suggested that new infections be treated for all 3 forms via doxy, zith and flagyl or tindamax for 6 weeks.

I would talk to your doctor about the headaches. I don't have medical training. I know it is VERY common for Lyme patients to experience worsening of symptoms after starting a medication (herxing). I find that my headaches go away while on meds and come back while off, but I don't think that's typical.

If you have symptoms of intercranial hypertension, I would definitely contact your doctor and ask. Are you seeing a LLMD?
Posted 7/19/2012 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Summer3 for your reply. The LLMD in my area can't see me until December!!

So far my regular doctor is going along with whatever I ask for, but he does not have a clue about Lyme. I am the first one he has ever seen. I brought him ILADS guidelines, Dr. Joseph B's guidelines and "Under Our Skin" so I have been educating him, but I only know what I have read in those places -- and that is not crystal clear.

I am allergic to flagy and Tindamax. Maybe I should ask to add zithromax. But since my Western Blot and PRC came back negative today, my doctor may not be willing...

I have an appt with an optometrist tomorrow as sometimes intercranial hypertension can manifest symptoms in the eye.

Seems like if headache was a common side effect of doxy I would be reading about it on this forum, no?

Hoosierlyme
Posted 7/19/2012 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
I think headaches are common herx symptoms. Doxy can induce a herx, but if you are worried and don't have a LLMD yet, I would definitely follow-up on it.

The other options for the cystic form are grapefruit seed extract and plaquenil. Did you have your western blot done through Igenex?

Good luck at your appointment tomorrow. I hope it goes well.
Posted 7/19/2012 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
I'd suggest looking through the "New to lyme" thread - it explains a lot there, including herxheimer reactions. Are you sure that you're allergic to flagyl and tindamax, or did you "just" have an unpleasant reaction to them? Sometimes it's really hard to tell the difference between an allergy and a herx with these medications.

If headache isn't listed as a side effect of doxy, then I'd vote that it's a herxheimer - basically a toxic headache. There's information on detoxing in the new to lyme thread as well. Hope you feel better soon!
Posted 7/19/2012 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
I went to the eye doctor and my eyes are fine. There are no signs of intercranial hypertension which can manifest as swelling of the optic disc. So I will ask my GP to double my dose of doxy to 200 mg twice a day. Now should I start counting all over again in terms of how long I take it? ( I have been on doxy two weeks, so would those first two weeks on the lower dose count towards my total of 6 weeks (or longer if symptoms are not gone by then?)

I tried to get in to see a different LLMD and there are no appts until November 15! So I am continuing to try to figure this out myself.

Re the Flagyl allergy -- I have taken it 2 or 3 times. The last time was at least 15 years ago. The last time I look it, on day 6 of the med I broke out in a rash that looked sort of like poison ivy but was much more uniformly spread everywhere. The rash was on my trunk, arms and legs. It itched like crazy. So I think that was a genuine allergic reaction.

Going to pick up a copy of my lab results now...

Hoosierlyme
Posted 7/14/2015 1:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hoosier, i am curious to know how everything progressed for you since this thread is from 2012. i am new to lyme and your initital post sounds exactly like me right now. been on doxy 100mg twice per day for about 22 days now. feeling better except for the daily headache. i wonder if its from the doxy or the lyme. i have taken about 5 detox baths so far and drink LOTS of water with lemon so i assume i am detoxing enough.

did you improve on 200mg of doxy and how long did you take it? how are you today? any lingering signs of lyme?
Posted 7/14/2015 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hoosier hasn't been on since 2012, or at least hasn't signed in since then, so you most likely won't hear from him. Hopefully he has healed.

Welcome to the forum!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply