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New dx -- doxy while fasting?

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Posted 6/7/2017 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! I was recently diagnosed and am taking doxy. Will it diminish the effectiveness significantly if I take it with food at 4 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.? (Doses 7.5 hours apart.)

Background: This diagnosis coincides with a month of daily fasting (no food or drink during daylight hours), which I want to observe if possible. If taking the doxy this way will reduce the effectiveness, I'll break the fast, but I'd much rather not break it if it makes little difference. I'm getting mixed messages -- pharmacist wasn't thrilled but doctor said it's ok.
Posted 6/7/2017 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
Doxy on an empty stomach. Ugh! The thought makes me sick.

Why were you fasting?
Posted 6/7/2017 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Dahlias!
Welcome to our community! I'm so glad you found us.

​If ​you haven't ​yet​, it would be helpful for you to start with reading through the thread at the top of the forum titled,"New to Lyme?...Start here!!", as​​ it is packed ​​full of ​​important information​​, symptom lists, helpful links and pdf's, how to detox when one has these infections, information on probiotics and much more.​​ ​​​​And, here's another good place to find helpful detoxing rout​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ines​​:​​​​​​ ​​​http://www.tiredoflyme.com/detox-methods.html​​
​

It is okay to take Doxy on an empty stomach - but not many can. It can really tear up the stomach and most need to take it with food in order to continue using it. Some need to take it in the middle of the meal in order to have enough food on their stomach.

And, may I ask what the dose of Doxy is? It's quite common for people to be put on too low of a dose, so we do like to check.
Posted 6/7/2017 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
I was afraid that might be confusing -- it would actually be on a full stomach, with breakfast and dinner. My concerns are 1. whether taking it with full meals might inhibit absorption significantly, and 2. the uneven timing (7.5 hours and then 16.5 hours between doses).

It's for religious reasons. I can stop fasting if needed, but taking part in it has been improving my emotional state.

Traveler, thank you. I just found this forum and will definitely catch up on the reading. I'll check on the dosage when I get home.
Posted 6/7/2017 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Oh! LOL! Okay - sorry about the confusion.

The small amount of possible inhibition of absorption of the Doxy will be far outweighed by the protection for your stomach.

What dose of Doxy are you taking though? That's a lot more important of an issue, to be honest.
Posted 6/7/2017 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
no, i would not recommend you take doxy on an empty stomach. if you do this, you will have trouble continuing to do so as the weeks progress. please take a pharmacist's advice, and sandwich in it with food, don't lay down for 1/2hr following, and take it with a full glass of water. it can cause extreme irritation to the esophagus, more so than the stomach, which is why its important to drink that glass of water!!

so your plan to take it with breakfast and dinner is perfect - the absorption of the medication will not be altered, just make sure you don't take any probiotics at the same time!
Posted 6/7/2017 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
That's reassuring!

The dosage is 100 MG twice a day for 21 days, and she'll add another week if needed.
Posted 6/7/2017 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry, Dahlias - but that dose is too low, and depending on if you have symptoms, then the length of time in treatment is too short. Your doctor is following the IDSA treatment guidelines which have been replaced by the ILADS treatment guidelines on the National Guidelines Clearinghouse.
www.ilads.org/ilads_news/2015/ilads-treatment-guidelines-are-now-summarized-on-the-national-guideline-clearinghouse-website/

Here are some differences between the two organizations:
ILADS vs IDSA:
www.clinicaladvisor.com/controversy-continues-to-fuel-the-lyme-war/article/117160/

archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=226373

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2901226/​

And, here are the ILADS treatment guidelines that we all need to follow in order to heal:
www.lymenet.org/BurrGuide200810.pdf
Posted 6/7/2017 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Oops, I was also going to say that this is a common mistake that regular or IDSA doctors make all too often. We see new members dealing with this all too much.

The appropriate dose for these infections is 400- 600 mgs daily and the length of treatment is 4 weeks if only a bulls eye is the only symptom. If there are more symptoms, then treatment time moves up to however long it takes to resolve the symptoms, plus 2 months to be sure that enough of the bacteria is cleared from the body.
Posted 6/7/2017 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much! I'll get to reading and figure out how to approach her.
Posted 6/7/2017 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
I always take my ABX on an empty stomach and have been for almost a year. However, my doc said I'm going to come off of them within two months, most likely. Hopefully I haven't done any damage to myself. My digestion was actually better after starting ABX, but now I have pale stools and what seems like a reduced ability to digest fats. Not sure what's going on there.
Posted 6/7/2017 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Doxy with food should be fine.
Just make sure to avoid foods high in calcium, iron, and magnesium, as the minerals can bind the medication and prevent it from being fully absorbed.

Some people may be able to handle Doxycycline on an empty stomach, but I'm not one of them.

I definitely won't be trying that ever again :o===()
Posted 6/7/2017 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
dogsblood- could you expand on that? i am having digestive issues myself - how do you know you can't digest fats? i am just ordered some digestive enzymes.
Posted 6/7/2017 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Pale stools are an indicator of low liver function and in our case, it means that we need targeted liver detoxing.

The reduced ability to digest fats is also an indicator of liver/gall bladder health - the liver produces the bile to digest fats, and any 'excess' is stored in the gall bladder to be released during meals with need for extra bile to digest the fats.

I deal and am on the watch for these things a lot, as I don't have a gall bladder, so my liver has to work a little over time once in a while. A good liver flush, or even dandelion root will help things get back on track for me.

I also take digestive enzymes. The ones that I have found to work best for me are Solaray HCL with pepsin and Quercetin.
Posted 6/7/2017 5:09 PM (GMT 0)

Dahlias said...
I was afraid that might be confusing -- it would actually be on a full stomach, with breakfast and dinner. My concerns are 1. whether taking it with full meals might inhibit absorption significantly, and 2. the uneven timing (7.5 hours and then 16.5 hours between doses).

Most of us end up taking it with food because doxy is hard on the stomach.
The timing is okay - I take my meds with breakfast and dinner: example 9:00 am and 6:00 pm. So 9 hours and 15 hours apart - similar to yours
Posted 6/7/2017 5:17 PM (GMT 0)

Chapelle said...
dogsblood- could you expand on that? i am having digestive issues myself - how do you know you can't digest fats? i am just ordered some digestive enzymes.

I can see an oily sheen and bubbles in the bowl after going.





Traveler said...
Pale stools are an indicator of low liver function and in our case, it means that we need targeted liver detoxing.

The reduced ability to digest fats is also an indicator of liver/gall bladder health - the liver produces the bile to digest fats, and any 'excess' is stored in the gall bladder to be released during meals with need for extra bile to digest the fats.

I deal and am on the watch for these things a lot, as I don't have a gall bladder, so my liver has to work a little over time once in a while. A good liver flush, or even dandelion root will help things get back on track for me.

I also take digestive enzymes. The ones that I have found to work best for me are Solaray HCL with pepsin and Quercetin.

Pre-treatment I had high bilirubin, and early in treatment I had elevated liver enzymes. However, I've had 100% normal tests for at least six months. I take milk thistle, dandelion, smilax, and Alpha Lipoic Acid. Still, what I'm experiencing indicates there is an issue somewhere...
Posted 6/7/2017 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
Agreed on that, Dogsblood! I hope you find out what's causing this soon!
Posted 6/8/2017 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone!

Dogsblood, could you email me please? I saw in another thread that you recommend a doctor in my area.
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