HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

prophylactic doxy - how much to for early tick bite?

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/1/2018 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
My friend's son pulled a tick out a few days ago - but no symptoms or rash yet . . . so at this point, this is all about being safe, rather than sorry. (I have had lyme for 6 years, so I know what I'm talking about!)

They were (miraculously) able to get some doxy (in Ontario!) - but not much.

MY QUESTION: How much should he take as a preventative measure? I have read from 200-400 mg doxy total/day. He is a solid 16 year old, pretty strong.

I havn't heard back from my doctor -- and I really want to give my friend the best advice possible. I know time is of the essence!

thank you for your thoughts!
TMW
Posted 7/1/2018 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
The evidence for short prophylaxis treatments is low. It's much better to have the tick tested, then you'll know what it was carrying. Doxy doesn't work against all tick-borne diseases.
Posted 7/1/2018 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
But can you really test a tick for bartonella and babesia? I hadn't heard of it before.
Posted 7/1/2018 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
200 mg twice daily.

It is effective

28 days - If he gets symptoms then continue until sigh/symptom free plus 4 more weeks
Posted 7/1/2018 4:48 PM (GMT 0)

acarined said...
The evidence for short prophylaxis treatments is low. It's much better to have the tick tested, then you'll know what it was carrying. Doxy doesn't work against all tick-borne diseases.


Guidelines do not call for treating lyme plus coinfections prophylactically.
You're not going to get a Dr. prescribing Mepron and then Rifampin for a tick bite.


Note: Malaria prophylactic for travel is doxycycline...so perhaps it works for babesia as well
...and uncomplicated bartonella - I see doxy is listed as treatment.
Posted 7/1/2018 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for the quick replies! Yes, from what I am reading, 200mg 2X day seems to be the best bet.
of course, getting enough doxy (Ontario) is always a challenge!
I will communicate this all to my friend - very grateful. TMW
Posted 7/1/2018 7:24 PM (GMT 0)

trishums said...
thanks for the quick replies! Yes, from what I am reading, 200mg 2X day seems to be the best bet.
of course, getting enough doxy (Ontario) is always a challenge!
I will communicate this all to my friend - very grateful. TMW

Can your friend go to a couple walk-in clinics and get two prescriptions? or even three?
Posted 7/1/2018 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
thanks - great idea!
you need to get creative here!
happy Canada Day - TMW
Posted 7/1/2018 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
Girlie, do you happen to know what the esteemed and famous Dr. H says - 200mg X2?
ILADS Guidelines say 200-400 mg/day - so I guess the members have different views . . .

thanks
Posted 7/1/2018 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Use dr Burrascano guidelines - there is a link to them on ILADS

I’ll post a link - he says 200 twice daily is minimum

Can go up to 600 mg daily but the standard dose of doxy that LLMD’s prescribe is 200 x 2

www.lymenet.org/BurrGuide200810.pdf

Scroll down to antibiotics section
Posted 7/2/2018 11:59 AM (GMT 0)
thanks, Girlie - really helpful!
TMW
Posted 7/8/2018 11:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone - here's an update and another question.

My friend's son has been doing 300mg doxy/day - as prevention since he removed the tick about 10 days ago.

He has had no rash or symptoms, thank God.

The tick was sent for testing in Ontario and they have been told it was NOT infected/no lyme. Great news! (I have not seen report, so I don't know specifics of what they tested)

Also, the son is having a very hard time on the doxy (which is only preventative) - with bad stomach cramps, spasms . . .

Does it make sense for him to continue the doxy? Or is that obviously "overkill" at this point, given the negative lab report on tick - coupled with the burden of the doxy?

thanks for your thoughts!
TMW
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply