Hi what are the pros and cons to getting an IV? Will getting an IV shorten the length of time I'll have to go under treatment?
Posted by tcw (Member # 15698) on :
The primary reason for getting IV meds is that some medicines are either painful or not available in other forms. For Lyme patients, probably the most common reason for an IV is to treat with ceftriaxone (Rocephin).
I do not think that there is any way to know for sure whether IV meds will shorten treatment time or not. I do think many Lyme MDs and patients feel that ceftriaxone has a well deserved reputation for treating Lyme, especially neurological sypmtoms. On the other hand, it is not a magic bullet - some patients are mostly non-responsive to ceftriaxone, and that med specifically carries some risk of gall bladder complications.
Sorry that the answer is so vague - I do not think that anybody can give you a certain answer, in a way it would require seeing into the future.