It has been a long time since I have posted here. Between my husbands health issues and my not getting anywhere after almost 3 years of abx, I stopped taking any and figured I really must have FMS and CFS not Lyme. It is a long story, but I did test low positive with WEstern Blot in February '08. Had a clinical Dx from an LLMD in November '05.
When I stopped ABX in April, I had a lot of peripheral and joint pain, but my energy levels were not too bad. Recently I have become very sick again, not just increase pain, but very decreased energy, mental allertness and depression.
The Pain Management doctor I have seen agreed to put me on Doxycyline because, even if I don't have Lyme, Doxy does help with pain.
I am starting at 100 mgs twice a day, which I know is low. But the way I feel I wouldn't want stronger yet.
Started two days ago. It has to be taken away from food I read in the info sheet. Within 45 mins I felt increase in joint pain and some nausea. In the morning I took it on a empty stomach and within 30 mins I had again, the increase joint pain - burning, and all-over sick feeling, and some nausea.
The last 2 years I have found myself to be more and more senstive to abx. I could not tolerate bicillin injections. Even 1 injection every 3 weeks caused a lot of pain and I don't mean in the injection site. I mean all-over burning.
Can someone relate to this in any way?
Today I took the Doxy with small amounts of food and it wasn't as intense, but still there. Can a person herx within an hour of taking their first doxycyline of 100 mgs?
Any thoughts please?
Thankyou,
happygranny
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I was so very sick when I started doxy.
I couldn't tell you how soon I felt worse.
It was pretty quick though.
I remember because my brain could not wrap around the
Increased illness. I kept waiting to feel better....not worse.
I always took my doxy with food.
I am sure you can herx fairly quickly.
Bumping you up for other opinions.
Hope you feel better soon.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by hope4sofia (Member # 20577) on :
I didn't herx that quickly on Doxy but I did have a fairly quick reaction to zithro and artiminisin. Who's to say?
I was told to take doxy with food but not minerals like from a vitamin or calcium. The one time I took my doxy and zithro without food I ended up throwing up within 30 min.
Posted by happygranny (Member # 8779) on :
Thanks for your responses Geneal and hope4sofia, it sure goes to show the differences amongst us all in our responses to abx. It is hard to find what works individually.
I herxed 3-4 days with ketek and 2-3 minocycline and immediately with bicillin injections.
It is good to know you both took your doxy with food. It definitely says on my info sheet to take 2 hours after a meal or 1 hour before a meal. That does not work for me, but I am avoiding the minerals, vitamins and dairy when close to doxy-time. And eat small amounts....
Geneal, do you remember increased burning in joints? For me it is my hands, wrists and feet that are the worse and boy do they ever burn more within a short time after taking the Doxycycline.
Thanks,
Jeannie
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I just recently started taking low dose doxy. I started herxing 2 weeks and 3 days after starting it. The herx has caused an increase in all my pain, fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, etc.
My doc said to always take doxy with food!
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Yes I had a major increase in joint pain and burning with doxy.
Call your LLMD tomorrow and run it by them just to be safe though.
Remember not to drink milk with your doxy.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
It says to take doxy before or after a meal, but the truth is, if you take doxy on an empty stomach, you will have horrendous nausea, reflux, hearburn, you name it.
So, you MUST always take it with food. You just have to.
It really sounds to me like the doxy is working for you!
Posted by happygranny (Member # 8779) on :
Thanks for the input Geneal and TF.
Unfortunately I do not have an LLMD, the doxy was Rxd by my pain management doctor who is not convinced I have Lyme, but thinks the doxy will help with the pain as it does for RA. My GP would Rx ABX for me if I ask him as he has in the past, but he does not have much knowledge on the topic of Lyme, just believes it is there and is willing to stick his neck out and RX when other doctors won't.
so I don't have anyone to run this by besides boards like this.
Today the most debilitating symptoms is the exhaustion that comes on about 1 1/2 hours after taking doxycyline. It lasts about 2 hours and I am starting to come around now. I can sit up and do things without wanting to head to the sofa to nod off again. Is that herxing? I hope so. Jeannie
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
It could well be herxing.
If it slowly goes away the longer you take the doxy, that will indicate that it definitely was a strong die-off reaction to the doxy--which is great.
It's just what you want.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Joint pain from doxy is definitely a herx.
If you continue taking it without food, you will destroy your stomach. Pretty hard thing to fix!!!!
Be sure to avoid dairy though.
and yes, you can herx within one hour of taking an abx for Lyme.