Found a tick on a loved one who doesn't have lyme. I have always been told that doxy should be given immediately if in an endemic area but can't find solid info on dose and for how long.
Totally stressing here.
Thanks
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
It's in the treatment guidelines at www.ilads.org .... check out the Dr. B diagnostic hints and treatment guidelines.
I believe it's 200 mg twice daily for an adult for six weeks ... or four weeks past any symptom, whichever is longer .... but you should double check the guidelines.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
The "official" dosage per IDSA is 3 wks at 200mg per day. ( I think I have that right.)
So double that, and your loved one MAY be OK....just my non-medical opinion.
I think I would personally go for 8 wks.
PS to newbies... the IDSA is NOT what you want!!
Posted by improver (Member # 8380) on :
Thanks. I couldn't remember. I have only been trying to figure out how to get rid of the infection and not how to prevent it.
Did I mention that I don't like ticks.
I did read Dr B's guidelines but I could only find dosage pertaining to those already symptomatic. And for a new bite it says 28 days but again no dosage.
I do plan to send the tick out but need to do something now. I plan to call LLMD tomorrow.
Thanks again.
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
I agree with six.
200mg doxy 2x a day for 6 weeks but n ot a doctor
watch out for the sun sensitivity and if it is a kiddo that changes everything. I would want to be on abx no matter what the tick testing comes back!
Posted by momlyme (Member # 27775) on :
Is the dosage of doxy documented anywhere? I can't find it in the ILADS guidelines.
I just had a friend get bit and their doctor prescribed 100mg, twice a day for a week!
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
quote:Originally posted by momlyme: Is the dosage of doxy documented anywhere? I can't find it in the ILADS guidelines.
I just had a friend get bit and their doctor prescribed 100mg, twice a day for a week!
It's in Dr. B's guidelines. That's the most trusted source.
BTW that doctor who prescribed 100mg for a week... well... I'd better not say it.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
From page 19 of Burrascano:
"High-risk bites are treated as follows (remember the possibility of co-infection!): 1) Adults: Oral therapy for 28 days. 2) Pregnancy: Amoxicillin 1000 mg q6h for 6 weeks. Test for Babesia, Bartonella and Ehrlichia. Alternative: Cefuroxime axetil 1000 mg q12h for 6 weeks. 3) Young Children: Oral therapy for 28 days."
To find out what "oral therapy" means, go to page 18. Under "Oral Therapy" it lists the dosages of various meds that can be used--amoxi, doxy, etc. For example:
"*Amoxicillin- Adults: 1g q8h plus probenecid 500mg q8h; doses up to 6 grams daily are often needed Pregnancy: 1g q6h and adjust. Children: 50 mg/kg/day divided into q8h doses.
*Doxycycline- Adults: 200 mg bid with food; doses of up to 600 mg daily are often needed, as doxycycline is only effective at high blood levels. Not for children or in pregnancy. If levels are too low at tolerated doses, give parenterally or change to another drug.
*Cefuroxime axetil- Oral alternative that may be effective in amoxicillin and doxycycline failures. Useful in EM rashes co-infected with common skin pathogens. Adults and pregnancy: 1g q12h and adjust. Children: 125 to 500 mg q12h based on weight."
And, the * in front of the meds is explained in the text above the list of meds as follows:
"Always check blood levels when using agents marked with an *, and adjust dose to achieve a peak level above ten and a trough greater than three. Because of this, the doses listed below may have to be raised. Consider Doxycycline first in early Lyme due to concern for Ehrlichia co-infections."
So, the minimum amount of doxy is 200 mg twice per day with food. Take it for 28 days.
Posted by BleedGreen (Member # 33468) on :
My doctor supposedly found my LD within weeks of me being infected, my wife also. She prescribed 21 days of doxy 100mg twice each day.
Needless to say it did nothing and we found a LLMD a couple months later.
After seven months of treatment and no end in the near future I would've gladly taken abx a few weeks longer the first time to avoid going through this. Get to your LLMD immediately to avoid any lapse in the abx, good luck.
Posted by Harmony (Member # 32424) on :
keep in mind that not every tick is infected
in one of the VA counties, "they" have tested ticks and found every 4th one infected, so not every bite contains the disease causing organisms
I am saying that to help calm you down some, if you would like some positive news
but I would still go for 400 mg of doxy daily for at least six weeks or 4 weeks past any symptoms, whichever is longer - I think that is the Dr. B guideline - and I would watch like a hawk for symptoms