How long after you stop taking doxy does the photosensitivity remain?
I am taking it, and need it for Anaplasma and to go with rifampin. But I know that I will have to stop in time for summer. I don't really get much sun anyway, but I don't want to live like a total mole (pretty much live like one anyway, due to being too ill to do much).
I might try to switch to mino, but I REALLY couldn't tolerate that before (got so dizzy and no balance, really couldn't walk or function).
Posted by backintherain (Member # 14385) on :
I don't know the answer, but doxy has a very short half-life, so it probably won't take too long.
I was on a high dose and got a sunburn (not visible, just painful) on Sunday. I was outside for 1.5 hours, mostly in the shade and with 50 spf sunscreen.
I took my last dose on Sunday night and haven't noticed any more sensitivity or pain. Of course, I haven't wanted to take any chances, so I've only spent about 15 min in the sun/day.
I am also considering mino and have the same concerns.
Posted by Marz (Member # 3446) on :
Are you taking capsules or tablets?
I never had a problem with tablets, but can feel a burning sensation since switching to the capsules.
LLMD said she's never had a patient who wasn't sun sensitive to doxy period. But I never had a problem with the tablets.
Posted by Lymedin2010 (Member # 34322) on :
2-3 days. I was in the sun in 2 days in FL and no problem.
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
backintherain, that sounds not good! But good that it didn't go any further. If you try the mino, keep us posted as to what happens. One person answered me that her daughter was able to handle the mino by very slowly increasing the dose over time.
I'm taking the capsules. But I doubt that that matters for this concern. Marz, I assume that when you said that you had burning with the capsules, you meant in the GI tract, right? That is known to happen with doxy. It's why you can't lie down after taking it.
Lymed, that is good to know.
What do other people do? I guess switch to something else. But other than mino, there is nothing else for Anaplasma (I guess that works for it??), and to go with the rifampin, I guess the mino works. Assuming I could handle it, which is a very big assumption. Unless "low and slow" works for me.
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
For me, it took 10 days for the sun sensitivity to go away after going off doxy.
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
Aha! Thank you, Dekrator, it sounds like I had better be careful. I do NOT want to risk the sun sensitivity issue. I am so careful about the sun anyway, due to being extremely fair, and having had skin cancer already. But it would be nice to get a tiny bit of sun/light during the summer! I am hardly ever out as it is, sadly.
Posted by Marz (Member # 3446) on :
Actually, I did mean the burning is from the sun not the digestive tract. I swear there's a difference in the two for me.
I never felt nauseated with the tablets but do with the capsules. Not bad though. Also have ears ringing with capsules so LLMD has me taking only Mon, Wed, Friday since this last week.
Was hoping maybe since on it less I could tolerate sun more, but glad I saw this post since now I know it takes ten days to be out of system.
Was givin zith last summer so I could be in sun, but that caused really bad ear ringing.
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
Marz, thank you for clarifying this. That is interesting, that you did get the skin burning with the capsules, but not the tablets!! I don't want to risk it, however.
Yes, I got bad tinnitus (ringing of the ears), also, from zith, quite unfortunately. It makes treating Babesia much more difficult, especially now that I am on rifampin.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I agree with Dekrator.. I think I've heard higher numbers like 8-10 days too.
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
And...I took doxy more than once...and each time it took 10 days for the sun sensitivity to wear off.