posted
Someone recently emailed me privately on a lyme list and said they and many others in their high risk lyme community had good success with treating their lyme using only Doxycycline.
This was being done by those who primarily do not have affordable access to LLMD care.
She said there was a primary care physician in their small community who helped out with RX for Doxy which was prescribed for 2-3 yr period for most, though some improved earlier.
They were treating basically based on improved symptoms only and realize there is risk of relapse, but she said most were elderly and consciously decided to take their chances.
Many reportedly had 80-90% improvement, some are declining now.
I checked on Walmart.com pharmacy list and Doxy is on their $4 program, both the 50mg and 100mg. I think a 90 day supply (probably mail order) was $10.
If this is an option it could be very affordable for some who would not otherwise be able to treat at all and perhaps get some symptom relief.
Sounds like it is not 100%, but from posts I have read here, not even the high dollar treatment programs are rendering 100% improvement.
I am wondering what y'all think about this, and for those who have tried Doxy how did you do? How long did you treat and at what dosing level?
I am doing IV lyme treatment which I fear I will soon no longer be able to afford so looking ahead to find workable treatment options.
Am also re-evaluating Stephen Buhner's Healing Lyme with Herbs. So I am just revisiting things on a possible more economical way.
We are pretty sure my brotherinlaw has lyme and thusfar cost of treatment has been a reason he has not pursued treatment. He knows he can not afford the thousands through a quality LLMD. He is in his late 50s, on disability and unable to work, so maybe this might be a treatment option for him and for others in similar situation. just wondering if a trial of Doxy might not be worth it to see what happens.
Of course I still have to treat Babesia Duncani and have been fortunately blessed with 3 donated bottles of Mepron and might have a chance of 2 more being donated soon, so I think that might give me 5 months or so of treatment with that.
Thanks for any help with opinions/comments!
Posts: 495 | From SF Bay area, CA | Registered: Dec 2007
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MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128
posted
Just an FYI on the $4/month programs- they usually assume a much lower dosage than what we get. So multiply the $4 by the difference in dosage. It doesn't seem like much, but it actually matters to me right now whether my drugs are $10 or $4. Sigh...
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
posted
Maria & Sutherngrl, thanks for your input...at what doses are you taking Doxy?
Also, wondering if anyone has an internet source for obtaining Doxy? Anyone know???
My brotherinlaw lives in a cabin area way out in the boonies/sticks. Only a couple of doctors in town and he fears that neither might be supportive of long term dosing. In remote areas it can be tough to find help. There is a doctor up by us who I think might would help him but he can't afford even the office visit until his SSDI Medicare kicks in 2 yrs. We would like for him not to wait and at least treat with Doxy until he can get in a better position. He is getting worse quick. Already having breathing problems and on oxygen during parts of the day.
Posts: 495 | From SF Bay area, CA | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
The $4 program won't apply to antibiotics at doses we typically take here, like Maria mentioned above. Or at least in my experience they won't.
Cheapest place I've found most antibiotics is Costco. Doxy is pretty cheap there and even Ceftin is reasonably affordable (at least compared to what Omincef cost at other pharmacies). But I am also basing that off of what they charge my insurance company... without insurance, some pharmacies really hike up their price on customers.
Posts: 584 | From NY | Registered: Feb 2009
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METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
I would agree that Doxy and Tetracycline are cheap drugs that are "usually" effective in suppressing some symptoms and helping people, therefore I find it effective when no other options are available medically.
I prefer Tetracycline because of tolerance issues. I think more people tolerate it over Doxy, but that's just my opinion.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
posted
Thank you everyone for all of your input and helpful suggestions. I sincerely appreciate the all of the comments.
But, can someone (anyone) still please my guesstimate question with the answer to what typical Doxy dosing level are needed to treat lyme?
Please help as this is really an important question so I can help my brotherinlaw at least with a range for his consideration. He would make his own decision, if he decides to treat at all. I think it is a mistake not to since there is a Walmart near him and he could get at least this amount for $4/$10 plan. I realize that levels of Doxy for that amount might not be high enough. But, he could buy for each month and stockpile a supply and then use that accumulated inventory to start treatment at the within range levels.
Thanks for any help:)
Posts: 495 | From SF Bay area, CA | Registered: Dec 2007
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MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128
posted
200 mg twice a day is typical minimal Lyme treatment, sometimes people go up to 300 mg twice a day but that's rare.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
posted
Maria, I forgot to ask you for approximately what length of time.....months? years?....just typicl type guesstimates is all that is being asked...thanks so much for your help!
Posts: 495 | From SF Bay area, CA | Registered: Dec 2007
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littlebit27
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24477
posted
I'm on 100mg twice a day currently. I am on day 26 of a 30 day supply. I have to call the Lyme Doc today to see if she will give me more.
While some of my symptoms are getting worse, some improved slightly. I have also developed new symptoms.
I can only comment on the short term since it's only been 26 days and I might have to start all over but it's been ok.
I can function more with less pain but am still in pain.
I had some really bad days that prompted me to go to my primary and ask him to up my pain killer from 5mg hydro to 10mg.
Good luck to you and with your decision! I will write you again if the doc will keep me on it.
posted
As to time, you are supposed to treat (with whatever protocol you are using) until at least a couple of months past the disappearance of all symptoms.
I know people who have been on the lower dose of doxy continuously for at least 9 years for acne.
I think if you use good probiotics and stay out of the sun, you could probably continue to use it for as long as necessary.
I have no medical knowledge, so I'm just reporting my impression.
-------------------- Don't forget to laugh! And when you're going through hell, keep going!
Bitten 5/25/2009 in Perry County, Indiana. Diagnosed by LLMD 12/2/2009. Posts: 756 | From Inside the tunnel | Registered: Jan 2010
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CD57
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11749
posted
My LLMD would say 400mg doxy most likely.
I do know someone who does 200mg day and plans to for the rest of her life.
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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Does anyone obtain Doxy from a reliable and cheap internet source?? If so, could you please post or send a PM with info. Thank you!
Posts: 495 | From SF Bay area, CA | Registered: Dec 2007
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MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128
posted
First of all, there are veterinary sources. I think Tractor Supply Company could have some antibiotics for vet use.
here's one:
fishtank doxy, 100 mg tablets, $20something. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW SAFE THIS IS:
I haven't used this place but other people on lymenet have posted it as a source of roxithromycin and said that they order there. They also said that you really want the 'expedited shipping'.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
If you're worried aobut using your credit card with these companies, be aware that you can buy a 'pre-paid debit card' at places like WalMart and Target, so you can load just the right amount on the card, then throw it away after using it online.
The bigger concern is whether any of these meds are counterfeit or contaminated.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128
posted
here's a list from my roxithromycin-buying files- see if they have doxy. I think most of the places on that list were ones where other Lyme patients told me they'd already ordered. Again, we have no way of checking for contamination unless you have a friend in a laboratory. http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/1/92696?#000001
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
posted
I did 3 months on doxy from W..mart. 2 tabs twice daily of the 100 mg came to $16.00. I was 80-85% better after 3 months. I decided to stop antibiotic at that point and restarted the Doxy 3 months later when symptoms started to come back. I did drop back to 65% in the functional capacity department. After 6 wks did not feel I was improving much at all. Reading Dr B's handout it looked like coinfection problem. Switched to bactrim,flagyl, zithro for suspected Bart symptoms and made major improvement in cognitive,lymph glandular,and shin/foot symptoms. Bactrim was less than $15/mo. flagyl same. Zithro $340 w. vs $266 tgt. Money is an object as no health insurance but also need to be making progress. For now Bart symptoms are low severity so moving on to Babs with artemisinin (started yesterday) along with bactrim, amox, and zithro. Hoping for stomach to continue to hold up.
Beachinit
-------------------- Ideas not advice. Posts: 448 | From Downeast Maine | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
Read Dr. CJ's book, "A Disease Called Fatigue". Very informative. She has treated Lyme and Rickettsiae patients for 15 yrs and has a 89-96% success rate with her treatment which takes anywhere from 3 months to 2 yrs.
She treats all patients with a Tetracycline plus a macrolide, then a quinolone, then a cyst buster like Tindamax for 7-12 days out of every month.
For example: 300-400mgs of Doxy plus Biaxin for 12 days month one, 200mgs of Minocin + Cipro for 10 days month 2. 300 mgs of Doryx + TIndamax for 12 days month 3. 200mgs of Minocycline + Zith for 7 days month 4 and so on.
She does this until symptoms are gone and then recommends that you cycle like this for maybe 2 months out of the year from then on for a few years.
This way you hit all the variations of bugs and surprise them every time. It also prevents resistance.
For more info just google the title of the book.
Posts: 770 | From USA | Registered: Jul 2006
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
IMO...and you asked for opinions...Doxy does indeed HELP (without a doubt), but alone, does not CURE lyme.
That is not to say a cure is impossible.
I believe it is...and there is more than one way, but all take TIME.
The body does NOT HEAL FAST.
Posts: 9424 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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