Topic: Pharmacists Give Doxy to Customers To PREVENT Lyme
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Innovative, but not the dose I'd like to see given out.
But, it is one step closer to my dream come true where people can walk in a grocery store, put a quarter in the old-time bubble gum machine, and out falls a handful of Doxy.
It can be done in foreign countries, so why not here?
J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2014 Jan 1;54(1):69-73. doi: 10.1331/JAPhA.2014.13106.
Pharmacist initiation of postexposure doxycycline for Lyme disease prophylaxis.
Jackson AN, Orr KK, Bratberg JP, Silverblatt F.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To enhance public access to prophylaxis for Lyme disease following an identified Ixodes scapularis tick bite through pharmacist-initiated antibiotic therapy and to assess patient satisfaction with the pharmacy-based service provided.
SETTING Independent community pharmacy in Charlestown, RI, from May to October 2012.
PRACTICE DESCRIPTION Under a collaborative practice agreement, trained pharmacists at an independent pharmacy identified patients eligible for postexposure antibiotic prophylaxis following attachment and removal of an I. scapularis tick (commonly known as a deer tick) and dispensed two 100 mg tablets of doxycycline.
Patients were included if they were 18 years or older, provided informed consent, had an estimated time of tick attachment of 36 hours or more, had the tick removed within 72 hours of visit, denied contraindications to doxycycline therapy, and reported telephone access for follow-up.
Patients enrolled in the study protocol were given counseling related to doxycycline, signs and symptoms ofLyme disease, and future tick prevention strategies.
PRACTICE INNOVATION Pharmacist initiation of doxycycline prophylaxis has not been described in the literature previously. Successful pharmacist initiation of antibiotic prophylaxis may have broader implications for states with endemic Lyme disease or other infectious disease public health concerns.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Patient self-reported adverse outcomes and satisfaction with the pharmacy-based service.
RESULTS Eight patients enrolled in the study and completed the follow-up survey. The results indicated a high level of satisfaction with the pharmacy services provided, with no reports of the subsequent development of Lyme disease symptoms or major adverse events.
CONCLUSION The project has expanded to three community pharmacy sites in southern Rhode Island based on this experience. Similar pharmacy-based collaborative practice models should be considered in highly endemic Lyme disease areas.
posted
that requirement for tick attachment for 36 hours or more is total BS. The bite that gave me lyme, the tick wasnt on but a couple of hours at the very most.
So are they implying by this that only two doxycline pills will get rid of the infection early on?
Pharmacists despending drugs.... not too sure how I feel about this but I suppose its better than purchaing over the internet.
We are scheduled for a sever physician shortange in our state due to elderly doctors retiring and no one replacing them.
Posts: 803 | From USA | Registered: Oct 2013
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
If the doxy is already in your blood when you get bit there is a very good chance you wont get infected
(Similar to preventing infection to fetus with mom on abx)
Bu really-the way they have it set up there are way too many holes-too little too late
So many other bugs carry bb...it has been transmitted so much faster like carmen said and by 36 hrs is in places doxy cant get it
Also-ppl like us might be aware of whatt to do-but how many ne we to lyme would
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
-sorry cat fix that-
How many would take abx without doc involved...the"stop taking abx ppl " would have fun with this
Still-like other things happening now awareness and respect for lyme seems to slowly be moving in the right direction
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Carmen said... "So are they implying by this that only two doxycline pills will get rid of the infection early on?"
That info and the time a tick is on you, etc. are all compliments of the IDiots guidelines, directly from them.
For years IDSA/CDC have promoted that garbage and yes, they say it cures.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96237 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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gmb
Unregistered
posted
It's a start... and may help build national awareness, and find the right dosage and duration.
RI already has one of the best pro-lyme Rx treatment laws in the country. If any doctor prescribes any Rx for an associated Lyme diagnosis, then the Rx must be covered within the patient's healthcare insurance policy payment plan (period).
lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
Wow gmb...that is hard to believe but wonderful
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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'Kete-tracker
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17189
posted
In this current age of "worry" about creating abx-resistant bugs thru over-use of antibiotics- which carries a Lot of creedence, I think ANY attempt to provide abx to the general public... in This country, for ANY reason, is Doomed.
{And with the cost of 'doxy' lately, you'd need a doxy-dispensing gumball machine that takes gold coins!}
The # of Hours of attachment Needed to 'pass Lyme on' is, of course, all hooey. AS IF the ticks all take the exact amount of time to find a spot to attach, dig in, & "fill up"! HA!!
As for 2 [100mg] pills "taking care of" any early dissemination of B.B. at the bite location (assuming the tick was Carrying Lyme)... ahhh, Gee... Anyone ever mention the patient's weight, body surface area, etc? Who says 200mg of doxycycline os sufficient?
And we all KNOW the 'ketes can just convert their form to the speroplast (L-form) to help avoid the affects of the abx. Next day (or 2)... convert back & Go! There's plenty of videos showing the L-form converting back to the wild spirochete.
Posts: 1233 | From Dover, NH | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
Generally, getting pharmacists more involved in the medical system is probably a good idea, but with two pills of doxy you wouldn't achieve any type of meaningful blood level.
Chipster
Posts: 44 | From Yes | Registered: Jan 2014
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