posted
Why does Lyme require such a long course of antibiotics? What would happen if you just take antibiotics for 7 or 10 days
Posts: 15 | From San jose | Registered: Jul 2017
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Brussels
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13480
posted
I guess, you got to read the posts for newbies...
You don't even have to take antibiotics for long, but you'll probably need to treat for long (at least, longer than what we usually expect).
Just to be sure, it's really gone.
In the past, a short course of antibiotics could deal with lyme, but in the last 20 years, if you become symptomatic, you may need weeks to months or some, even years of treatment.
While some people choose to go on drugs, some others (like myself) dislike drugs (or think drugs do not work well anyway) and choose other alternatives.
If you are freshly bitten, I would take about 4 weeks to 6 weeks, in case my gut is in good condition.
I mean, if I knew nothing about lyme, that is what I would do.
I was just freshly bitten and am on treatment, but no drugs for me.
I hope you read the newbie threads and make your own mind.
Posts: 6199 | From Brussels | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
thanks. I found a tick attached to me which did not look engorged to me and I have no symptoms since more than 6 weeks now.with help from this group I decided to get treatment or test only if symptoms show
Now I am having to take 5-7days of antibiotics for an unrelated cause.
so the question is if I do have the Lyme bacteria can taking a shorter course of antibiotics be harmful in anyway.
I will be taking a short course of abx for another unrelated cause. But suppose if I have the Lyme bacteria the abx would kill Lyme bacteria as well. But since it is a shorter course than what an abx course for Lyme would be, can it end op making the Bacteria stronger.
I read somewhere that abx can make the bacteria go into cyst form which is why a longer course is recommended to kill those as well. But if abx are stopped early those bacteria in cyst form will remain and will become resistant to treatment later on .
Since I will be on antibiotics anyway does it make sense to just go ahead and take a longer course ?
My gp had offered to give me abx if I wanted when I found the tick but I decided to not do anything until symptoms showed. Now I have all these questions and don't think my gp knows the answers. He was reading info about Lyme from some website and giving it to me. He is nice though, just uneducated about Lyme.
Posts: 15 | From San jose | Registered: Jul 2017
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posted
I wouldn't take the longer course if you only need 5 days for the other infection.
Are you sure the other issue isn't Lyme related?
If it's not, then the shorter dose isn't enough to treat Lyme, but then again, even taking if for a week longer isn't either.
Also, a herx from the short dose of abx would show whether you have Lyme.
I agree with Brussels, if your GP doesn't know, then keep reading and come to a decision based on what you learn. You also might look at www.ilads.org for guidelines on Lyme treatment.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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