I was diagnosed with lyme disease and was treated with 28 days of doxycycline. A few days after I finished my last dose, I took my first drive in months and found that I had difficulty with blurred vision and spatial awareness, which sometimes causes headaches. I also have sensitivity to noise. The symptoms get better/worse depending on the day, but I definitely have more difficulty in sunlight.
After some research, I have come to find out that this medication can cause brain swelling, resulting in the symptoms that I have. (This was not mentioned on the drug insert that came with the medication).
Has anyone else experienced these issues? If so, how did you treat them? I am concerned that I will go to a neurologist, who will just prescribe me more medication with new side effects. I prefer natural remedies at this point, but I am not sure what will be effective.
Any insight is much appreciated!!
Posts: 1 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2024
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aklnwlf
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5960
posted
I had brain swelling with severe headaches and the only thing that helped me were ice packs right on my head. Hope this helps!
-------------------- Do not take this as medical advice. This comment is based on opinion and personal experience only.
Alaska Lone Wolf Posts: 6347 | From Columbus, GA | Registered: Jul 2004
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kgg
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5867
posted
It is called pseudotumor cerebri or intracranial hypertension. The sun sensitivity is a side effect but the other symptoms you describe are the other.
I hope that you have been in contact with the prescriber.
Reading on it, it says it will resolve in 2-4 weeks. But that is a long time. You may require a diuretic. for some a steroid if it is bad enough.
So please call your physician.
Posts: 1722 | From Maine | Registered: Jun 2004
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Miss T, don't lose sight of the symptoms you mentioned are also symptoms of acute/chronic Lyme disease. feeling swelling of brain spatial awareness aka brain fog blurred vision sensitivity to noise sensitive to sunlight
And the big clue that this all could be you still have Lyme is you mention day to day. With Lyme symptoms can be hour to hour, day to day, week to week etc.
You didn't mention if your bite(s) were new/early treatment or if it took sometime to figure out that you have Lyme. 28 days of antibiotics in all probability wasn't enough. Doxy really isn't the answer either way.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6485 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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Lymedin2010
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 34322
posted
Doxy I took when I first got sick and it gave me big time brain herx, with pressures and weird movement/pains, thumps & bumps in the brain.
By week 6 it got intense and I almost gave up, glad I did not because after week 6 then things got better and in 8 weeks I was 90% better with head pain gone.
It came back in the oncoming months gradually, because the bacteria became resistant, despite still being on doxy. I was on doxy for years.
I always get nausea in the first 2-3hrs, the less I eat when taking doxy. You should take on full stomach & good amount of water.
Doxy in itself causes more ear ringing when I am on it, it just does.
I got eye disturbances, such as blurry vision & greyscale view of the world (loss of some color) only in beginning when I was herxing & there was dieoff, but never again.
Posts: 2094 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2011
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