LymeNet Flash: Question about Doxy and Herxing

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Posted by cutie (Member # 8468) on :

I have been taking 200 mg/d of Doxy. I am on week 6. I feel AWFUL and have for about the past week and 1/2. All my normal symptoms are amplified plus my legs, head and back are constantly aching.

I also have had an upset stomach and lots of nausea.

Is this a herx? I know its a low dose of doxy but we're starting out slow. If this is a herx how long do they last and is it normal for it not to start until about 4 weeks into treatment?

Thank you,
Cutie

Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :

Hi Cutie.

Yes, yes, and yes.

Doxy herxes can be ROUGH.

Stay outta the sun.

For the nausea, try taking the doxy in the MIDDLE of a good-sized meal.

Don't lie down after taking the doxy, even if you feel like crappola. Give it an hour or so. It can hurt your esophagus.

My first month of doxy was one long herx.

Subsequent ones will be easier, I hope.

Do lots of detox and rest, rest, rest.

Drink tons of lemon water.

Here's a hug!

[group hug]

Michelle

Posted by cutie (Member # 8468) on :

Thanks...I was just wondering if this low amt. of doxy could do all this to me or if my symptoms were just getting worse regardless of the med!

Sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy.

Cutie

Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :

Many Lyme patients get flares (worsening) of their symptoms around the 28-day mark while on treatment, having to do with the growth phase of the spirochete.

Sounds like you are right on schedule.

I actually herxed my first night on Doxy (my first antibiotic for Lyme), which some people say is impossible, but I did. And, like you, I started out on a low dose and then went up to the more typical Lyme dose.

I, like you, was on Doxy in the summer, making the sun issues worse. So please be careful in the sun. I personally wore the clothing with the SPF built in (from SunPrecautions catalog/website) along with all the sunblock, etc., but still burned, especially my knuckles from sun exposure from driving. I had to wear gloves while out walking - looked like an idiot and I was hot all the time, but it helped.

Doxy helped me so much - I know it's hard to fathom that while feeling worse, but hang in there.

Jill

Posted by minimonkey (Member # 8693) on :

Doxy (400/day) was my first abx for Lyme, too -- and I herxed like the devil!!! I had NO IDEA it was possible to feel so awful, actually. My symptoms shot thru the roof, and I was one big ball of neurological weirdness and pain. I had to go off it at the 3 week mark when I started having small seizures. Once the herx was over, though, I felt a lot better than before starting it.

The GI issues could be a herx-reaction, they also are really common side effects for a lot of folks on abx in general.

I haven't done doxy again, though I will probably want to do another run with it at some point (preferably in the winter.) I'm on Bicillin and Ketek (also babs treatment) now, and had a mama of a herx from the Ketek at first, too --

All I can say is -- hang in there. Herxing is horrible, but it is SO worth it for a lot of us. I can't believe how much better I feel now!

Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :

Herxing is the price we pay, Cutie, on killing off the spirochetes in our bodies.

They can last forever or short term; we're all so different. My right arm herxed from day 1 of doxy for 1.5 years straight; then 1 day it disappeared earlier this year; go figure? [Big Grin]