No Proof Long-Term Antibiotics Fight Nervous System Lyme Disease 06.08.07, 12:00 AM ET
FRIDAY, June 8 (HealthDay News) -- A few weeks of antibiotics as recommended are highly effective for treating patients with nervous system Lyme disease, but there's no evidence prolonged antibiotic treatment offers a benefit, according to new expert guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology.
Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by bacteria carried by ticks. The nervous system is affected in about 10 percent to 15 percent of patients infected with Lyme disease.
"While other guidelines exist to help diagnose and treat general Lyme disease, there continues to be considerable controversy and uncertainty about the best approach to treating neuroborreliosis, in which Lyme disease involves the nervous system," the lead author of the new guidelines, Dr. John J. Halperin of Atlantic Health in Summit, N.J., said in a prepared statement.
He and his colleagues analyzed all available scientific studies on the topic and found that the intravenous antibiotics penicillin, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, and the oral antibiotic doxycycline are likely safe and effective when taken for 14 to 28 days by children and adults.
While other oral antibiotics, such as amoxicillin and cefuroxime axetil, may also be safe and effective, there is not enough evidence to recommend their use, the guideline authors said.
They also concluded that long-term use of antibiotics does not benefit Lyme disease patients who continue to have symptoms after receiving standard antibiotic treatment.
The guideline was published in the May 23 online issue of the journal Neurology.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about Lyme disease.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Same old stuff....different day.
You'd think they'd get tired of tooting their own horn...
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Coyotecrazy (Member # 6707) on :
That's horsehockey! If they bothered to talk to Lyme patients, they'd have all of the anecdotal 'proof' they need that long term, IV antibiotics DO HELP. Most MD's are *******s, anyway, so what's new.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
this was the 2nd disgustng thing i read here in medical tonight!
1st of dr. crist, missouri, having charges and hearing july 13 on him.
now this....
did they include our ILDAS SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE? NO WAY JOSE! hog wash plus! Posted by Soleilpie (Member # 8481) on :
Hmmm....the article has disappeared! Posted by Soleilpie (Member # 8481) on :
Ok, the article is back! They must've been doing some updating. My bad! Posted by northstar (Member # 7911) on :
I am unable to find a link to readers' comments. I can find the link to make a comment, but not to read others'.
Has anyone else found it?
(maybe they are afraid to print them!)
Northstar
Posted by Areneli (Member # 6740) on :
They will publish them later, or not.
Posted by northstar (Member # 7911) on :
They will publish them later, or not.
Well, it has been more than 24 hours since it was posted. I tend to agree with "or not".
We have witnessed two articles from them, which do not meet objective criteria of scientific journalism.
I can only conclude they are not interested in discourse, and only interested in advertising and propaganda.
Poor things: their (IDSA) science does not work, so they have to resort to brainwashing and public intimidation via llmd accusations.
Such a class act.
Now to find a copy of Mein Kampf.....
Northstar
Posted by davidx (Member # 8326) on :
Here is a link to the actual article.
But why is everyone worried? Who needs long term abx? We should all be cured in 28 days, right? lol I guess my lyme and co-infections must've not read those guidelines.
Everytime I read one of these articles, I feel like a sick and dying individual on the streets of some place like N.Y.C., with people just walking by and ignoring me dying there.
And then the article is printed, and it is like a walker by stops and kicks me in the guts as hard as possible.
I feel like throwing up.
Mary
Posted by FightFireWithWater (Member # 5781) on :
I posted a comment on this thread yesterday, but the post isn't here.
As I said yesterday, I found it interesting that the question of the journalistic integrity of "Forbes" magazine was also raised on Bill Moyers Journal this week on pbs. The video was available at www.pbs.org (at least yesterday). The segment is called "Stents or Sensibility."
Posted by northstar (Member # 7911) on :
FFWW:
Have no fear, your posting was not deleted, nor are we experiencing an alternate reality:
![[rant]](graemlins/rant.gif)
That's horsehockey! If they bothered to talk to Lyme patients, they'd have all of the anecdotal 'proof' they need that long term, IV antibiotics DO HELP. Most MD's are *******s, anyway, so what's new.
![[cussing]](graemlins/cussing.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)