LymeNet Flash: Do you think I've been treated long enough?

This is topic Do you think I've been treated long enough? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/98180

Posted by yankees237 (Member # 25791) on :

I got bitten and got lyme on 5/2/10 and I have

been on antibiotics everyday since within 48 hours

of the initial bite. So almost 4 months. For about

90% of that time Ive felt fine. Had some dizziness

at one point and some muscle twitching a couple

months ago. Have I been on ABX long enough?

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

How long have you been SYMPTOM FREE?? or have you??

I would take abx until I've been symptom free for at least two months.

Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :

Here's the Burrascano answer from page 20:

"EARLY DISSEMINATED: Milder symptoms present for less than one year and not complicated by immune
deficiency or prior steroid treatment:

1) Adults: oral therapy until no active disease for 4 to 8 weeks (4-6 months typical)

2) Pregnancy: As in localized disease, but treat throughout pregnancy.

3) Children: Oral therapy with duration based upon clinical response."

http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf

This is saying that you want to be symptom free for 4 to 8 weeks before stopping therapy.

Posted by onbam (Member # 23758) on :

DOxycycline needs to be at 400 mg/day. YOu may also need to treat for coinfections.

Don't give up--since you started so early, you may still be curable.

Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :

According to the Dr. B guidelines, if you've been symptom-free for a couple months, you're fine to go off abx. Congratulations!! It's a good place to be!

Posted by yankees237 (Member # 25791) on :

I have muscle twitch free for about 3 months and

dizziness free for probably 3-4 weeks. those are

my only 2 symptoms since my tick bite. could the

dizziness have been from ABX? maybe, most of them

have that listed as a side effect.

Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :

If the dizziness went away 3-4 weeks ago and you are still on the abx, I would guess it's not likely that it's from the abx. I would personally stay on them another month to be sure the dizziness doesn't come back.

The way my LLMD put it regarding my daughter is this, it's less risky to keep her on abx one more month than it is to take her off to early and risk not having treated long enough.

Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :

That is so true - don't risk it! Stay on the abx another month.

Posted by littlebit27 (Member # 24477) on :

Yep, I think six (and the LLMD of course) has a great point. Better to treat one more month and have a better chance of staying well then it is to go off and go on a downslide of symptoms worsening.

Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :

If you had muscle twitches I would go the extra mile too. I have found I do that on some drugs even after many months of not doing it.

So I might want to do more of the meds that produced that reaction---just in case.