LymeNet Flash: Minimum time required to try an antibiotic

This is topic Minimum time required to try an antibiotic in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by soretoes (Member # 40062) on :

How long should a person stay on one particular antibiotic before switching to a different one?

What is the minimum amount of time that I should spend on an antibiotic to know if it works?

Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :

This is a complicated question, as it depends on the antibiotic and your response to it.

You could ask your doctor or a pharmacist, both of whom would be more qualified than we are.

Sorry to be so brief with you, but we don't know your symptoms or medical history.

Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :

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Are you being treated by an ILADS educated lyme literate doctor for lyme? Have you been assessed for other tick-borne infections?

Generally, use of a single antibiotic is not the best approach. It's a complex, combination approach that is individualed to each patient.

With ANY antibiotic for lyme, another agent, a "cyst-buster" is important. Beyond that, though, no single antibiotic will usually be enough.

COMBINATION is nearly always important.
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Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :

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Be sure to see Burrascano's basic treatment guidelines here:

http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=013239;p=0

What is a LLMD? LL ND? What is ILADS?

WHY you need an ILADS "educated" or "minded" Lyme Literate doctor (whether MD or ND, or both) - starting with assessment / evaluation.

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http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=015508;p=0

Diagnosing Lyme Disease (&/or whatever else is going on)

Other tick-borne infections and other chronic stealth infections - as well as certain conditions that can hold us back - are discussed here.

http://www.anapsid.org/lyme/lymeseroneg.html

Reasons for False Negative (Seronegative) Test Results in Lyme Disease
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Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :

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Whatever path, whatever combinations, liver support is vital to go along with Rx treatment.

http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=030792;p=0

LIVER & KIDNEY SUPPORT & and several HERXHEIMER support links, too.
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Posted by sillia (Member # 23994) on :

My doctor always says to give a new antibiotic at least a month before giving up on it. I try to keep notes as I go along, so I can look back and reflect on exactly what's happening. Sometimes it's hard to remember if there has been improvement or not.

However if you are getting side effects (not due to herxing), that might indicate you should stop. The side effects possible will be listed on a sheet the pharmacy gives you or you can look them up online.

For example, I thought Bactrim was helping my TBD symptoms but it gave me terrible stomach problems as a side effect. My doctor said to try pulsing with lower doses but even so I could barely eat and lost weight. So we stopped that and went on to something else.

Once I stopped the Bactrim my stomach problem resolved and I regained the weight. Most side effects should go away as soon as you stop the med.