posted
Hello to all of you at this lovely hour of the night! My Lyme brain likes to sleep at weird hours. I am newly diagnosed and on doxy (400mg/day). I have heard that Minocycline or amoxicillin are better. Does anyone know the difference between these antibiotics? My LLMD prescribed the doxy and we are waiting until I have been on them 2 weeks to get the blood draw for Igenex. So far I feel like I'm herxing on this stuff...(I feel like the girl on the exorcist :-) LOL) I'd like to know anyone's opinion on the various antibiotics they have tried! Thanks, pippy
Posts: 446 | From California | Registered: Jul 2004
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
Posts: 10564 | From PA Where the Creeks are Red | Registered: Jun 2003
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rosesisland2000
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2001
posted
I believe that Doxy is a very good choice.
My brother-in-law was bitten two summers ago and knowing our situation and many others, since he is in MA, he got 1000mg of Doxy for one whole month and has not had a problem since. The large amount, I believe, was because of his weight, way over 200lbs.
Since, I am assuming, that you have a recent infection, from what you said about waiting two weeks before Igenex testing, you should do just fine on Doxy...well, unless you have co-infections, which you may very well have gotten.
Remember, to stay out of the sun, even your hands in the car on the wheel can get burned, if sitting in the car with the sun out.
Kara Tyson
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 939
posted
Monocycline and amoxicillin are just a substitute about the same as Doxy and not any more powerful.
Mono is for people who are allergic to Doxy.
Amoxi is for people who are allergic to Pennicillin.
There are some more powerful drugs. Unfortunatly, Dr.'s who do not treat Lyme every day do not know that they can use some differant antibiotics that are now available. They go to their Merck manual and it mentions Doxy and nothing else. If they look it up in a medical book...same thing.
Doxy is a mild drug and would be used for early Lyme.
TheCrimeOfLyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4019
posted
Minocycline is in the tetracyclien family and it more easily crosses the blood brain barrier than does any other tetracycline.
Amoxicillin IS penicillin. It only crosses the blood brain barrier in high doses. Its also just a blood serum abx, so it will not get into tissues at no mattter what dose you take.
Antibiotics are not one size fits all. Everyone has different strains, different forms of the lyme, different gut issues, different symptoms that shout different abx, etc.
You wont be able to find what works best- only your body can tell u that.
I posted a repoly once and good ol lymenet said I couldnt post within 60 seconds of my last post ( and I didnt post) so
viola, h ere I am again. If you have two replies from me, my apologies.
Posts: 3169 | From Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Registered: Jun 2003
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riversinger
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4851
posted
Many Lyme doctors will prescribe doxy as a first antibiotic because it has known action against Lyme, and it also is effective with erhlichea, which is a common coinfection. Tetracyclines are the drugs of choice for treating erhlichea.
Minocycline does have more tissue penetration, but it also has more side effects, so it is less likely to be prescribed first.
Amoxicillin is often used as a second choice drug, after doxy, for children. Tetracyclines like doxy and Mino can cause permanent staining of children's teeth, so Amoxy is used instead. I haven't heard people report a lot of success on Amoxy alone, but it is also often more successfully combined with Biaxin. Amoxy will not treat erhlichea.
There are other drugs that can be used instead of, or in addition to the doxy. The truth is, though, that everybody responds differently to each drug, and there is no silver bullet! Each drug has it's sphere of action, and it's potential negative effects.
If you have had Lyme for a while, chances are you will get to try some of the other meds. The list, singly and in combination, is extensive. Most long trem Lymies need to switch drugs eventually, no matter what they start with.
Since you are on doxy, and herxing, it sounds like it would be worthwhile to stay on it for a while. If your herxing, it's killing spirochetes!
posted
Thank you all for the great info on the antibiotics! I am so glad you all are here and have the knowledge to help answer these questions! I really appreciate it! The links are also full of info that I need! Thanks so much! Pippy in CA
Posts: 446 | From California | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
I've just been to a LLMD. I have been undiagnosed with all kinds of symptoms for over 6 months -- joint and muscle pain, dizziness and imbalance, central nervous system, now brain fog.
All tests are neg and he's now run several new ones. Also prescribed Doxy 100m. I will read the above links to get the best info I can.
However, from what I've read on this board that doesn't sound like a significant enough dose for where I am with this. He seemed open to discussion about what to do, but picked Doxy to address any coinfection that might exist. Of course, I want to get rid of this as quickly as possible.
Should I consider asking him to reconsider the abx and/or the dosage? Any advice is appreciated...thanks!
rosesisland2000
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2001
posted
As said above, 100mg of Doxy will do squat for getting rid of Lyme Disease.
I'd say at least 400mg - 1000mg for at least one whole month if you have had this less than a year.
But, I am not a doctor and lulu, you really need to see a doctor who knows how to treat this and there are only a few handfull of doctors out there that do.
posted
Sorry everyone, I'm new to this and didn't realize it wasn't ok to post a related question in a thread.
To respond, however, I'm seeing a doc that ppl from this board/site recommended more than once and other very active Lyme advocates in my area recommended. He is on the board of ILADS. My mistake, however, he actually prescribed 200mg of Doxy, not 100 (it was 100 2x a day). Still, seems low and I want to kick this thing now if I can so I would like the frontline drug to be likely to do so.
Thanks for the responses! In the future, I'll post a new topic.
rosesisland2000
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2001
posted
lulu, it is perfectly ok to ask a question other than the original poster.
I don't know what she was talking about...you question was in keeping with the original posted question that pippy posted.
To make a new post each and every time a person besides the original poster posed, makes way too many posts and puts pertainant information too quickly onto the second and third pages where they may not be seen.
Not everyone here that recommends their docs as LLMDs ARE LLMDs.
Me, personally, think that I'd reconsider, and try and get to another LLMD. If you are in that area of the US, then , I think you'll be able to find another one, this time a good one.
200mg of Doxy per day will just not make a dent in this disease...it may even just make the bacteria mad and reek more havoc on your body.
IMO, your question was right one the money on the topic posted.
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