posted
I just started abx treatment last night with oral Doxycycline. I am taking 100 mg twice daily. So far I have taken 2 doses, but both times it caused me horrid stomach pain. I have never had any sort of stomach problems due to lyme or any sort of medication, so this is very new to me. Right now it feels as though my stomach is on fire (and it comes and goes). It also is making my back hurt very badly.
Has any one else experienced this!?!?
Im kinda freaked out. I really dont think i can continue on this method of treatment...
posted
Doxy has been harsh on my stomach. I did take with crackers. however, changed over to another ABX as it was too hard to tolerate. Watch out with sunshine too, will make you more suseptible to burning.
Posts: 719 | From Delaware | Registered: Jan 2006
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JimBoB
Unregistered
posted
Hi:
I took Doxycycline, along with my herbs, back in February of 2006. The pain was unbearable, and while I WAS going to take it for 28 days, I just could NOT get beyond 24 days. EVERY day was torture for me.
I did have stomach pain before that, which I attribute to all the ascorbic acid, Vitamin C, I took every day for years.
I also took Tetracycline for 28 days BEFORE I took the Doxycycline IT too was TERRIBLE on my stomach.
I finally had to quit ALL abx and stayed on the herbs only. BUT my stomach didn't get better until I switched from regular vitamin C, (ascorbic acid), to C-Salts from nutri-com. MY stomach has been good for the most part ever since.
I took some Amoxicillin for Prostatitis a couple of months or so, ago, and ALSO had stomach problems with it.
I decided to try something, and took it about an hour BEFORE the meal WITH about 1/3 glass of skim milk, and I could tolerate it better that way, MUCH better. Not perfect, but not bad either.
I have not tried THAT with the Doxy though. So YOU MIGHT try that with the Doxy and see IF it helps any. I would definitely call Nutrition Wholesale, you can get their number by Googling or at nutri.com, and start taking the C-Salts from them. You NEED vitamin C anyway, and IF it will help your stomach at the same time, why not?
valymemom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7076
posted
My son's llmd says he should not take doxy on an empty stomach then stomach problems can be avoided.
Posts: 1240 | From Centreville,VA | Registered: Mar 2005
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
I need to eat protien and drink lots of water when I take my doxycycline or I have severe nausea. Drinking lots of water with it makes a huge difference but always eat something when you take it. Side effects sometimes lessen after you've been on the meds for awhile.
Apparently only some brands of doxy can be taken with milk because it makes doxy harder to absorb so be sure to ask your pharmacist for an appropriate brand if you want to take milk with it. Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
My LLMD told me to take doxy with food. I also wear SPF 30 sunscreen whenever I am out in the sun. So far, so good!
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
I take my doxy with a rice cake and butter. Half rice cake, then doxy and 8 fluid ounces of water then the other half of rice cake, so it's sandwiched. So far after 8 weeks, fortunately I haven't had any stomach problems.
Posts: 67 | From UK | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
Thank you all so much! I have been really worried. I took my morning dose at 10 and I am still suffering from stomach pain on and off. I keep eating crackers and I drank some milk and took some milanta, and still no releife.
Now I know that I need to eat something with this abx. I am glad to hear (for my sake) that I am not the only one with this problem, but sad to hear that so many people on top of feeling bad due to lyme have to deal with this pain on top of it all. Thanks for the support!
Did any one herx while on Doxy? and if so how long did it take?
posted
There are 2 ways Doxy can be provided: one is in a capsule and one is in a tablet. We (here) all get nauseous on the tablet form and must use capsule form. Pharmacist swears the tablet form is the only that does make people nauseous - are we the exception?
So you might ask pharmacy to provide you with some of each - experiment for yourself.
Then, take it right in the middle of a meal. I found that if I drink just a little at that time, I get less nauseous: less reflux from liquids. I drink later. Taking it in the middle of the food with a cup of water is what works for me - eat something that coats your stomach or is absorbent: bread, crackers, pasta, peanut/almond 'butter', butter, protein, banana etc..
Some foods/meals will make me nauseous, some do not, so you will have to learn what works for you.
Remain upright after taking the meds - do not lie down or bend over! Let those meds settle into you and not get pushed up again!
ESG
Posts: 424 | From Connecticut, USA | Registered: Nov 2003
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
Sorry to hear about the stomach pain.
I would take it with something heavier than rice crackers/cakes. Like a big dinner ,sandwich or a bigger breakfast if at all possible. Cracker are not enough "food" to take doxy with. I was on doxy for 9 years & if I took my doxy with just crackers I would get very sick.
Also I would ask your pharmasist or doc about taking an antacid too close to the doxy. In my "pill Book" it says"
"do not take with antacids,mineral suppluments and multivitamins containing bismuth, calcium, zinc, magnisium,, or iron may reduce effectiveness... Sodium bicarbbonate may also be a problem. Seperate doses of antacids ect.. and doxy at least 2 hours."
Hope you can feel better soon
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
Capsules made me throw up! Eat protein and some bland crackers before you take your pills/capsules (I usually waited 10 mins after eating). Also, DO NOT drink juice...it is not a pretty picture.
Doxy is rough. Hope you feel better!
-------------------- When you reach your "wits-end" remember this: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 Posts: 397 | From Loudoun County Virginia | Registered: Mar 2007
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
I took mine after a meal with a full 8oz of water.
The first time I took it on an empty stomach...I was up all night
With that doxy feeling like it was burning a hole in my esophagus...
Ouch!!!
Never had problems with it after that other than extreme sensitivity to the sun and heat.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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Don't lay down for 1/2hr to an hour after taking doxy.
Also I never took doxy on an empty stomach. The price was severe if I did.
I herxed on doxy.
It seemed to target my muscles and joints because the pain increased for several months until my doctor stopped the doxy. To me that confirmed that I was herxing because most times it's hard to tell when one is herxing or something else is going on.
Doxy helped me tremendously and I was disappointed when my doctor changed meds - much to my protest.
posted
try oatmeal...I had a really difficult time keeping doxy down as well..now a small amount of oatmeal (1/3 cup cooked) with my pills and no more stomach problems, nausea or vomitting...good luck & hang in there Posts: 13 | From Toronto | Registered: May 2007
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posted
Yes, doxycycline should be taken with foods (that contain some fat, as it's fat soluble).
Also you have to take good probiotics. What probiotics are you taking, and how much of them?
It's best to take the probiotics about 1-2 hours after your dose of doxy, and also another dose or two in the day away from doxy.
I also found taking prebiotics (FOS, but inulin will probably work well too), has helped a lot. You can even take the prebiotics closer to the dose of doxy, like a half hour before or after.
I took large doses of the FOS (fructooligosaccharides), like 3-5 grams each dose.
-------------------- "You know, the worst, meanest, nastiest, ticks in the world are politicks," - Steve Nostrum Posts: 242 | From South NJ | Registered: Dec 2006
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posted
i've always been confused by this...i've always taken by probiotics 2-3 hours after my abx but i've read of people taking them 1 hour before abx...if you take them before won't the abx destroy the good bacteria the probiotics are trying to reintroduce making them useless?
Posts: 13 | From Toronto | Registered: May 2007
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
Hi Fay
Yes. You have to space the probiotics 2 hours apart for abx either way before & after, because the abx will kill off the good flora in the probiotic.
Probiotics are very delicate.
If you take them with food...the release of stomach acid from eating will kill alot of the good flora in the probiotics.
I take my probiotics at bedtime. That way it has all night to release into my system & I usually don't eat right before I go to bed.
Or one hour before a meal is also a good time to take.
Blessings Dana
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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