Topic: Exactly how careful do you need to be with Doxy 200 mg and the sun??
Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
I am on doxy 100 mg twice/day. I know I need to be really careful about sun exposure. But what does this mean exactly?
Can I go out in the sun with 70 sunscreen on and a hat and a tee shirt---say for an hour?
Can I go to the beach, if it's not peak hours, and wear sunscreen, a hat, a shirt, and use an umbrella?
Can I expose my arms to the sun BRIEFLY to the sun with no sunscreen?
I've been careful about the sun for years, as I burn easily and have had lots of precancerous lesions and two cancerous lesions on my face. But I don't want to live like a mole. I live in the city as it is and don't get outside or to the country enough. Thank you, guys!
Posts: 3792 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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sixgoofykids
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I had sunscreen on and my hands got sun poisoning through the windshield in the car. I had to drive with gloves on.
I'd use an umbrella ......
BTW, that's a LOW dose of doxy for Lyme treatment.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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gemofnj
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posted
I wouldnt recommend it either and definitely not expose even briefly with no sunscreen. OUCH!
Whats weird about doxy is that you burn but dont turn red, and you cant see the burn, you just feel it.
Posts: 1127 | From atlantic city, nj | Registered: May 2008
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Rumigirl
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posted
Wow, that's really extreme! I've been extremely low on vit D for years, but am taking it orally, so it's coming up.
Sigh. I'd love to get a tiny bit of sun, but I guess not this summer.
I'm on the low dose, because I'm on IV rocephin, but got another tick bite over Memorial Day weekend!!
I don't tolerate doxy well, due to increased Intracranial Hypertension (horrific migraines/headaches), but seem to be tolerating this dose ok now.
I wasn't tolerating this dose before the rocephin, but that has helped with the headaches somewhat. My LLMD said this dose is adequate with the rocephin.
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sixgoofykids
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Oh, yeah, I hope it works well for you.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
I am with Six, had to wear gloves when driving in the car -- this was during the winter in the midwest.
It doesn't matter about sunscreen & clothing. If the sun has contact with your skin, that is what gives you the burn/rash.
Posts: 379 | From Sydney, Australia | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
Im on 200mg doxy too & next week we're going on a family holiday on a barge. Don't know how im going to keep out of the sun cus i'm the one sailing the boat,(less effort than opening the lock gates) guess i need a big hat & ugg boots. Typical british weather - it normally rains when we go on holiday - bet this year we get sunshine every day :)the joys of lyme
Posts: 69 | From UK | Registered: Jun 2009
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posted
My doc says that if I'm going on vacation, go off the Doxy 2 days before and for the week of the vacation. go back on when vacation is done.
I'm new to the treatment, so I don't know if that is standard advice for all.
-------------------- When we are no longer able to change a situation---we are challenged to change ourselves. (Viktor Frankl- Holocaust survivor) Posts: 460 | From Maine | Registered: Apr 2009
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gemofnj
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posted
The joje,
I am sorry to say that wont work actually.
I went off doxy for a week prior to being in the sun and I got a horrible rash/burn.
The doc says it can stay in your bloodstream for at least 10-14 days.
Perhaps each individual is different, but I certainly wouldnt recommend it. Posts: 1127 | From atlantic city, nj | Registered: May 2008
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posted
Everyone is different. My son used Durascreen and he could be out in the sun. He went to a water park for a couple of hours. Durascreen's directions are to apply every 8 hours. He applied it every 1-2 hours. He didn't have any problems in the car.
-------------------- Peggy
~ ~ Hope is a powerful medicine. ~ ~ Posts: 2775 | From MN | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
we are all different - my story: I would feel that burn on my lips after driving 20 minutes in my car on a sunny day & my hands also would turn red.
LLMD warned me to wear gloves when I did the 2 1/2 hour drive to see him, as well long-sleeve shirt. I simply did it, never tried to do otherwise.
Standing for a few minutes in the summer sun and I felt like I had a fire burning on my shoulders.
You will have to learn what works for you, but if you burn easily anyway, then do not set yourself up to be stuck in the sun. And remember that at the beach the sun is reflected back at you off the sand and the water. And that you can burn on a cloudy or hazy day.
A friend of mine got sun poisoning while on Doxy & visiting CA.
My daughter comes home from work with sunburn on her face: she works in a grocery store and the afternoon sun bounces off car windows onto her face. She also gets red from being in front of the computer screen for too long.
Do not be stubborn about this - be cautious!
ESG
Posts: 424 | From Connecticut, USA | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
Im definately going to try to stay out of the sun as much as possible and wear sunscreen at all times.
I was wondering if it would be a good idea to drop to 100mg for the next week or two,it might help a bit to be on a lower dose. I don't really want to stop altogether, i've only taken it for 3 weeks so far and I feel better than I have for months.
I've avoided the sun since i've been taking doxy but next week is going to be difficult.
Posts: 69 | From UK | Registered: Jun 2009
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
Has anyone besides groovy2 had a reaction to CITRUS or GSE and doxy, causing increased sun sensitivity/burning??
Taking a 1/2 lime in a mini liver flush 1-3 times a week helps me a lot to detox, but I don't want to make the sun sensitivity worse.
And I was taking GSE as a mild cyst buster, as per my LLMD, but now I don't know about that, as groovy2 has said that also causes the sun sensitivity to be way worse.
I get so little outside time or sun as it is, living in NYC, I hate to have total sun avoidance this summer, but it looks like it's either that or switch abx. Sigh.
I'm have a really hard time handling the rocephin & doxy as it is---horrible fatigue and depression, and terrible Candida, in spite of diflucan, probiotics, good diet, etc. I'm about at the end of my rope.
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Rumigirl
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Member # 15091
posted
Thank you, guys. Up for more responses.
Posts: 3792 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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I have been on doxy on and off since I was 12 and I am now 25. Sometimes I've taken it and felt like my skin was literally burn and other times I could take it and just feel sick.
What I will say is that sometimes it can be hard to tell if your skin is burning because it looks fine and then a few hours later you realize you're severely burned. You can get up to 3rd degree burns.
They make sun proof shirts at REI and other retail stores. Sounds lame but they really helped me.
Posts: 484 | From Burlingame, Ca | Registered: Sep 2005
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hshbmom
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Member # 9478
posted
I continued to get blister-like sores on my arms and hands for two weeks after stopping doxycycline.
Wear long-sleeved shirts, brimmed hat, and gloves...anytime you're outside, even when driving.
My LLMD said sunscreen will not prevent this chemical reaction.
Avoid dairy products for 2 hours before & after taking doxycycline.
Posts: 1672 | From AL/WV/OH | Registered: Jun 2006
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Aniek
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Member # 5374
posted
I was on Doxy for 2 weeks for a non-Lyme infection. I did get a burn when I forgot about the Doxy and walked around outside with no hat between 12:30 - 1:30.
When I got home a few hours later and realized my face was burning, I immediately put on aloe and the burn was gone the next day.
I didn't have any other problems. And there were other times I ended up outside without sunscreen for 20 minutes or so.
My advice is to keep around some pure aloe gel just in case. First sign of a burn, put it on. Aloe is an amazing plant.
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