Treatment FAQ

what is typical treatment for lymes disease

by Dr. Ernestine Altenwerth I Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

For early Lyme disease, a short course of oral antibiotics, such as doxycycline or amoxicillin, cures the majority of cases. In more complicated cases, Lyme disease can usually be successfully treated with three to four weeks of antibiotic therapy.

What is the treatment of choice for Lyme disease?

Antibiotics. The three first-line oral antibiotics for Lyme disease include doxycycline (Monodox, Doryx, Vibramycin, Oracea), amoxicillin (Amoxil), and cefuroxime (Ceftin, Zinacef). Ceftriaxone (“Rocephin”) administered intravenously is the preferred antibiotic for neurologic Lyme disease in the United States.

What do doctors do for chronic Lyme disease?

In the majority of cases, it is successfully treated with oral antibiotics. In some patients, symptoms, such as fatigue, pain and joint and muscle aches, persist even after treatment, a condition termed “Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS)”.

How successful is Lyme disease treatment?

The prognosis after early treatment of Lyme disease is generally very good. The prognosis worsens, however, when diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Most patients with early Lyme disease infection recover with antibiotics and return to their normal state of health.

Is it hard to treat Lyme disease?

Is this typical for Lyme disease? ANSWER: Lyme disease can be difficult to treat – especially when it is not identified right away. It is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, which is spread through the bites of tiny blood-sucking ticks that hide out in grassy meadows and wooded areas.

What are neurological symptoms of Lyme disease?

What are the symptoms? Neurological complications most often occur in early disseminated Lyme disease, with numbness, pain, weakness, facial palsy/droop (paralysis of the facial muscles), visual disturbances, and meningitis symptoms such as fever, stiff neck, and severe headache.

What does a Lyme disease flare up feel like?

a red, expanding bull's-eye rash at the site of the tick bite. fatigue, chills, and general feeling of illness. itching. headache.

Is Lyme disease lifelong?

If treated, Lyme disease does not last for years. However, for some people, the after-effects of the disease can linger for months and sometimes even years. Alternative medicine providers call this condition "Chronic Lyme disease," but this title is simply wrong.

How serious is Lyme disease?

Untreated, Lyme disease can spread to other parts of your body for several months to years after infection, causing arthritis and nervous system problems. Ticks can also transmit other illnesses, such as babesiosis and Colorado tick fever.

What are the symptoms of late stage Lyme disease?

Symptoms of late stage Lyme diseaseSevere headaches and neck stiffness.Additional EM rashes in new places on the body.Facial palsy, also known as Bell's palsy – paralysis of one side of the face.Arthritis or joint pain and swelling, especially of large joints (such as the knee)More items...

Why do doctors not treat Lyme disease?

The medical establishment refuses to accept the fact that the Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, sequesters and hides in deep-seated tissue, such as ligaments, tendons, bone, brain, eye, and scar tissue. This stealth pathogen is persistent in the body, and is hard to treat.

What happens if Lyme disease is not treated?

Left untreated, Lyme disease can spread to joints and organs, causing significant damage. Arthritis, heart disease, and nervous system problems are common complications of untreated Lyme disease.

How long does a tick have to be on you to get Lyme disease?

In most cases, the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted. Most humans are infected through the bites of immature ticks called nymphs. Nymphs are tiny (less than 2 mm) and difficult to see; they feed during the spring and summer months.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9