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A single prophylactic 200mg dose of Doxycyline prevents Lyme disease

cdc.gov

111–120 of 133 posts

Re: A single prophylactic 200mg dose of Doxycyline prevents Lyme disease

#111
post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am right there with you. Took one week Doxy after being bit and got a rash anyway. About two years later mental fog and all our hell took over, tested positive but doc wouldn't give me antibiotics because I took the initial one week "and it's not possible that I have Lyme". Years later I have lost a business I founded and countless months where I couldn't even think let alone function. One day IS ABSOLUTELY not eno…

This is one of my biggest gripes with the American medical system. Every physician is entitled to act like it's his duty to play global health director rather than attending physician. Pro-tip: take a trip to central or south America, and buy over-the-counter antibiotics from a farmacia for pennies on the dollar. Source: I inherited this wisdom from Kari Mullis, Nobel prize winning inventor of PCR.

I understand why the advantages of this approach, but at the same time, we live in a world where people abuse antibiotics. As a result, microbes are rapidly developing resistance to antibiotics, and antibiotics are not an infinitely renewable resource.

So I understand why the doctors are hesitant to hand out antibiotics on a whim. There's not candies. And we all want to avoid a situation where no amount of antibiotics will cure your Lyme, UTI, STD, or tuberculosis.

Re: A single prophylactic 200mg dose of Doxycyline prevents Lyme disease

#112
post #59

Where I live (SW Missouri Ozarks) Lyme disease isn't as common places back east but ticks and getting bit by them are, especially this time of year. We get lots of folks coming here to hike and camp and backpack in the Summer months, but most locals don't. We go to creeks and streams and lakes and hang out on the rocky banks and gravel bars and swim, boat, canoe (float trips), and if we camp out we set up our tents o…

Been in Springfield for a year-plus now, and had my first tick bites up in Ozark and first infection from mites at my place at the edge of town. Good times.

Re: A single prophylactic 200mg dose of Doxycyline prevents Lyme disease

#113
post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is one of my biggest gripes with the American medical system. Every physician is entitled to act like it's his duty to play global health director rather than attending physician. Pro-tip: take a trip to central or south America, and buy over-the-counter antibiotics from a farmacia for pennies on the dollar. Source: I inherited this wisdom from Kari Mullis, Nobel prize winning inventor of PCR.

I understand why the advantages of this approach, but at the same time, we live in a world where people abuse antibiotics. As a result, microbes are rapidly developing resistance to antibiotics, and antibiotics are not an infinitely renewable resource. So I understand why the doctors are hesitant to hand out antibiotics on a whim. There's not candies. And we all want to avoid a situation where no amount of antibiotic…

But all of this caution is negated by feeding cattle antibiotics as a matter of process on feedlots.

Re: A single prophylactic 200mg dose of Doxycyline prevents Lyme disease

#114
post #104
post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is one of my biggest gripes with the American medical system. Every physician is entitled to act like it's his duty to play global health director rather than attending physician. Pro-tip: take a trip to central or south America, and buy over-the-counter antibiotics from a farmacia for pennies on the dollar. Source: I inherited this wisdom from Kari Mullis, Nobel prize winning inventor of PCR.

Seriously. I hate having doctors dole out prescriptions like priests handing out indulgences. I wish 90% of prescription meds were over the counter.

It's the same with everything else in this world. People tell others to go to the doctor, dentist, get an electrician, a contractor. It's all bullshit. Go on youtube, investigate all options, execute. Everything is pennies on the dollar and you will feel better.

Re: A single prophylactic 200mg dose of Doxycyline prevents Lyme disease

#115

Not accurate. If you read the original research study this recommendation is based on, it prevents the bullseye rash, which they used as a proxy measure. It's unclear whether or not it actually prevents lyme. I personally got bitten by a tick, did the prophylaxis dose, and then developed joint pain which continued until I did a full 21 day course. Yeah it sucks not being able to go in the sun for an entire month and…

I was bitten by a tic when I was a kid, maybe 30 years back, got the target rash, went to the doctor and got some antibiotics - no idea which ones, and IIRC I didn't take the full course.

Around 5 years later I got reactive hypoglycemia, an autoimmune condition. Though thinking back, it may have started developing shortly after the tic bite.

Around 10 years after that, I got 2 separate skin conditions, also autoimmune in nature.

Around 10 years later, I developed more autoimmune issues, small fibre neuropathy and CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) - so I have constant neuropathic pain, constant muscular pain, bad brain fog, chronic fatigue and PEM (post-exertional fatigue).

I have no proof that the tic bite is the root cause, and Lyme tests at the time the symptoms came on were negative; still, I can't help but wonder if the actions of that tiny tic, 25 years back, were the cause of ruining my life.

Re: A single prophylactic 200mg dose of Doxycyline prevents Lyme disease

#116

Have a severe autoimmune condition. Tons of weird issues. But didn’t know it. Would occasionally take doxycycline. My issues would clear up for a few weeks. Mentioned this once to a doctor neuro-ophthalmologist). He grew interested and started asking about how dry my eyes and mouth were. I said they were fine. He insisted on testing. I failed. I was just used to them being dry Declared I had had Sjogrens. An autoimmu…

Interesting, how long is a course for you, and what dosage please?

Re: A single prophylactic 200mg dose of Doxycyline prevents Lyme disease

#117

Not accurate. If you read the original research study this recommendation is based on, it prevents the bullseye rash, which they used as a proxy measure. It's unclear whether or not it actually prevents lyme. I personally got bitten by a tick, did the prophylaxis dose, and then developed joint pain which continued until I did a full 21 day course. Yeah it sucks not being able to go in the sun for an entire month and…

I was bitten by a tic when I was a kid, maybe 30 years back, got the target rash, went to the doctor and got some antibiotics - no idea which ones, and IIRC I didn't take the full course. Around 5 years later I got reactive hypoglycemia, an autoimmune condition. Though thinking back, it may have started developing shortly after the tic bite. Around 10 years after that, I got 2 separate skin conditions, also autoimmun…

if you've taken antibiotics this is a more likely cause

our food is toxic and everyone is developing stomach and autoimmune conditions so this is also more likely

Re: A single prophylactic 200mg dose of Doxycyline prevents Lyme disease

#118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was bitten by a tic when I was a kid, maybe 30 years back, got the target rash, went to the doctor and got some antibiotics - no idea which ones, and IIRC I didn't take the full course. Around 5 years later I got reactive hypoglycemia, an autoimmune condition. Though thinking back, it may have started developing shortly after the tic bite. Around 10 years after that, I got 2 separate skin conditions, also autoimmun…

if you've taken antibiotics this is a more likely cause our food is toxic and everyone is developing stomach and autoimmune conditions so this is also more likely

I don't understand; are you claiming that anyone who ever takes antibiotics is putting themselves at risk of developing autoimmune conditions?

Re: A single prophylactic 200mg dose of Doxycyline prevents Lyme disease

#119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What did your treatment end up being? Did you take long term antibiotics?

There isn't a ton of boiler plate here. I was pretty lucky in that unlike most patients I actually felt better when something was working. That didn't mean it solved the problem but it did mean I had some hints as far as what might work and feed back to pass to my second, third and fourth opinions. That said insurance hides behind "medically necessary" procedures and medications. In the real world if you are a tech f…

The medical insurance racket has everyone hypnotized into following their financial interests. Go to a new doctor and say the magic words "no insurance, im paying out of pocket" and suddenly a new, often times very affordable hidden cost menu appears, a menu doctors are contractually prohibited from showing you if you are insured. It's the reason the first question you're asked at the front desk is "do you have insurance." Out-of-pocket, office visits are 150 to 300, follow ups are 40 to 75 procedures are a fraction they quote when youre insured and copaying costs, and most importantly, your doctor is free to treat you, without insurance cost restraints bending his medical judgement. Its a whole new ballgame.

Re: A single prophylactic 200mg dose of Doxycyline prevents Lyme disease

#120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am right there with you. Took one week Doxy after being bit and got a rash anyway. About two years later mental fog and all our hell took over, tested positive but doc wouldn't give me antibiotics because I took the initial one week "and it's not possible that I have Lyme". Years later I have lost a business I founded and countless months where I couldn't even think let alone function. One day IS ABSOLUTELY not eno…

Once I was actively taking doxycycline when I went for a walk through the woods with some friends. After the walk I took a shower and made sure a tick didn’t catch a ride. Put my clothes back on and flew home the next day. Fast forward a week, I’m hanging at my in-laws house when I scratch my leg and feel something off. Pull my pants up and there’s a tick, but it looks flat. My nurse sister jumps into action and twee…

I wonder if you shook your clothes out before putting them back on.
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