Doxycycline for Lyme Disease User Reviews (Page 2)

• Abby...
• March 12, 2017

"I was prescribed 1-2 months of doxycycline to treat my Lyme Disease. The first 2 weeks I was very nauseous, even when I took it with food. DEFINITELY TAKE DOXYCYCLINE WITH FOOD. After 2 weeks my body adjusted and I felt better. The doxycycline made me feel bloated and tired the whole course, but it's totally worth it to be Lyme free. I have one week left in my course so I do not know for sure if it worked, but it worked for my brother who took the same med for the same reason a few years ago."

• ihate...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2020

"I initially thought I had COVID-19 early June when I developed a fever and strong chills. That resolved after a few days. I got diagnosed with Lyme Disease a month later after I developed bell’s palsy and got tested for Lyme. I took doxycycline for 21 days. The facial palsy completely disappeared after 2 weeks. The only side effect I experienced from doxy was nausea. On the last day, my whole body was achy. After a few days, it went away. I still had some days of feeling achy. It’s getting better day by day. I’m feeling way better than before and almost back to normal. However, I think doxy gave me stomach problems or maybe it’s the anxiety from everything that has happened. Who knows. Overall, I’d say it did work and I feel back normal whereas before I felt like it would slowly be the end of my life"

• K Cla...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 17, 2019

"I can’t give it a 10 because it’s not a cure. I believe Mytomycin-C is the cure and I have no way to get my hands on it. Doxy 400mg every 12hr for several months gets a 9 star from me because it saved my life and put me out of my pure misery that I endured for 10 years. Whenever I take it, my trigaminal nerve in my face (right side) heats up and the other joints that are always in pain heat up. But after 10 months I’m at the gym instead of on my death bed. Ps. Have alternated with penicillin for a month and minocycline for a month, then had also have included metronidazole the first month to prevent diarrhea. Can’t stop the doxy or mino though or symptoms return within a few weeks. That could indicate bartonella infection as well sadly. I’ve rescued my share of stray sick cats and groomed my share of tick infested dogs, yuck. Not a pet a person anymore! Anyway, I’m just glad to be alive and not at 1000 on the 1-10 pain scale (my apologies to the math professors out there)."

• LJY
• March 26, 2016

"Took 10 for ten days as preventative after having tick embedded in shoulder. Very strong, but I followed this rule to avoid nausea: drank 8 0z. Water, took pill, drank 4 oz. water 1 hour before breakfast; did the same in evening on empty stomach and remained sitting for at least a hour afterwards. Do not lie down."

• Hiker
• August 7, 2019

"First time I found a tick lodged into my thigh. I removed it put it in a jar alive and went to emergency. There they gave ma precautionary Doxycycline two pills one time only. Then this week I had what I thought was a mosquito bite but there was too much blood. Disinfected it with antibacterial soap. But a day later I notice a red rash, and realized having taken outdoor first aid courses that it was a tick bite and a possible infection. No symptoms of Lyme disease but I wen to my doctor anyway. He prescribed 14 days of the same antibiotic. I had no side effects and the rash is almost gone. I believe in prevention and precautionary treatment rather than be sorry later."

• Georg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2016

"I got bitten by a tick while training for a 100 miler endurance race. I developed the bulls eye textbook version of the rash within a week of the bite. I was placed on Doxy immediately. The first week was tough. It was hard getting out of bed since I felt very exhausted; I gained a whole lot of weight. After a month of taking Doxy, I started 'feeling better'. I have energy and although running is harder than ever, I am doing a lot more than when I first begin this medication. One thing I have battled is yeast infections throughout this month. I have one more month to go and I will update this thread."

• emeigsm
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2023

"I was prescribed 100 mg twice daily for 14 days for suspected Lyme after tick exposure. I managed to get through 11 days of treatment but felt no improvement in my initial symptoms (feverish, chills, extreme fatigue). Stomach issues on this drug were not a huge problem but the increasing anxiety, depression, and fatigue were, so when I started having numbness in my fingers, I came to this site to see if anyone else had an experience like mine. Turns out there are plenty of us! I decided to stop doxycycline with 3 days left to go and hope I can start feeling better soon. Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences."

• Susan...
• May 18, 2018

"I took doxycycline for 20 days when I had a positive Western Lyme blot test. I also had another active positive test six months later, but the CDC only recommends initial treatment. I've taken this med for many things because I am allergic to all drugs except Cephalosporins and tetracyclines. I saw a lot of bad reviews and just wanted to say I take this drug with absolutely NO side effects (just be careful about sunlight and drinking milk with it as per instructions) but I have taken it wonderfully and so has everyone in my family. I also have never met anyone who has had a problem with it. That's not to say everyone's not different -- I'm allergic to a zillion meds! -- but I wanted to assure that I don't believe the majority of people will have a problem with this med so don't be afraid to try it. It's used for many illnesses and is also used in veterinary medicine quite regularly. A few years ago the price spiked astronomically on this med - but I'm pretty sure it's come down now."

• jefw
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 4, 2014

"I've taken Doxycycline continually since 2006, have tried to stop it or use substitute medication usually ending up with admission to hospital. Nasty disease, in my case diagnosed after 29 years. But I'm still alive, not kicking so much maybe. And friendly advice ....read the instructions first, must be taken after food and you simply cannot spend time out in the sun."

• Doxyc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2016

"I was bitten by a tick on my stomach. I was fully clothed and I guess got up under the front of my shirt. Looked like a rash, on my arms, but not the typical bulls eye. I thought I had caught the bite within the 24-48 hour period. Went to see the Doctor anyway with the tick in baggy. She put me on a double dose of Doxycycline just one time. I was shocked that it wasn't at least a week or more regimen. But she said that was all I needed ? The one dose, a double dose didn't seem that strong to me and I had been tired anyway. Not sure if it worked or not ? A month later I battled a terrible flu, I had muscle spasm in my calves and back and stomach, on the pot a lot. Hope I was treated correctly. I worked hard to get help right off."

• ReRe
• January 16, 2019

"Lyme disesase is very painful especially the joints. As well as my knees Doctors found it about 2 months after I was infected. I have been on Doxycycline for 2 weeks and 80% improvement. I have 2 more weeks of antibiotics and should be recovered. I do have spells of fatigue!"

• Flori...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 27, 2017

"I had years of weird problems, no one could ever find anything then in Feb 2017 I couldn't walk as my joints were so painful, they did tests but came back negative. But was so bad they went ahead and put me on doxy 200mg for 21 days in June and on day 18 things really started to turn around. My sense of taste and smell came back, I started to have energy again, my muscle tingling went away, the pain in my joints started to lessen and most of my other symptoms started to fade. It took a few months and then they started to level off at about 75% of normal so I just started a 30 day, 200mg. The only side effect I have is rash in groin and underarms towards to end of the run which I hear taking probiotics will help so going to try that."

• Deemka
• August 20, 2016

"As a fence contractor I was bitten on the chest by a lyme tick which was incorrectly removed. I did have an ecchymotic area surrounding the bite but not the characteristic bulls eye erythema migrans rash. After three months I developed a fever of approximately 102 which persisted for a month. Weakness, sweats and phantom sun rashes led me to conclude the strong possibility of Lyme infection. I began taking doxycycline hyclate which appears to be the best orally tolerated form of this antibiotic for most people. I took an initial dose of 200mg daily divided as 100mg q. 12hrs or twice daily. My fever dissipated slowly over a week and other symptoms went into remission, some of which were so subtle I did nit attribute them to Lyme."

• Lizbop
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 18, 2016

"I took this medication in 2014. I ended up taking this daily for a month and it worked well, but made me extremely naesuous after taking it. To compensate the good bacteria that was being killed, I took some Greek named probiotic that worked pretty well to fix my nausea."

• Kitty...
• March 6, 2017

"It's been 11 days in droxycycline for lymes and I notice a difference in my bones burning. I've suffered for 3 years not knowing what was wrong with me always down and drained. I'm hoping these results after 11 days only keep getting better."

• TPano
• April 28, 2017

"Discovered a tick on my thigh last Sunday after showering. Guessing it happened within 48 hours. Removed and discarded it, not knowing I should have kept it. Bite are was inflamed but painless. Washed it and applied Vaseline and a bandaid. Saw my Doctor on Wednesday. She took blood to test for Lyme disease. She prescribed one dose (two 100mg tablets) of doxycycline hyclate. Took it on an empty stomach with water. Strong reaction. She said to return in six weeks for a follow up. Hope it works..."

• SeaCh...
• July 13, 2016

"Got tick bite June 2014 and ER rash on arm. Got doxycycline 100 mg twice a day for three weeks. No side effects. One year later got stocking/glove neuopathy which progressed, and over a period of one year, and 3 primary care physicians, new symptoms cycled, but never dissappeared. Now, two years after bite, I reviewed my records and noticed I was never tested for lyme. Elisa test was negative, even tho I had bite and circular red rash 3 days after nymph was removed. Now on doxycycline again, 2x 100 mg daily for three weeks. This time, first day made me very fatigued 8 hours after first dose. Take pills on empty stomach and no side effects. No rating since no lyme diagnosis lol."

• Aub
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2021

"My dad and I got put on this medicine because we both got bit by a tic and started getting a bulls eye rash. We both were on the medicine for less then 2 weeks. We both got even more sick by being on the medication, we couldn’t even get out of bed. My dad started having personality changes. He was very confused on where he was at and what he was doing. This medication causes people to have really bad anxiety, depressing, and suicidal thoughts. My dad ended up ending his life while on this medication. Before the medication he was always happy, jokes around with everyone, loved hanging out with his friends and family. He had no history of having anxiety or depression in the past. I do blame doxycycline 100% and I do not recommend this at all. And if you do decide to take it, make sure you have someone watch if you and you talk to someone."

• Mary
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2021

"This was the worst antibiotic I have ever taken, after the 2nd day my head felt like it was going to explode, the pressure was just so unbearable, I honestly would have rather died than continue to take this antibiotic. I took it for 5 days and then I had to stop."

• Thern...
• June 19, 2017

"After suffering vertigo for nearly a week I became very ill and spent a week at Dartmouth Hitchcock. I have been diagnosed with suspected Anaplasmosis once and Lyme disease three times, most recently on 6/16/17. I have taken four 30 day courses and one 14 day course of Doxycycline hyclate 100mg, 2x daily. My physician will prescribe another 30 course of "doxy". I don't feel sick and don't remember having a tick. They can be so small its very easy to miss them. And, I'm tired of taking antibiotics even though I know I need them. "

• KKano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2021

"I was bit on lower leg Thursday and noticed quarter size red rash that was warm, hard, dizziness and pain up my leg. Took ibuprofen/Benadryl and went to bed. Friday AM, rash was more red with 2 clear puncture marks. Called my telehealth and got antibiotic for spider bite. Friday PM, bite was worse. Puncture marks/rash both bigger. Saturday AM, went to urgent care and doctor said it was Lyme. Rash was a bullseye, hard, swollen, and 6”x5”. Doctor prescribed 100mg of doxycycline 2x/day for 5 days. Drank water/took without food for first 4 days without issues. By 5th day, had fever/threw up (not sure if Lyme or Doxy related). By PM, lost vision, eye pressure, headache, and chest pain. Let PCP know and stopped due to severe side effects. Started amoxicillin. I feel doxy can be great to stop Lyme (noticed rash decreased with bruising within 4 days) but side effects weren’t worth it. Developed secondary rashes on legs/hips, not sure if due to Lyme or doxy."

• Diddl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2017

"3 days maybe, with a tick in my left side under my arm, upper rib cage? Got it out, whole, sent it to a lab, it came back positive for lyme and negative for co infections. On 3rd day when I found it, urgent care doctor gave a two time prophylactic dose of doxy and sent me on my way. Maybe that was good enough, but I was outside the 72 hr first dose window, & lyme is something I just do NOT want to fight with. I don't get flu shots, don't take my baby aspirin, don't take my multivitamins, etc, etc...but I also don't get sick. But this? I know people that have been seriously screwed by this so I went to my doc and got the 100mg 2x day script for 14 days. I THINK I'll be okay, I'm generally sturdy. But at 50yrs old I'm playing it safe. 1 probiotic midday, no probs."

• Mrs...
• August 7, 2017

"Was bit by a tick on my left shoulder June 24, five days later went to my doctor and he blood test did me and did a tick panel test. Both tests came back negative, I have since learned 5 days would be too soon for the antibodies and the bacteria to grow and show. Neck feels swollen on the inside and very stiff, went to an ENT to make sure nothing was wrong internally, he said everything is normal. Been really depressed which is not my character, anxiety, super fatigue, feel lost. I'm a landscaper so get ticks often. Went to the doctor Friday 8/1 I believe 2017...had the Western blot test performed awaiting results, going to pcp and demanding 200 mg. Doxycycline. Also following up with Lyme literate doc on 8/31. Will let you know how things go."

• selfp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2015

"Diagnosed with Lyme after years of false negative testing for the disease. I was prescribed 200 mg of doxy daily. I tolerated it for about 18 days before I had an allergic reaction. Rash all over my body, headaches, blood red eye. I thought that I had pink eye again! Stopped the medicine and began a course of Amox after a week. Hope it works. I did experience extreme fatigue and additional Lyme symptoms after about 4 days on the medicine...from what I understand that is called a "herk" effect. Rash, itching and eyes cleared up within 3 days of ceasing the doxy and taking lots of benadryl."

• kcs
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2013

"I have been prescribed this medication two times and both times after several weeks of taking it I developed severe stomach pain resulting in vomiting. I also had severe sunburn after 15 min in the sun. Mild itching all over."