Doxycycline for Lyme Disease User Reviews (Page 2)

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

"I initially thought I had COVID-19 in 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 to normal, whereas before, I felt like it would slowly be the end of my life."

• LJY...
• March 26, 2016

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

• Hik...
• August 7, 2019

"First time I found a tick lodged in my thigh. I removed it, put it in a jar alive, and went to the emergency. There, they gave me 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 noticed 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 went 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 being sorry later."

• 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 tick and started getting a bull's-eye rash. We both were on the medicine for less than 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 about where he was and what he was doing. This medication causes people to have really bad anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. My dad ended up ending his life while on this medication. Before the medication, he was always happy, joked 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 you and you talk to someone."

• K C...
• 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 400 mg every 12 hr 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 trigeminal 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 deathbed. Ps. Have alternated with penicillin for a month and minocycline for a month, then have also 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 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)."

• eme...
• 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."

• jef...
• 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 the 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."

• Sus...
• 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."

• Dox...
• 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 it got up under the front of my shirt. It looked like a rash on my arms, but not the typical bull's-eye. I thought I had caught the bite within the 24-48 hour period. I went to see the doctor anyway, with the tick in a 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 spasms in my calves, back, and stomach, and was on the pot a lot. Hope I was treated correctly. I worked hard to get help right off."

• Flo...
• 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 they came back negative. But it was so bad they went ahead and put me on doxy 200 mg 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, 200 mg. The only side effect I have is a rash in my groin and underarms towards the end of the run, which I hear taking probiotics will help, so I'm going to try that."

• ReR...
• January 16, 2019

"Lyme disease 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!"

• Sea...
• July 13, 2016

"Got a tick bite in 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 neuropathy which progressed, and over a period of one year, and three primary care physicians, new symptoms cycled but never disappeared. Now, two years after the bite, I reviewed my records and noticed I was never tested for Lyme. Elisa test was negative, even though I had a bite and circular red rash three days after the nymph was removed. Now on doxycycline again, 2x 100 mg daily for three weeks. This time, the first day made me very fatigued 8 hours after the first dose. Take pills on an empty stomach and no side effects. No rating since no Lyme diagnosis, lol."

• Dee...
• 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 bull's-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 200 mg daily, divided as 100 mg q. 12 hrs or twice daily. My fever dissipated slowly over a week, and other symptoms went into remission, some of which were so subtle I did not attribute them to Lyme."

• Kit...
• March 6, 2017

"It's been 11 days on doxycycline for Lyme's, 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."

• Liz...
• 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 nauseous after taking it. To compensate for the good bacteria that was being killed, I took some Greek-named probiotic that worked pretty well to fix my nausea."

• TPa...
• 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 was inflamed but painless. Washed it and applied Vaseline and a Band-Aid. Saw my doctor on Wednesday. She took blood to test for Lyme disease. She prescribed one dose (two 100 mg 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..."

• Did...
• 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 the 3rd day when I found it, the 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-hour first dose window, and 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 100 mg 2x day script for 14 days. I THINK I'll be okay, I'm generally sturdy. But at 50 years old, I'm playing it safe. 1 probiotic midday, no probs."

• The...
• 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 100 mg, 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 it's very easy to miss them. And, I'm tired of taking antibiotics even though I know I need them."

• 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 a Lyme literate doc on 8/31. Will let you know how things go."

• Mar...
• 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."

• 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 minutes in the sun. Mild itching all over."

• sel...
• 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."

• Mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2018

"I’m 18. I found the tick on the top of my butt, and I was getting ready to get dressed for graduation when I noticed it. My doctor prescribed me this as soon as she saw the mark, it didn’t really look like a bullseye at all to me. 30 minutes after I took it the next morning on an empty stomach, like said, I threw up for a while, I couldn’t eat a thing. Now I take it after I eat, and I feel a lot better. I get headaches, a bad headache now and again, and I also feel tired sometimes, but I don’t have any bathroom issues."

• KKa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2021

"I was bitten on my lower leg Thursday and noticed a quarter-size red rash that was warm, hard, dizziness, and pain up my leg. Took ibuprofen/Benadryl and went to bed. Friday AM, the rash was more red with two clear puncture marks. Called my telehealth and got an antibiotic for a spider bite. Friday PM, the bite was worse. Puncture marks/rash both bigger. Saturday AM, went to urgent care and the doctor said it was Lyme. Rash was a bullseye, hard, swollen, and 6”x5”. The doctor prescribed 100mg of doxycycline 2x/day for 5 days. Drank water/took without food for the first 4 days without issues. By the 5th day, had a fever/threw up (not sure if Lyme or doxycycline 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 doxycycline 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 doxycycline."

• ems...
• September 26, 2020

"Wanted to share my experience as I was really nervous to take doxycycline for Lyme disease due to the bad experiences mentioned all over the internet (and I have a fear of being sick). It was completely fine! I took 1 pill twice a day for 21 days, and always made sure to take them with food (avoid dairy as it affects absorption). It was completely fine! For a couple of days near the start, there was some *slight* nausea, then nothing at all for about two weeks, then some nausea again at the end. I wasn’t sick, and I didn’t have headaches or any of the other symptoms mentioned here. Most importantly, they cleared up my horrible Lyme rash and hopefully mean that the illness won’t affect me in the future. If you’ve been prescribed these for a similar reason, DEFINITELY take them, plenty of people have few or no side effects, and Lyme is something you do not want to mess with! Note: my doctor also prescribed me pantoprazole to take once a day to protect my stomach. I only did this for the first week."