Lyme Disease is a tick-born disease caused by the spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, which manifest as an inflammatory disease that affects various organs or systems of the body such as the skin, joints and nervous system.

The treatment of Lyme disease would depend on the stage of the disease, whether it is acute or chronic.  As B. burgdorferi is a bacteria, a good antibiotic regimen is expected to provide cure, especially when treatment is started on the early phase of infection.  A 28 day to 30 day intake of oral doxycycline, amoxicillin and ceftin  may offer a complete cure for acute cases.  However, when neurologic symptoms or cardiac abnormalities set in or when the treatment commences on the late stages, intravenous antibiotics would be the choice.  Intravenous ceftriaxone given for 14 to 18 days or more is usually used in such cases.

When the individual has already presented neurological symptoms, supportive therapy should also be part of the management.  The kind of therapy depends on the type of neurological complication, such as Meningitis, Bell’s Palsy or Paralysis. 

If treatment begins in the first few weeks from the time of infection, a cure is likely to be achieved.  However, if treatment is done after three weeks or on the late stages, the chance for a complete cure is diminished which may lead to other complications, such as Arthritis.  

In around 10 to 20% of treated cases, symptoms of pain, joint or muscle aches and fatigue may be experienced for 6 months following treatment and may intermittently erupt in select cases over time. 

If symptoms reappear at different points in life, select physicians believe that people with Lyme disease may benefit from an antibiotic treatment course of amoxicillin for 28 days. For example, if arthritic symptoms become present at any time later in life, it might be wise to consider the benefit of taking amoxicillin  for 28 days against developing serious long term Arthritis, repeated bone breaks and life long discomfort.   This condition is referred to as Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome. Calcium may be an adjunct recommendation in such cases.

It is important to recognize that medications and medical procedures are associated with benefits and risks that should be discussed with your physician. It is important to recognize that all information contained on this website cannot be considered to be specific medical diagnosis, medical treatment, or medical advice. As always, you should consult with a physician regarding any medical condition. Your Health Access disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.