Antibiotic Treatment for Lyme Disease
Most cases of
Lyme disease can be cured with a few weeks of antibiotics taken by mouth. Oral antibiotics commonly used to treat Lyme disease include:
People with certain neurological or cardiac forms of Lyme disease may require intravenous (IV) treatment. Medications used for this type of Lyme disease can include:
Length of Lyme Disease Treatment
People treated with antibiotics in the early stages of a Lyme disease infection usually recover rapidly and completely. Antibiotic treatment can range from 14 to 28 days.
A few people, particularly those who are first diagnosed with later stages of the disease, may have persistent or recurrent symptoms. These people may benefit from a second four-week course of antibiotic therapy. Longer courses of antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease have not been shown to be beneficial and have been linked to serious complications, including death.
Effect of Treatment for Lyme Disease on Pregnancy
Studies of women infected during pregnancy have found that there are no negative effects on the fetus if the mother receives appropriate antibiotic treatment for her Lyme disease. In general, treatment for pregnant women is similar to that for non-pregnant women, although certain antibiotics are not used because they may affect the fetus. If in doubt, discuss the various treatment options with your healthcare provider.
