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 during treatment for Lyme disease include:
Patients with certain neurological or cardiac forms of Lyme disease may require intravenous (IV) treatment. Medications used for this type of Lyme disease treatment can include:
Length of Treatment for Lyme Disease
Patients treated with antibiotics in the early stages of a Lyme disease infection usually recover rapidly and completely. Antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease can range from 14-28 days.
A few patients, particularly those who are first diagnosed with later stages of the disease, may have persistent or recurrent symptoms. These patients may benefit from a second 4-week course of antibiotic therapy. Longer courses of antibiotic treatment have not been shown to be beneficial, and have been linked to serious complications, including death.
Pregnancy and Lyme Disease Treatment
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 persons, although certain antibiotics are not used because they may affect the fetus. If in doubt, discuss the various treatment options with your healthcare provider.
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