Medicine for Lyme Arthritis

Overview

Lyme arthritis or Lyme disease is caused by the spirochetal bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Exposure to this bacteria occurs when a person is bitten by certain kinds of ticks that are infected. It can be a serious condition leading to organ failure. Early detection and treatment with the right medication are essential to minimizing the effects of this disease.

Medication for the Early Stages

According to the John Hopkins Arthritis Center, "Lyme disease in adults is treated with doxycycline 100 milligrams (mg), orally twice daily, or amoxicillin 500 mg, orally three times daily for 20 to 30 days. Doxycycline should not be used in children under age nine years or pregnant women." The antibiotics phenoxymethyl penicillin, tetracycline, cefuroxime axetil, erythromycin or azithromycin are other options as well. The antibiotic used will be based on your tolerance, to avoid any allergies you may have. Substitutions may also be needed if you have other medical conditions.

Options for Later Stages/Chronic Lyme Disease

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases states that, in some cases, the term "chronic Lyme disease" is used with "patients who have non-specific symptoms like fatigue and pain after treatment for Lyme disease but who have no evidence of active infection with B. burgdorferi. Physicians sometimes describe these patients as having post-Lyme disease syndrome." In these cases, they state that further antibiotic therapy is not only unhelpful but may actually be dangerous.

If you are diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Arthritis, you may need to continue taking other medications after you stop the antibiotics to help manage the symptoms of this disease. The John Hopkins Arthritis Center states that "non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, anti-depressants, exercise and physical therapy have been used for symptomatic relief after an adequate trial of antibiotic therapy."

Benefits

Medication to treat Lyme arthritis can be used at any stage of the disease. However the earlier the medication is started, the better your chances of minimizing symptoms. It is treated with either oral or intravenous antibiotics, which will manage the fever, pain, headache and fatigue associated with the disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart and the nervous system." In addition, the CDC claims that "patients treated with antibiotics in the early stages of the infection usually recover rapidly and completely."

Significance

Antibiotics are medicines that specifically fight bacterial infections by killing the bacteria. The Mayo Clinic states that they do not work on infections caused by a virus. You need to take the antibiotic as directed, even after symptoms of Lyme arthritis disappear. This will help to fully resolve your infection and to prevent the development of resistance in bacteria. If you experience gastrointestinal side effects, you should talk with your doctor about trying a different antibiotic that is better tolerated.

Prevention/Solution

Your best defense against this disease is prevention. The Centers for Disease control suggest that you take extra care during the months of May, June and July when ticks are most active. Stay out of woodsy or high grass areas and stick to trails that are open and clear where you will not come into contact with brush. Wear long pants, long sleeve tops, tuck your pants into your socks and dress in light colored clothing so you can see ticks easily. Always check yourself for ticks daily if you spend time outdoors.