Lyme disease is an illness that is transmitted through the bite of deer ticks. Because Lyme disease has the potential to cause joint inflammation, nerve damage and impaired memory when left untreated, doctors respond quickly to cases of Lyme disease by prescribing drugs.
Treatment
Doctors typically prescribe antibiotic medications to kill the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium that causes Lyme disease.
Types of Medications
In most cases, oral antibiotics like doxycycline, amoxicillin and cefuroxime are used for treatment. If the infection is advanced, doctors may opt for intravenous antibiotics administered in a hospital setting.
Time Frame
Oral antibiotics are typically used for 14 to 21 days to treat Lyme disease, while intravenous courses of antibiotics usually last from 14 to 27 days, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Risks
The most significant risk associated with oral antibiotics is colitis or inflammation of the colon, which results in severe diarrhea. Intravenous antibiotics used for Lyme disease may cause decreased white blood cell counts and gallstones in addition to diarrhea, reports the Mayo Clinic.
Warning
Some alternative medical practitioners recommend injections of bismacine, which contains a large amount of the metal bismuth, for the treatment of Lyme disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that bismacine is likely unsafe for most people and poses a risk for kidney failure and dysfunction of the cardiovascular system.
Tags: Lyme disease, Mayo Clinic