Why do I feel worse on antibiotics for Lyme disease?

Yes. As strange as it may sound, this is actually a good sign. It means the medication is working. What you’re experiencing is called a Herxheimer reaction: the antibiotics are killing off bacteria faster than your body can eliminate them, making you feel worse before you feel better.

Can antibiotics make Lyme disease worse?

Some people who catch Lyme disease, and are treated with antibiotics, feel ill for longer than six months. Symptom relapse occurs for some patients. They start to feel better, but then feel worse again either immediately, or some months, after they have finished their course of antibiotics.

How long does it take to feel better after starting antibiotics for Lyme disease?

Although most cases of Lyme disease can be cured with a 2- to 4-week course of oral antibiotics, patients can sometimes have symptoms of pain, fatigue, or difficulty thinking that lasts for more than 6 months after they finish treatment. This condition is called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS).

What does pain from Lyme disease feel like?

The joint may feel warm to the touch or cause pain during movement. Joint swelling can come and go or move between joints, and it may be difficult to detect in the shoulder, hip, or jaw. Lyme arthritis typically develops within one to a few months after infection.

Can antibiotics make symptoms worse at first?

Depending on the severity of your infection, if you are feeling worse after one to two days of taking antibiotics, or less time if you have worrying new symptoms, you should go back to your doctor. Preferably it should be the one you saw the first time.

What happens if antibiotics don’t work for Lyme disease?

But for up to 20% of people with the tick-borne illness, the antibiotics don’t work, and lingering symptoms of muscle pain, fatigue and cognitive impairment can continue for years — sometimes indefinitely.

What makes Lyme disease worse?

Triggers for Lyme disease vary by person, but they can include: emotional stress (such as a divorce, death in the family, or accidents) physical stress to the body (i.e., surgery, physical harm, concussion) life stress or stressful events.

How long does it take for Lyme disease symptoms to go away?

Although most cases of Lyme disease can be cured with a 2- to 4-week course of oral antibiotics, patients can sometimes have symptoms of pain, fatigue, or difficulty thinking that last for more than 6 months after they finish treatment.

How long does it take to get better from Lyme disease?

Most people recover within one to six weeks.

Does Lyme cause muscle pain?

Musculoskeletal involvement, particularly arthritis, is a common feature of Lyme disease. Early in the illness, patients may experience migratory musculoskeletal pain in joints, bursae, tendons, muscle, or bone in one or a few locations at a time, frequently lasting only hours or days in a given location.

How long does a Lyme flare up last?

These symptoms can include fatigue, joint or muscle aches, and cognitive dysfunction. They may last up to six months or longer. These symptoms can interfere with a person’s normal activities and may cause emotional distress as a result. However, most people’s symptoms improve after six months to a year.

Why do I feel sicker after starting antibiotics?

If you’re taking prescription antibiotics, you may feel tired and fatigued. This may be a symptom of the infection being treated by the antibiotics, or it may be a serious, but rare, side effect of the antibiotic.

Why do Lyme disease patients feel worse on antibiotics?

Your symptoms improve when you’re taking medication for other ailments. Conversely, some individuals feel much worse on antibiotics, where all of their symptoms are intensified. This is called a Jarish-Herxheimer reaction, where the Lyme bacteria are being killed off, and temporarily worsen the underlying symptoms.

What kind of pain does Lyme disease cause?

The pain changes and moves around the body. Another classic trait of Lyme disease is the migratory nature of the pain. The muscle and joint pain, as well as the tingling, numbness and burning sensations often tend to come and go and move around the body.

Are there any oral antibiotics for Lyme disease?

The three first-line oral antibiotics for Lyme disease include doxycycline (Monodox, Doryx, Vibramycin, Oracea), amoxicillin (Amoxil), and cefuroxime (Ceftin, Zinacef).

When do Lyme disease symptoms start to worsen?

Women will often have a worsening of Lyme symptoms right before, during, or after their menstrual cycle. Lyme disease symptoms are known to change with fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone.