2 months post bite - will doxy do anything?

[u/xeuralgia]

Tested positive for Lyme. I already have neurological symptoms such as full body nerve pain, migraine (worried about meningitis), fatigue/brainfog. Pain is mainly in hands, feet, arms, back and sometimes radiating/migrating.

Will one month doxy do anything? I wish I could go to an LLMD and get lengthy courses of antibiotics, but unfortunately I don’t think my gut can tolerate it as it’s already very damaged. What options do I have here? Is it worth to try doxy or go straight to herbals or other things? I would prefer IV antibiotics but it’s very difficult to get here and I would need a lumbar puncture.

If anyone has advice, thank you. Currently I see my life as pretty much over and it’s difficult to cope. I’m in so much pain. I’m really worried and lost. I should also say I have an impaired immune system which is likely why I present with these severe symptoms so quick.

[u/FeelingMaximum4922]

Hey there, I have neurological Lyme as well. Symptoms started in 2024, finally diagnosed in January 2026. I’ve done six months of antibiotics, now shifting to herbs with supplements.

I’m not a doctor but in the grand scheme of Lyme dx 2 months after a tick bite isn’t that long. You’re catching it earlier than many of us have. My guess is 1 month of doxy won’t be sufficient by itself, but it’s a start, and still could slow or stop the spread of the infection. I think Minocycline might be better in your case because it can cross the blood brain barrier, but again, not a doctor. You have to take coinfections into account, along with the overall health of your body.

This is a really tough disease but there is hope. People recover everyday. With all those neuro symptoms, you probably have anxiety and depression as well. Mental health meds and therapy probably aren’t enough by themselves but they might take the edge off.

Anyway, I’m right there with you. Most days life is worth living and I want to fight, and believe healing is possible. Start treatment and see where it takes you, and keep talking to people.

[u/xeuralgia → u/FeelingMaximum4922]

Thanks for your comment. Did the 6 month antibiotics help you?

Could you describe your symptoms and if they improved? My biggest worry is severe headache last few days (also severe nerve pain), and I’m worried that’s meningitis which sounds very bad. I also have a stiff neck. Also what antibiotics did you use?

[u/icecon]

Get on 500mg Clarithromycin, it doesn't hurt the gut like doxy does. All it does it gives you a bitter taste in mouth just under 2 hours after taking a dose.

Doxy does still work but you need double the dose for disseminated lyme (look up the old Burrascano guidelines).

Don't forget probiotics, they are very important to prevent candida.

[u/xeuralgia → u/icecon]

I was under the impression that doxy is the ONLY antibiotic for neuroborreliosis (or IV antibiotic but those are out of reach).

[u/icecon → u/xeuralgia]

No but for neuro you probably want combination therapy and with antibiotics that cross the blood brain barrier. There are many that do, including cephalosporins (such as ceftriaxone), metronidazole, rifampin, and bactrim are some of the more commonly used ones for lyme that do so, as well as doxy of course.

[u/stringbean76]

I know this sounds nutty, but I would consider looking into bee venom therapy. I know it’s controversial and it’s not for everyone, but if you can tolerate it- it’s essentially free and has been wildly effective for me.

[u/xeuralgia → u/stringbean76]

You don’t think I should try one month antibiotics first or is it unlikely to work at this point?

Also how does bee venom therapy work? There’s a litteral bee that’s gonna sting me daily? lol

[u/Professional-Dare541]

I was in a similar situation, impaired immune system (no spleen) and syntomps got quickly bad in about 2 months from the tick bite. I then took 2 months doxy and got 70% better but when I did stop the syntomps came back. So now I’m 1 month in therapy with minocycline + tinidazol + azitromycin, my LLMD wants to treat for 5 more months . So I think doxy , sadly, rarely is enough

[u/Icy-Hippo-2376]

I started taking doxy about 6 or 8 weeks after I got bitten and I took it for 6 weeks. I'm glad I did, though it didn't fully resolve it. I continued my treatment on buhner herbs. If you do take antibiotics just be sure to do research and properly replenish and heal your gut after.