Oral antibiotic (tablets, capsules and liqudis) are recommended for treating early, mid- and late-stage Lyme disease. Most people will require a two- to four-week course of antibiotics depending on the stage of the condition.
If you are prescribed antibiotics, it is very important that you finish the course even if you are feeling better because this will ensure that all the bacteria are destroyed.
If your symptoms are particularly severe and include arthritis or neurological conditions, antibiotic injections (intravenous antibiotics) may be used. Most people with mid- or late-stage Lyme disease will require a course of intravenous antibiotics.
Some of the antibiotics that are used to treat Lyme disease (both oral and intravenous) can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight (photosensitivity).
You should check the leaflet that comes with your medication to see if this is the case.
If it is avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and do not use tanning equipment until after you have finished the course.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
As a general rule antibiotics tend not to be prescribed during pregnancy as a precaution in case they affect the development of the baby.
Though exceptions can be made if it is thought that the benefits of treating Lyme’s disease outweigh any potential risk.
You should discuss the pros and cons of using antibiotics with the doctor in charge of your care.
The Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria that cause Lyme disease cannot be passed on through breast milk, so it is safe to breastfeed if you have Lyme disease.
