Things You'll Need:
- Pain medication
- Cortisone injection
- Antibiotics
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Step 1
Anticipate the first step to treat Lyme disease is a series of antibiotics. Common antibiotics used include doxycycline, amoxicillin or cefuroxime axetil. They are often prescribed prophylactically for a 10-day course when a tick bite has been discovered.
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Step 2
Prepare for antibiotics, such as Rocephin, to be administered through an intravenous line if the nervous system is involved with a positive diagnosis of Lyme disease.
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Step 3
Recognize the need to treat pregnant women with appropriate antibiotics for Lyme disease. There is some evidence that the Lyme disease may be transferred to the fetus and may otherwise complicate the pregnancy.
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Step 4
Consider the possibility of cortisone injections into swollen joints if the disease has developed into an arthritic condition. Medication by mouth, such as ibuprofen, may be suggested to reduce the swelling and improve mobility.
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Step 5
Realize the recognizable rash seen in children with Lyme disease will usually disappear within a few days of antibiotic treatment.
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Step 6
Contact your doctor at the discovery of a tick bite. If you have a medical condition such as heart or kidney disease, or you are undergoing treatment for cancer, he will probably initiate treatment immediately. It is better to assume the tick was a carrier of Lyme disease and treat it aggressively than to wait until the symptoms show up. Late-stage diagnosis could be fatal.
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Step 7
Participate in one of the clinical trials available on the Clinical Trials website. See the Resources section below for a link. Investigation and research into new treatment modalities is ongoing. If you qualify, there are no charges for participation. Each study has specific criteria such as age, weight, serious pre-existing conditions and more, that may exclude participation.
