How is Lyme disease treated?

Lyme disease can usually be cured if treated promptly and properly. However, without treatment the disease can continue to progress and affect more parts of the body.

Medications: Early stage Lyme disease is treated with a three to four week course of oral (by mouth) antibiotics, such as amoxicillin (Amoxil®), doxycycline (Vibramycin®), and cefuroxime (Ceftin®). Advanced disease may require intravenous (IV, or through the veins) ceftriaxone (Rocephin®) or penicillin (PenG®) for four weeks or longer.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is often given to manage the pain of Lyme disease. Acetaminophen can relieve pain but does not reduce inflammation.

Anti-inflammatory medication is often given to treat the inflammation of Lyme disease. Aspirin can help reduce inflammation. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a type of medication that help reduce the pain and swelling of the joints and decrease stiffness. NSAIDs reduce pain when taken at a low dose, and relieve inflammation when taken at a higher dose. NSAIDs that can be purchased without a prescription include ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®) and naproxen (Alleve®). Examples of NSAIDs that require a prescription include nabumetone (Relafen®), indomethacin (Indocin®), and piroxicam (Feldene®). NSAIDs may cause stomach upset, nausea, and vomiting.

Exercise: Once Lyme disease is under control, doing exercises can help strengthen joints and muscles. Exercises to improve the range of motion of the joints will also assist with the individual's ability to resume normal activities.

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Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics.

The type of antibiotic your doctor gives you and the number of days you take it will depend on your symptoms and the stage of the disease. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about your antibiotic treatment. 

Early treatment

Antibiotic treatment for early Lyme disease is effective, and symptoms usually go away within 3 weeks of treatment.

The earlier antibiotic treatment is started after infection, the faster and more completely you will recover. 

If Lyme disease isn't diagnosed and treated until later problems arise, it may take you a long time to get better. Or you may need more treatment.

Later treatment

If the disease gets worse, treatment options include: 

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen. These are usually helpful for symptoms of arthritis that can occur with late Lyme disease.

• Antibiotics. These may be used for achy joints caused by chronic Lyme arthritis. But joints that have been badly damaged by Lyme arthritis may take a long time to get better, or antibiotics may not improve symptoms.

• Long-term antibiotics. These are commonly used to treat nervous system problems such as tingling and numbness or conditions such as meningitis.

• Antibiotics plus other treatments. These are used to help people who develop serious heart problems, such as severe irregular heartbeat or pericarditis, from Lyme disease. But these problems are extremely rare. Heart problems may start getting better on their own, even before antibiotics or other treatment has started. 

People with partial facial paralysis as a result of Lyme disease may improve on their own without more treatment. 

Even after successful treatment for Lyme disease, you can get it again. So it is important to continue to protect yourself against tick bites.