IV versus oral antibtiocs and neuro-Lyme

Dear Dr.,

Do you have an opinion on when/if to use IV antibiotics for Lyme disease, in particular when neurological involvement is suspected?

Does it make a difference if the patient begins with oral antibiotics?

I have been on oral antibiotics for 5+ months with some success, but am still far from recovered.  I have an Igenex IgG postive Western blot (CDC negative).  I also have Bartonella.  I have brain lesion on MRI that are likely from my Lyme, evidencing possible neuro-Lyme.

Thanks.

[Garth L Nicolson, PhD]

Whether to use iv or po antibiotic therapy is entirely up to your physician.  However, I would make sure that your physician is Lyme-literate and is up on the latest treatment options.  For example, physicians associated with the Intern Lyme and Assoc Diseases Society (ILADS) are very up-to-date on Lyme treatments.  Also, we have posted a recent review on the topic by one of the world's experts on Lyme, Dr. Joe Burrascano, on our website, www.immed.org.  This review covers all of the current treatments for Lyme Disease, and I urge you to download this document for yourself and your physician.

Often when patients have Bartonella, they also have Mycoplasma.  Both of these Lyme-associated infections, especially the Mycoplasma, can invade the CNS and cause neurological symptoms, just like Lyme Borrelia.  One of the biggest problems in treating Lyme Disease is making sure that the co-infections are also being treated effectively along with the Borrelia infection.  ProfGN