Herx or medication side effect

[KaraM]

Ok...I started Doxycyline about 5 or 6 weeks ago. Since then, my body has had some odd things happen...nothing extreme or majorly uncomfortable, but noticeable and some weird.

 

When I look some of them up online, they appear as both Lyme symptoms and as side effects to Doxycyline. The one I am most concerned with is skin tingling. It started with my face a couple of weeks ago. That comes and goes when I am outside,depending on the weather I think.

 

Just yesterday, my hands started getting numb and tingly...the tips of my fingers, between my knuckles and the backs.

 

Has anyone else experienced this? Do you think it's a herx type reaction or a side effect of Doxy?

 

I have an email into my doc....but just thought I'd throw it out here for some opinions.

 

Thanks,

Kara

[NancyD]

Kara, I had tingling and numbness in my hands and arms about 3 months after starting doxy. I saw it as a herx and it did go away after a while.

[rowingmom]

I haven't used doxy, but I started on cat's claw and Japanese knotweed last June when my daughter started her treatment for lyme/bart. Immediately after starting I noticed that my skin was very sensitive to the sun. It felt like it was burning upon first exposure, but did not burn, this lasted about a month. Then after a month I noticed that every time something bumped my skin it felt as though I was being flicked with a rubber band, and the stinging sensation would go on for a minute or two. I also had ongoing muscle pain, hair loss and light sensitivity with my eyes (last summer was the first I ever used sunglasses, sun doesn't usually bother me). After a couple of months with each symptom, they seem to have resolved. I was fine in the sun today, although it isn't that strong yet.

[KaraM]

Thanks Nancy and Rowingmom.

The doctor said she thought it was a herx, since it didn't seem to be constant. She told me to stay on the doxy until our next appointment in a few weeks (unless it becomes constant).

[rowingmom]

You kind of have to wonder how many symptoms reported as side effects of Abx are actually herx symptoms reported by people who unknowingly have lyme. Skin sensitivity, reactive arthritis....

[KaraM]

I've been thinking the same thing...

 

You kind of have to wonder how many symptoms reported as side effects of Abx are actually herx symptoms reported by people who unknowingly have lyme. Skin sensitivity, reactive arthritis....