Doxycycline - Help
 

My doctors, who for once agree when I don't want them to are treating me for Lyme (amongst many other things I don't have the energy to list). My problem is I can't stop throwing up.

I've tried to make myself familiar with this 'herxing' thing, but I don't think that's it. I think I am just puking a lot for another reason. But if you'll kindly humor me and read this, maybe you will know if it's the meds or simply my luck (or lack thereof).

They put me on Lodine as I am currently showing signs of severe arthritis literally everywhere that bends. I threw that up, so I am taking Aleve now.

I am also on Vicodin which I only take every other day because I become immune to it very fast (within 3 days) and have to split it up. In between days, I usually just cry and wait for the next day.

I am taking Doxycycline twice per day, I throw up within 15-20 minutes of taking it and throw up off and on for 10 minutes up to an hour depending on how much I had in my stomach. This happens every time I take it.

I guess my main complaint is that I don't feel better, with the throwing up issue I feel worse and I am sure my body would appreciate being able to keep some food down because I think at this state, I need those nutrients and such. My doctors tell me to wait it out, but I'm about to stop taking these pills and wait it out that way. :mad:

I've tried taking with food, taking with water, taking with food and water. Eating earlier, later, during. I followed directions and have not taken iron, dairy products or anything 'naughty' 2 hours before taking the Doxy. I stay out of the sun (as I have no energy to walk out there anyway).

I don't get it. Is this normal or something and I missed the memo?


Thanks in advance for any help. I'll try to check back soon but I think I may go to bed and yes, I know it's only 5pm. I can't help it! :D

(((((((((Ellie)))))))))

I know zilch about the med but I sure do know how to hug a friend

MrsD is away on vacation for a while, but I know she would likely be one to have answers for you on this.
Hopefully someone else may have some input too

from me tho...........just more :hug:

Doxycycline/Vibramycin
 

I bolded your quote.

Hi Ellie,
Just wondering why you're not taking dairy with it? Did the doctor tell you not to do that or something?

All the information I've just read about the potential for stomach problems when taking it, suggests to try either food or milk and not to lie down when you've just taken it. I think my daughter was taking this a couple of times with her kidney infection. Might be wrong, but it rings a bell.

e.g. http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100002751.html
http://appco.com.au/appguide/drug.as...00020812&t=cmi
http://www.medicinenet.com/doxycycline-oral/article.htm
Sorry it's making you feel so sick. Last thing you need right now.
Feel better soon.

P.S.

Where they say "Take this medication 2-3 hours before or after taking any medications containing magnesium, aluminum, or calcium."...

That means things like antacids like Tums... just one example.

p.s. you're not taking any of these are you?

from the UK site...
What about the Aleve? That can cause stomach upset as well so the two of them in combination would make my tummy churn that's for sure!!!
http://www.medicinenet.com/naproxen/article.htm

Yah, it's right on the bottle and it stinks because I am really weird about taking pills without milk (don't even get me started on milk itself, I will only drink one brand, hehe). On the bottle, these are the following stickers:

• You should avoid prolonged or excessive exposure to direct and/or artificial sunlight while taking this medicine.

• Warning: Do not use if you are pregnant, suspect that you are pregnant, or while breast feeding. Check with your doctor or pharmacist.

• Take this medicine with a full glass of water.

• Take this medicine with a snack or a small meal if stomach upset occurs.

• Do not take antacids, vitamins, iron, or dairy products within 2 hours of taking this medicine.

What I don't get is inside if it says upset occurs to try yogurt!! I am pretty sure yogurt is a dairy product. Drug name listed on bottle (which appears to be abbreviated):

DOXYCYCL HYC 100MG
This medicine is a(n) blue oblong-shaped capsule imprinted with west-ward on one side and 3142 on the other side. Add info: Black ink.

Yah, I take Aleve to replace the Lodine (which seems to be making me puke, too). I'm not taking anything else that's listed. It's bizarre, the only thing I'm not throwing up is Vicodin which is usually what makes me extremely nauseous. It is like, if it can help me - my body kicks it back out!

I'm just annoyed because I am seriously so hungry it's sad. I want to eat my whole house (without throwing it back up, of course). I've tried everything, even been doing the broth thing. Everything that goes down comes back up.

Poops, I say!!:eek: :mad:

Wow, well you're doing what they told you to do.

I'm a bit sceptical about not taking it with milk though. Is it possible to phone your doctor's office and ask them specifically about that? It would be so much better for your health if you could stop feeling so ill so that you can continue to take this medication.

Of course, Ellie, this all might be just tipping you over the edge with the nausea. I'm not familiar with Lyme I'm sorry to say (apart from general knowledge from people who've had it) but would wonder if you would be feeling like that even if you were not on the Doxycycline? Is Doxycycline the treatment for Lyme these days??? I wasn't even aware of that.

You can't afford to get weaker and weaker. You've had such a tough year. It all sounds extremely worrying for you. :hug:

The worst part is trying to get pain relief and all of this throwing up has made my gag reflex pretty bad. As soon as I go to take a pill I start dry heaving. I have a new strategy which is so gross. I cover my vicodin in lip gloss and take it with a huge gulp of soda. That way it wont get stuck in my throat which happens a lot, then I throw it right back up and waste it (I'm not going to pick the half dissolved pill out and retry, LOL).

I've been staring at the IGenex prices for the rest of my labs which is making me want to throw up again. Hehe. I think I'll just try and go sleep and see how that works out. :D

My daughter has terrible problems taking tablets. I have a tablet cutter and if she needs to take even one small tablet she'll cut it up into so many small pieces and gag all the time still trying to get them down.

I think just looking at the size of some capsules sets her gag reflex off. Can't do anything with capsules like we can with tablets. When she does need to take medications she finds it really difficult at first but after a few days, she sometimes comes to me and says she was able to get it down easily. Then she'll be right for a few days until the gag reflex starts off again.

Ellie!!! I'm not sure you should be ingesting lip gloss :eek: lol.
Have you tried things like mousse or some yummy pudding or even get a sample of Coromega chocolate pudding (which is an Omega 3 product which tastes really good apparently)... that'd be good for your arthitis pains as well. The Coromega site says it'll send a sample to people in the US. They won't send me one. I just tried and it said US only. LOL :rolleyes: I'm not selling the stuff, just seems as if it's something that might help the tablets slip down as well as being good for your aches and pains.

Just a trick about swallowing tablets too... don't take them with ice cold water. Use room temperature liquid to relax the muscles in the mouth and throat.

OK, I'd better go start my Saturday here.
I hope you get some rest!

Trust me on this one, I ate many a tube of flavored chapstik as a child and I can assure you, it has yet to harm me. It isn't my fault lip smackers made Dr. Pepper flavored lip balm.

What I am using now I got from the herbal market, it's some all natural pomegranate stuff. It's actually quite nice, gives your lips a red tint! They have it tagged as "lip butter".

This is funny, but last week I went to breakfast with a friend and they had jello cubes. I put my pain pill in a jello cube and swallowed it hole. It worked awesome but I almost choked from laughing. We had to take a picture of the pill first, so needless to say - it ended up in laughter. Actually, I'm going to send it to my album now!

I present to you, vicodin jello. I have no shame when it comes to taking pills without puking. Haha.

https://www.t-mobilepictures.com/pho...fdrupm1exfavk6

My son takes Doxycycline twice a day for severe acne. It will make him throw up too. He has to take it with milk and he also takes Ranitidine (generic Zantac) 2 times a day. You may want to talk to your doc about getting something for your stomach. I don't care what you take your meds with they will often still tear up your stomach, some it doesn't bother but Doxy. is strong stuff. I take Prilosec OTC (with scrip) once a day and it is the only thing that helps. If you don't like taking meds with milk (I don't) then you can try taking your stomach med (I know, not another med) maybe a half an hour before you take anything else. It is worth a try. Good luck.

G'day Ellie,
Just wondering how you're getting on there with that medication and if you're feeling any better generally. Is it helping? Are you feeling any better at all?

:hug: Don't feel lonely there. People are just a pm away if you need them, please don't forget that. ;)

I decided during a flurry of irrational thoughts that I am not taking any pills. Probably not the best idea, but I go to my Rheumy Doc tomorrow so hopefully she will offer something that's easier for me to tolerate.

med
 

that med Doxycycline is just a antibiotic and if you had that side effect you should have reported it to your Dr. and got something else.

I am now on 1,500mg per day of Amoxicillin. (500mg 3 times per day)

I haven't thrown up yet, the future is looking bright so far.

I reacted the same way!
 

I also threw up on doxycycline for 2 days into it I went to emerg and the doctor gave me a prescription for this very expensive anti nausea drugs then when I went to leave he actually noticed I have a nystagmus in my eye which was causing my vision to give me motion sickness. Also connected to canalithiases which is small particles in ur ear which also give you vertigo or nausea. Lyme can do some strange things that are hard to find meanings for. I deal with all of these issues and my most recent one is now vibrations make me noxious! I totally thought it was the doxycycline but had to stop fluconazole for candida. I am working on cutting down on my scripts with my doctor as with lyme my body is already processing n eliminating so many toxins that the extra load doesn't seem to help for me anyways. I find that I have brand new sensitivities to just about everything! milk and food and definitely no laying down. I got bad heartburn too and I found that making myself burp works too. kinda grosse but helped. Hope things get smoother for you. I can feel the frustration in your post. Take care:)