The three ways that most people are treated by antibiotics are:-
- orally by tablets or liquid (the liquid is mainly used for children who are too young to take antibiotics). If taking antibiotics orally, it is VITAL that you take probiotics as well (2 hours after taking the antibiotics) - this is to prevent a potentially fatal c. diff infection in the bowel.
- by IV (this is mainly for people who are very seriously sick, or who have severe neurological Lyme Disease).
- by intramuscular injection (IM) (often used for people who can't tolerate oral medications, or towards the end of Lyme treatment).
Many Lyme patients are given Bicillin IM (intramuscular injection) in the bottom because it is a large muscle. Other medications can be given in the arm or thigh, but Bicillin has to be given in the bottom, as the arm or thigh are not large enough muscles).
Here is a video I made with my Dad showing how we do IM Bicillin injections - it is important you get a nurse or doctor to teach you how to give these injections.
You can see the video of an IM Bicillin injection here -
- orally by tablets or liquid (the liquid is mainly used for children who are too young to take antibiotics). If taking antibiotics orally, it is VITAL that you take probiotics as well (2 hours after taking the antibiotics) - this is to prevent a potentially fatal c. diff infection in the bowel.
- by IV (this is mainly for people who are very seriously sick, or who have severe neurological Lyme Disease).
- by intramuscular injection (IM) (often used for people who can't tolerate oral medications, or towards the end of Lyme treatment).
Many Lyme patients are given Bicillin IM (intramuscular injection) in the bottom because it is a large muscle. Other medications can be given in the arm or thigh, but Bicillin has to be given in the bottom, as the arm or thigh are not large enough muscles).
Here is a video I made with my Dad showing how we do IM Bicillin injections - it is important you get a nurse or doctor to teach you how to give these injections.
You can see the video of an IM Bicillin injection here -
To minimise the injection being painful, here are some tips:-
- warm up the injection to body temp just before you give the injection (as soon as it enters your body it warms up to room temp, so it is ok - even though the bicillin in normally stored in the fridge). This makes it easier to go into the muscle & causes less tissue scarring (and pain)
- inject the bicillin SLOWLY - the faster you do the injection the higher the chance it will hurt
- massage the area lightly after the injection to disperse the bicillin a bit
- if it hurts after the injection, apply a hot pack to the sore area (don't burn yourself)
- if you can, go for a walk after the injection - this helps to disperse the bicillin so it doesn't hurt so much the next day
- if you need to, you can numb the skin with ice for a few minutes before you give the injection (don't forget to swab the skin afterwards), or you can purchase numbing cream from specialty pharmacies
- warm up the injection to body temp just before you give the injection (as soon as it enters your body it warms up to room temp, so it is ok - even though the bicillin in normally stored in the fridge). This makes it easier to go into the muscle & causes less tissue scarring (and pain)
- inject the bicillin SLOWLY - the faster you do the injection the higher the chance it will hurt
- massage the area lightly after the injection to disperse the bicillin a bit
- if it hurts after the injection, apply a hot pack to the sore area (don't burn yourself)
- if you can, go for a walk after the injection - this helps to disperse the bicillin so it doesn't hurt so much the next day
- if you need to, you can numb the skin with ice for a few minutes before you give the injection (don't forget to swab the skin afterwards), or you can purchase numbing cream from specialty pharmacies
