Treatments for Lyme Disease

The specific treatment for Lyme disease depends on how long you have had the disease, when it is diagnosed, and whether there are any complications. In all stages, medications are used to kill the Lyme bacteria in the body. This will eliminate the disease or reduce the symptoms and complications.

Treatment involves the following:

Medications

There are no surgical options for the treatment of Lyme disease.

References

Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/diagnosistreatment/index.html . Updated July 26, 2012. Accessed September 26, 2012.

Lyme disease. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated June 29, 2012. Accessed September 26, 2012.

Lyme disease. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/lymeDisease/understanding/Pages/intro.aspx . Updated March 29, 2011. Accessed September 26, 2012.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Michael Woods, MD
Review Date: 10/2012
Update Date: 10/11/2012

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.