Doxycycline for Lyme Disease: How Long, What Dose, and What If It Doesn’t Work?

Medically reviewed by Elyssa A. Blissenbach, MD, board-certified internal medicine physician. Key Takeaways Standard adult treatment for early Lyme is doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 10–21 days, depending on stage; Lyme arthritis runs about 28 days. A single 200 mg dose within 72 hours of a high-risk blacklegged tick bite is the established preventive […]

How Much Does Lyme Disease Treatment Cost Without Insurance?

Medically reviewed by Elyssa A. Blissenbach, MD, board-certified internal medicine physician. Key Takeaways The medication is the cheap part: a course of generic doxycycline often costs $10–$50 cash. Evaluation and testing are where costs concentrate. Typical cash ranges nationally: specialist consults $200–$600, standard two-tier testing $80–$250, specialty tick-borne panels $250–$1,300+. Chronic/persistent Lyme care is where […]

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in the Southeast: Symptoms, Rash & Treatment

Medically reviewed by Elyssa A. Blissenbach, MD, board-certified internal medicine physician. Key Takeaways Despite its name, most RMSF cases occur in the Southeast and South-central U.S. — North Carolina is consistently among the highest-reporting states. Watch for sudden high fever, severe headache, and muscle pain 3–12 days after a tick bite; the spotted rash usually […]

Telemedicine Lyme Disease Treatment: Serving Florida, Georgia, Alabama & Beyond

Key Takeaways Lyme-literate physicians are scarce in the Southeast — telemedicine closes the gap without four-hour drives. Dr. Blissenbach is licensed in six states: FL, GA, AL, SC, NC, and VA — you must be physically in a licensed state during your visit. Nearly everything in Lyme care works by video: evaluation, lab ordering and […]

Misdiagnosed with Chronic Fatigue or Fibromyalgia? It Could Be Lyme Disease

Key Takeaways Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are descriptions of symptom patterns; Lyme disease is an infection with a cause that can be treated — and it can produce both patterns. Red flags your diagnosis deserves a second look: symptoms began after outdoor exposure or a flu-like illness, they migrate and fluctuate, or they never […]

Chronic Lyme Disease Treatment Options in Florida: From Antibiotics to Integrative Approaches

Key Takeaways Chronic Lyme treatment in Florida spans four main approaches: extended oral antibiotics, herbal antimicrobial protocols, IV therapy, and immune/detox support — often combined. Co-infections (Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia) are common and change the treatment plan — testing for them is essential, not optional. Treatment is measured in months, not weeks, with symptom flares (Herxheimer […]

Finding a Lyme Literate Doctor (LLMD) in Northeast Florida: What You Need to Know

Key Takeaways A “Lyme literate” doctor (LLMD) is a clinician with specific training and experience in tick-borne disease — it’s an earned reputation, not a board certification. Florida has few LLMDs, so most patients choose between long drives and telemedicine — telemedicine usually wins. Vet any LLMD on four things: credentials, tick-borne caseload, testing approach, […]

Lyme Disease Symptoms in Jacksonville FL: When to See a Specialist

Key Takeaways Lyme exists in Florida — locally acquired and travel-acquired cases both occur, and Jacksonville’s outdoor lifestyle keeps exposure real. Early symptoms (3–30 days): fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and sometimes — not always — a bullseye rash. Many patients never see a rash. Untreated, Lyme can progress to joint pain, neurological symptoms, heart […]