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Lyme disease and Compounding

Transmission

Lyme disease is a common condition in northern parts of the United States in the spring and summer months. The Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, is spread through the bite of infected ticks. Ticks must be attached for 36 to 48 hours before the bacterium can be transmitted.

Chronic Infection

Lyme disease can be a complicated condition and is continuing to evolve as we learn more about it. Researchers have proven the existence of a Borrelia burgdorferi biofilm in patients with Lyme disease. We know that Borrelia burgdorferi is the causative bacteria but the presence of a biofilm mode of bacterial growth explains the chronicity, extensive tissue damage and ineffectiveness of some current therapies.

Compounding’s Role

The issue with Lyme disease is that it can look like many other diseases and contribute to existing diseases. Compounding may be a necessity when treating a patient with chronic Lyme disease because it is common to see GI intolerance or limited/restricted diets that are gluten-, dairy-, soy-, corn-, and/or alcohol-free.

Compounding pharmacies provide expanded treatment options that can be tailored to the needs of each individual patient through the various stages of Lyme disease progression, from early localized to early disseminated to late disseminated phases. With compounding, formulations are built from bulk materials. This allows the compounding pharmacy to be selective with choosing the most suitable inactive ingredients.

Compounding medications allows for flexibility in dosing forms and routes of administration. At Performix Pharmacy, we are equipped to compound medication to fit whatever need the patient has suffering with Lyme’s disease. Because Lyme disease can induce mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), inactive ingredients found in common manufactured treatment options may precipitate MCAS symptoms. Having the flexibility to choose benign, non-offending inactive ingredients results in more successful alleviation of Lyme associated symptoms.

In addition to antibiotics to treat the infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely Borrelia mayonii, compounding pharmacies are able to formulate treatments options for neurologic Lyme disease as well as arthritis and pain associated with Lyme disease. Topical pain creams may be formulated to alleviate pain and discomfort associated with the disseminated condition.

Low Dose Naltrexone is gaining prevalence in the treatment of Lyme. It has been demonstrated to boost endorphins and decrease inflammation, improve joint pain, and improve the immune response associated with Lyme disease. Currently, low dose naltrexone can only be acquired by prescription through a compounding pharmacy, like us!

What supplements may help?

· Phospholipids, lipids, NADH, inositol, folic acid, B12, biotin

· Carnosine, coenzyme Q10, riboflavin, calcium, electrolytes

· Trace elements, selenium, phosphatidylcholine

Probiotics mid-day 30-50 billion CFU