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What is the recommended antibiotic treatment regimen for early localized Lyme disease in adults?

Answer

Guideline-Aligned (High Confidence)
Generated by iatroX. Developer: Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGP (General Practitioner).
Last reviewed: 14 August 2025

Recommended antibiotic treatment regimen for early localized Lyme disease in adults:

For adults diagnosed with early localized Lyme disease presenting with erythema migrans and/or non-focal symptoms, the first-line treatment is oral doxycycline 100 mg twice daily or 200 mg once daily for 21 days.

If doxycycline is unsuitable, the first alternative is oral amoxicillin 1 g three times daily for 21 days.

The second alternative, if both doxycycline and amoxicillin are unsuitable, is oral azithromycin 500 mg once daily for 17 days.

Note: Azithromycin should not be used in people with cardiac abnormalities associated with Lyme disease due to its effect on the QT interval.

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This content was generated by iatroX. Always verify information and use clinical judgment.