From the Guidelines
Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid) is not the preferred treatment for Lyme disease, and doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil are recommended instead. According to the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines 1, for early localized or early disseminated Lyme disease, doxycycline (100 mg twice per day), amoxicillin (500 mg 3 times per day), or cefuroxime axetil (500 mg twice per day) for 14 days is recommended.
Key Points to Consider
- The addition of clavulanic acid in Augmentin provides no additional benefit against Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium causing Lyme disease, as it does not produce beta-lactamase enzymes that clavulanic acid inhibits 1.
- Using Augmentin unnecessarily broadens the antimicrobial spectrum, potentially causing more side effects like diarrhea and increasing the risk of antibiotic resistance.
- For patients who cannot take doxycycline, such as pregnant women or young children, standard amoxicillin alone is preferred over Augmentin 1.
- More severe or disseminated Lyme disease may require longer treatment courses or intravenous antibiotics like ceftriaxone, depending on clinical manifestations and disease stage.
Treatment Recommendations
- Doxycycline (100 mg twice daily for 10-14 days)
- Amoxicillin alone (500 mg three times daily for 14-21 days)
- Cefuroxime axetil (500 mg twice daily for 14-21 days) are the preferred treatments for early localized Lyme disease, as per the guidelines 1.
From the Research
Effectiveness of Augmentin for Treating Lyme Disease
- Augmentin, which is a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, is not specifically mentioned in the provided studies as a treatment for Lyme disease.
- However, amoxicillin, a component of Augmentin, is mentioned as a potential treatment option for early Lyme disease 2, 3, 4.
- According to a 1992 study, amoxicillin (500 mg 3 or 4 times daily) is one of the agents used for oral therapy in the early stage of Lyme disease 2.
- A 1999 systematic review supports the use of oral beta-lactam antibacterials, including amoxicillin, as effective first-line treatment modalities for early Lyme disease 3.
- A 2002 comparative study found that amoxicillin is a safe and efficacious treatment for children with early Lyme disease, although cefuroxime axetil may have a higher resolution rate of erythema migrans 4.
- It is essential to note that the effectiveness of Augmentin for treating Lyme disease may depend on the stage and severity of the disease, as well as the patient's individual response to treatment.
- More research is needed to determine the efficacy of Augmentin specifically for treating Lyme disease, as the current evidence is based on studies of amoxicillin alone or in combination with other antibiotics.
Comparison with Other Antibiotics
- Doxycycline is considered a first-line treatment for Lyme disease in adolescents and adults, and has been shown to be effective in young children as well 5.
- A 1996 study found that doxycycline and erythromycin were more effective than penicillin and ceftriaxone in killing B. burgdorferi when the organism was grown in the presence of eucaryotic cells 6.
- Cefuroxime axetil has been shown to have efficacy comparable to doxycycline in adults with early Lyme disease, and may be a suitable alternative for children who are unable to tolerate amoxicillin 4.