Tick bite doxycycline

[Beeblot]

Hello Mumsnet,

I was camping last week, and walking through some long grassy areas, and got an insect bite on the back of my leg. Thought nothing of it as I often get bitten.

But last night it had a ring around it, a bit like the bullseye that you are told to look for with tick bites (I saw no tick). It was rather faint but there was definitely a ring around it. I didn't know what to think - I do often react to insect bites but I went to the doctor's, and the nurse looked at it. Today the ring has gone so I showed her the photos too. She said if she'd seen the photos she would have prescribed antibiotics without hesitation but wasn't sure now. She got a second opinion from a doctor, who said she should prescribe antibiotics anyway (doxycycline for 3 weeks).

I asked about alcohol - the nurse said it would probably be okay but the info leaflet and also some stuff I've read online seems to suggest not. Can I please ask if anyone has been in this situation before and what you did? It's just that I am off to a music festival next weekend! Drinking alcohol isn't the "be all and end all", but it would be sort of nice!

Doxycycline and alcohol both have the capacity to cause liver damage, so obviously combining them increases the risk. I wouldn't have thought this is a major issue for most people, but festival levels of alcohol consumption might make you think twice.

If you drink significant amounts of alcohol regularly you actually metabolise doxycycline more quickly than other people because the alcohol increases the synthesis of the liver enzymes that break down several drugs. On the other hand, if you don't drink alcohol regularly but suddenly drink a lot of it you metabolise doxycycline more slowly because the alcohol inhibits the activity of the enzymes. So far as I'm aware - speaking as a pharmacologist rather than a doctor - neither of these is seen as presenting a major risk of either doxycycline toxicity or under-treatment of the infection.

Thanks, that's very helpful! With a 5 year-old I can't go too crazy anyway, but a pint or two might be nice.

I am now the third person in our family to be bitten by one, if indeed it was a tick bite. Bloody horrible little critters!!!!

I was on Doxycycline for acne for about six months and had no issues with moderate drinking. It can cause sun sensitivity though, so slap on the SPF.