Lyme Disease Tip Summary:

Dr. Nicola Ducharme discusses her experience with using methylene blue in treating patients with Lyme disease on the Tick Boot Camp Lyme Hackathon:

1. Benefits of Methylene Blue: Dr. Ducharme has observed that methylene blue aids in improving energy levels and cognitive functions in patients. It is used in combination with other treatments like rifampin and azithromycin, particularly targeting persister cells of Borrelia and Bartonella.
2. Dosage Adjustments: Many patients experience overstimulation at the commonly recommended doses of 25 to 50 milligrams per day, akin to being over-caffeinated, leading to discomfort and cessation of the treatment.
3. Lower Doses for Better Tolerance: To counteract this issue, Dr. Ducharme has started administering methylene blue at much lower doses, beginning with five or 10 milligrams twice a day. This approach allows patients to gradually increase their tolerance and benefit from the treatment without experiencing the adverse effects of higher doses.

Dr. Ducharme’s experience highlights the importance of dose customization in Lyme disease treatment. Her strategy of starting with lower doses of methylene blue has enabled more patients to tolerate and benefit from this treatment, enhancing the effectiveness of their Lyme disease management protocol.

Watch Video:

Video Transcript:
“Hi there Dr. Nicola Ducharme here. So we’re hearing a lot more about methylene blue and I have been using it in my patients and just wanted to share what I’ve been seeing. So I have found that it’s helping people with energy. I found that it’s helping with cognition. And of course, we are using it in combination protocols with like rifampin and azithromycin, to help with persister cells of Borrelia and Bartonella. But what I’m finding is that quite a few folks at the recommended doses of 25 to 50 milligrams per day, are not doing well with those doses. They get really overstimulated. It’s like they’re over-caffeinated, it’s uncomfortable, they can’t do it, so they stop. So what I’ve started doing is starting people at five milligrams twice a day or 10 milligrams twice a day, and it seems to be working really well because they can always build up as their tolerance allows. But I’m having a lot more people being able to enjoy methylene blue at the lower doses.” – Doctor Nicola Ducharme