What is the name of a medication for ticks? - briefly
Ivermectin and permethrin are the primary medications used to treat tick infestations.
What is the name of a medication for ticks? - in detail
The medication most commonly prescribed for tick-borne infections is doxycycline, a tetracycline-class antibiotic effective against a broad range of pathogens transmitted by ticks, including Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (anaplasmosis), and Rickettsia species (rocky‑mountain spotted fever). Typical adult dosing is 100 mg orally twice daily for 10–21 days, depending on the specific disease and severity. For patients with contraindications to doxycycline—such as pregnancy, severe liver disease, or known hypersensitivity—alternative agents include amoxicillin (for early Lyme disease) and cefuroxime axetil (for certain rickettsial infections). In cases of severe or disseminated infection, intravenous ceftriaxone may be administered, usually 2 g once daily for 14–28 days.
Key pharmacologic properties:
- Absorption: High oral bioavailability; food may reduce absorption slightly, but clinical impact is minimal.
- Distribution: Penetrates well into skin, joints, and central nervous system, essential for treating neuroborreliosis.
- Elimination: Primarily renal; dose adjustment required in renal impairment.
Adjunctive measures:
- Prompt removal of attached ticks with fine‑pointed tweezers, grasping close to the skin and pulling straight upward.
- Monitoring for early signs of infection (fever, rash, headache) within 24–72 hours after a bite.
- Prophylactic single‑dose doxycycline (200 mg) may be given within 72 hours of removal when the tick is ≥20 mm, engorged, and the local incidence of Lyme disease exceeds 20 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Safety considerations:
- Common adverse effects: gastrointestinal upset, photosensitivity, esophageal irritation.
- Rare but serious: hepatotoxicity, intracranial hypertension, severe allergic reactions.
- Contraindicated in children under 8 years (risk of tooth discoloration) and in pregnant or lactating women.
Overall, doxycycline remains the first‑line oral therapy for most tick‑borne illnesses, with alternative antibiotics reserved for special populations or specific pathogen susceptibilities.