Doxycycline Prophylaxis for Preventing Lyme Disease after a Deer Tick Bite

The information provided in this handout does not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Minnesota Medical School physicians and faculty. These materials are provided for informational purposes only and are in no way intended to take the place of the advice and recommendations of your personal health care provider. You use the information provided in these handouts at your own risk.After a deer tick bite, one dose of the antibiotic, doxycycline, is effective in preventing Lyme disease. Doxycycline should be given if you have had a deer tick attached for 72 hours or more. If the tick has been attached for less time then doxycycline is not needed because it is very unlikely that the Lyme disease bacteria would have been transmitted to you. Doxycycline should only be given if it was a deer tick that bit you. For doxycycline to be effective, it should be given within 72 hours of removing the tick