The purpose of this study is to see how well antibiotics work in reducing chronic fatigue symptoms, such as tiredness, in patients that were treated for Lyme Disease. Fatigue is a common symptom of Lyme Disease. When fatigue does not improve after treatment, patients are considered to have Post Lyme Syndrome (PLS). The chronic fatigue seen in these patients appears to be related to the initial infection which causes Lyme Disease. It is believed, but not proven, that treatment with antibiotics may be effective in relieving chronic fatigue in PLS patients.

Condition	Treatment or Intervention	Phase
Lyme Disease	Drug: Antibiotics	Phase III

Further Study Details: 

Expected Total Enrollment:  55

You will be assigned randomly (like tossing a coin) to receive either antibiotics or a placebo (sugar pill). Neither you nor your doctor will know which you are receiving. You will learn to give yourself the injection, and you will remain on your study drug for 28 days. A home health care nurse will visit you twice a week to check the injection site, and at weeks 1 and 3 the nurse will draw blood for laboratory tests. At months 1 and 6, you will be examined to see if you have fewer chronic fatigue symptoms after the antibiotics. This will include a fatigue questionnaire, a test of your mental processing speed, and a test of your cerebrospinal fluid.

Ages Eligible for Study:  18 Years   -   65 Years,  Genders Eligible for Study:  Both

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

You may be eligible for this study if you:

• Are between 18 and 65 years of age.
• Are a resident of Long Island or greater NY metropolitan area.
• Are fluent in English.
• Have a history of Lyme Disease.
• Have completed antibiotic treatment for Lyme Disease 6 or more months before starting the study.
• Have severe fatigue.
• Are not pregnant or planning to be pregnant.

Exclusion Criteria:

You will not be eligible for this study if you:

• Have or have had major medical, neurologic, or psychiatric disorder.
• Have had prior chronic pain, fatigue, or recurrent severe headaches before the onset of Lyme Disease.
• Have had Fibromyalgia Syndrome.
• Have a history of sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or other serious sleep disorder.
• Have a learning disability.
• Have had head trauma requiring hospitalization.
• Have symptomatic gallbladder disease.
• Are anemic.
• Abuse alcohol or illicit drugs.
• Have been treated with another antimicrobial agent for Lyme Disease within 6 months of study.
• Need to be receiving systemic steroid therapy during drug administration and follow-up.
• Have used benzodiazepines within 1 month of study entry.
• Are allergic to Beta lactams (a class of antibiotics).

New York
      Lauren Krupp, Stony Brook,  New York,  117948121,  United States

Study ID Numbers:  DMID 96-182; R01 AI 31561-04A1
Record last reviewed:  November 2000
Last Updated:  October 13, 2004
Record first received:  November 2, 1999
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00000937
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on 2005-04-08