Tick bites - post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent Lyme disease
A tick bite itself is usually harmless, but some ticks in Canada — particularly the black-legged (deer) tick — can carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The good news: a tick generally has to stay attached for at least 36 hours to transmit Lyme disease, so prompt removal dramatically lowers the risk. In specific high-risk situations, a pharmacist can assess a recent tick bite and prescribe a single preventive dose of antibiotic. This is time-sensitive — the preventive dose must be given within 72 hours of the tick being removed, so don’t wait.
Self-care products available in our shop
- Tick-removal tools and fine tweezers
- Antiseptic cleansers for the bite site
- Insect repellents (DEET or icaridin) to prevent future bites
- What to do right away: remove the tick with fine tweezers as close to the skin as possible, pulling straight up slowly without twisting; don’t use petroleum jelly, nail polish, or heat. Clean the bite with soap and water, save the tick if you can, and note the date of the bite and removal. A pharmacist can prescribe preventive doxycycline only when ALL of these apply: the tick is an identified black-legged (deer) tick, it was attached at least 36 hours (or is visibly engorged), the bite occurred in a Lyme-endemic area, and treatment can start within 72 hours of removal.
Treatments our pharmacist can prescribe
For your information only: in Ontario, our pharmacist can assess this condition and, when appropriate, prescribe the medication listed below. This information is provided for educational purposes — it is not an offer to sell. This is a prescription treatment that requires a pharmacist assessment, and the right option is chosen for you.
Antibacterials: Doxycycline (a single preventive dose)
When to seek further care: See a health-care provider promptly if, in the weeks after a tick bite, you develop an expanding circular or “bull’s-eye” rash (which can appear days to weeks later), fever, chills, fatigue, headache, muscle or joint aches, or swollen lymph nodes. These can be early signs of Lyme disease — watch for symptoms for at least 30 days after a bite.