Khadir Defends Prolonged Antibiotic Use for Lyme Disease, Cites Patient Needs and Scientific Basis
Dr. Amir Khadir, a Quebec physician, has stated he “of course [does] not regret” prescribing antibiotics for periods exceeding 28 days to patients with Lyme disease, despite a 2020 commitment to the Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ) to cease the practice. he maintains his approach is “based on science” and represents informed decisions made collaboratively with patients.
The Association québécoise des maladies de Lyme (AQML) has been advocating for improved access to care for Lyme disease patients, urging the Minister of Health to ensure patients have access to treatment, shared decision-making with doctors, research support, and clinical trials.
Dr. Khadir explained that patients frequently enough come to him after exhausting other diagnostic avenues and treatment options, frequently “at the end of their rope” and depleted of financial resources. He described a situation where patients are often prescribed medications with debilitating side effects, leaving them unable to function. In these circumstances, he argues, patients are making an informed choice to accept the potential side effects of prolonged antibiotics – such as diarrhea and cramps – rather than continue a life severely limited by their illness.
He asserts a positive risk-benefit balance, stating it’s a ”bad concept” to believe the long-term impacts of antibiotics outweigh the potential benefits for these patients. Dr. Khadir emphasized he was not administering experimental treatments, but rather treatments based on scientific understanding of the illness.
The 2020 agreement with the CMQ stipulated the cessation of prolonged antibiotic treatment pending the establishment of a formal research protocol on the topic. Dr. Khadir expressed regret not prioritizing the creation of such a research framework sooner.However, he pointed to evolving scientific evidence suggesting prolonged antibiotics remain a viable option for patients with a strong suspicion of persistent bacterial infection.
“If you have a treatment that gives results, even if it is a third of the patients, it is a great success,” he stated, acknowledging not all patients will respond. He reiterated the importance of weighing risks and benefits, emphasizing that “anything that is not useful is poison.”
Dr. Khadir clarified he does not intend to resume the treatment until he has secured all necessary authorizations.
This article is based on reporting from The Canadian Press, whose health coverage is supported by a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for this journalistic content.
