herx

English

Alternative forms

• Herx

Etymology

Shortened from Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, which in turn derives from the names of Adolf Jarisch and Karl Herxheimer, physicians who separately described the reaction in syphilis patients.

Verb

herx (third-person singular simple present herxes, present participle herxing, simple past and past participle herxed)

1. (medicine, informal) To experience a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, a negative reaction to antibiotic treatment.
   • 2017 October 1, Edward McSweegan, “Lyme Disease: Questionable Diagnosis and Treatment”, in ActionLyme.org‎^[1], archived from the original on 3 April 2023:

     These usually last for several hours, and require little more than aspirin and bed rest. Yet many Lyme newsgroup participants write about a "herx" beginning days or weeks after the start of antibiotic therapy, and "herxing" for weeks at a time -- often in a cyclic fashion.

   • 2020, John Coleman, Rethinking Parkinson’s Disease, page 215:

     When using any antimicrobial against any Lyme-like infection, most patients will herx at some stage.

   • 2021 March 4, Fredsmith, “herxing like crazy on Fenben”, in HealingWell‎^[2]:

     Has anyone else herxed intensely even on low dose fenben?
     I started with 150mg and herxed, backed down to 70mg and still herxed along with my 100mg doxy.

Noun

herx (plural herxes)

1. (medicine, informal) A Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction.
   • For quotations using this term, see Citations:herx.

Usage notes

• The informal terms herx and herxing are common in discussions of Lyme disease, especially among patients of the disease and their supporters.