A man who says his life-saving medication was seized at the border in St. Stephen, N.B., is calling for a change in regulations surrounding Lyme disease.

Donnie Blenus was diagnosed with Lyme disease last year but believes he was infected with the tick-borne illness more than three years ago.

“I think I only had days to live. I was suicidal. Really suicidal,” says Blenus. “I didn't think I was going to be alive the next morning, so I took a picture that night because I actually thought that was the night.”

Blenus's friend, Archie Lockhart, recognized his friend’s symptoms because he, too, had suffered from Lyme disease.  

Lockhart says the infection caused vision and hearing problems and intense joint pain, but now feels about “80 per cent better” after seeking treatment in the U.S.

Lockhart took Blenus to his doctor in Maine, where he was put on a cocktail of antibiotics, vitamins and medications. Within days, Blenus says his health improved.

For the past year, Blenus has traveled to the U.S. every three months, spending nine hours in the car each way and paying close to $2,500 out-of-pocket for these medications. But on Tuesday, he was stopped at the Canadian border and his drugs were seized.

Blenus was told that because the individual drugs are available for sale in Canada, he had to purchase them inside the country.

“I informed them that if I didn't have my medication I would probably die, and they said that was the law and they took it,” says Blenus.

Blenus's drugs are available for sale in Canada, but doctors aren't able to prescribe them as a treatment for Lyme disease or in the amounts he needs.

John Lohr, MLA for Kings North, says the province can change the legislation, but they're dragging their feet.

“The fact is in Nova Scotia right now, you'd be better off going to a veterinarian than a doctor,” says Lohr. “A veterinarian would treat much the same way that U.S. doctors are treating.”

Health department numbers indicate there were over 700 cases of Lyme disease two years ago, and that number is expected to go up.

Lohr says he's seen multiple people travel to the U.S. for treatment, and he's worried others could get stopped – people like Archie Lockhart, who is supposed to make the trip next month.

“I'm pretty nervous and pretty worried that I'm going to get these symptoms back, and I felt like Donnie, like life's not worth living unless I get this medication,” says Lockhart.

Blenus says the longer he's off his medication, the less effective it becomes. And right now he says he's running out of time.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s EmilyBaron Cadloff