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Doxycycline |
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What is Doxycycline and why is it prescribed? Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotic used against a wide variety of bacterial infections, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other fevers caused by ticks, fleas, and lice; urinary tract infections; trachoma; and some gonococcal infections in adults. Doxycycline is an approved treatment for inhalational anthrax. Doxycycline is also used with other medications to treat severe acne and amoebic dysentery. Doxycycline may also be taken for the prevention of malaria on foreign trips of less than 4 months' duration. Generally, children under 8 years old and women in the last half of pregnancy should not take Doxycycline. It may cause developing teeth to become permanently discolored. However, children under 8 may be given Doxycycline for inhalational anthrax. How should you take Doxycycline? Follow your doctors directions for taking Doxycycline. Take Doxycycline with a full glass of water or other liquid to avoid irritating your throat or stomach. Doxycycline can be taken with or without food. If the medicine does upset your stomach, you may wish to take it with a glass of milk or after you have eaten. Doxycycline tablets should be swallowed whole. If you are taking an oral suspension form of Doxycycline, shake the bottle well before using. If you miss a dose take the forgotten dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, put it off for several hours after taking the missed dose. Specifically, if you are taking one dose a day, take the next one 10 to 12 hours after the missed dose. If you are taking two doses a day, take the next one 5 to 6 hours after the missed dose. If you are taking three doses a day, take the next one 2 to 4 hours after the missed dose. Then return to your regular schedule. Doxycycline can be stored at room temperature. Protect from light and excessive heat. Are there any Doxycycline side effects? Doxycycline side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. More common Doxycycline side effects may include angioedema, bulging foreheads in infants, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing, discolored teeth in infants and children, inflammation of the tongue, loss of appetite, nausea, rash, rectal or genital itching, severe allergic reaction, skin sensitivity to light, and vomiting. Less common or rare Doxycycline side effects may include aggravation of lupus erythematosus, skin inflammation and peeling, and throat inflammation and ulcerations. What are the possible food and drug interactions when taking Doxycycline? If Doxycycline is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. Be sure to inform your doctor of all the prescription and over the counter medications you are taking. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Doxycycline with Antacids containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium, and iron-containing preparations (such as Maalox, Mylanta, and others), Barbiturates (such as phenobarbital), Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol), Blood-thinning medications (such as Coumadin), Carbamazepine (Tegretol), Oral contraceptives, Penicillin (V-Cillin K, Pen-vee K, others), Phenytoin (Dilantin), or Sodium bicarbonate. Are there any special warnings about Doxycycline? Treatment with Doxycycline may result in a growth of bacteria that do not respond to this medication and can cause a secondary infection. Bulging foreheads in infants and headaches in adults have occurred. These symptoms disappeared when Doxycycline was discontinued. You may become more sensitive to sunlight while taking Doxycycline. Be careful if you are going out in the sun or using a sunlamp. If you develop a skin rash, notify your doctor immediately. Birth control pills that contain estrogen may not be as effective while you are taking tetracycline drugs. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you should use another form of birth control while taking Doxycycline. Doxycycline contains a sulfite that may cause allergic reactions in certain people. This reaction happens more frequently to people with asthma. |
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