doxycycline

Other known brand names

Vibramycin, Acticlate, Doryx, Vibra-Tabs

About doxycycline

Doxycycline hyclate is classed as a tetracycline antibiotic and is used to treat bacterial infections such as:

• Respiratory tract infections
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Skin infections and conditions like rosacea
• Malaria when you are travelling abroad
• Anthrax or Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Lyme disease

It is available with a prescription under brand names such as Vibramycin. NowPatient offers doxycycline for the treatment of malaria and chlamydia only, following an online consultation with a prescribing clinician.

Key facts of doxycycline

• You will start to see improvements within a few days for most infections, but you must complete the course of treatment
• Doxycycline takes longer to treat rosacea. A healthcare professional will review your progress after around 4 weeks
• Common side effects of doxycycline include headaches, nausea or vomiting. Doxycycline can also make your skin more sensitive to sunlight
• You are advised to not consume alcohol while taking doxycycline as it can prevent it from working
• Doxycycline may cause thrush. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist for medical advice if this happens

Who is doxycycline suitable for?

Doxycycline is suitable for adults and children over the age of 12, but may be suitable for younger children for some infections.

Who is doxycycline not suitable for?

Doxycycline may not be suitable for some people. To make sure it’s safe for you, speak to the prescribing clinician before taking doxycycline if you:

• Have ever had an allergic reaction to doxycycline or other tetracycline antibiotics such as minocycline, or tetracycline
• Have kidney or liver disease
• Have oesophagitis (an inflamed food pipe)
• Have an autoimmune disease such as lupus
• Have myasthenia gravis which causes severe muscle weakness
• Are pregnant – doxycycline may cause permanent tooth discoloration
• Are breastfeeding, as doxycycline passes into breast milk

How and where to get doxycycline?

You can buy doxycycline safely and securely from NowPatient. You can start a consultation today for free and if you qualify for treatment, you only pay for the cost of the medication. Delivery is made to your home or office from our registered pharmacy.

Our service is certified, safe and effective, and we only ever treat conditions. If you book a consultation with a prescribing clinician for the treatment of chlamydia or the prevention of malaria, you can discuss if doxycycline is a suitable treatment option for you.

At the end of the consultation, the clinician will decide if a treatment plan is suitable for you. If it is, the clinician will issue you with a prescription which can then be ordered, paid for and delivered directly to your chosen address by NowPatient.

Dosage and strength for doxycycline for malaria

Doxycycline is available as capsules, tablets, delayed release tablets, or as a suspension, which you take orally. Your dose of doxycycline will depend on the condition you are being treated for. The dose is usually 100mg to 200mg, once or twice a day.

For malaria you will normally take 100mg once daily in the morning. For skin conditions you may take a lower dose of 40mg once a day or 20mg twice a day. If you are prescribed to take doxycycline more than once a day, you should take your doses evenly through the day.

Information about how to take doxycycline for malaria or chlamydia

Doxycycline capsules should be taken orally on an empty stomach 1 hour before or 2 hours after food. If you are taking a high dose of doxycycline you may take it with food to prevent the feeling of sickness. Take doxycycline in an upright position to prevent it from causing irritation to your stomach, and avoid lying down for at least 30 minutes after.

If you are prescribed doxycycline for the prevention of malaria, begin your treatment 1 or 2 days before travelling to the area with malaria, and stop taking it 4 weeks after you leave the area. Check with our clinician that doxycycline is the best treatment for the prevention of malaria in the area you are visiting.

How to take capsules or standard tablets

Take doxycycline capsules with a glass of water. You may experience swelling and irritation in your throat if you do not swallow them with enough water.

If you are taking dispersible tablets, dissolve them fully in a small amount of water before swallowing the drink.

What happens if you take too much doxycycline?

If you take more than prescribed, then it can lead to some unpleasant side effects. You should talk to your doctor or reach out to one of our prescribing clinicians, if you have taken too much doxycycline and you experience any of the following side effects:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting

What are the side effects of doxycycline?

Possible side effects of doxycycline are split into common and serious. Common side effects include:

• Headaches
• Feeling sick
• Being sick
• Photosensitivity to sunlight – doxycycline may cause skin reactions such as skin rash, itching, blistering, or redness. You may sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen when outdoors

Serious side effects include:

• C difficile (a severe intestinal condition due to a bacteria). Symptoms include diarrhea that will not stop, abdominal pain, and blood in your stools
• Unexplained bruising or bleeding
• Dark urine, light coloured stools, yellowing of your eyes
• Muscle or joint pain
• Intracranial hypertension (severe headaches, vomiting and vision problems)
• Swollen mouth, lips or tongue
• Difficulty swallowing, sore throat, chest pain

If you experience any serious side effects, you should contact NHS 111.

If you experience a life-threatening allergic reaction with the signs shown below you should contact emergency services on 999.

• Hives
• Your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
• You’re breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you’re choking or gasping for air)
• Your throat feels tight or you’re struggling to swallow
• Your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
• You suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
• Someone faints and cannot be woken up

Always report adverse effects to the MHRA yellow card reporting system. You can read more about this here: how and where do i report side effects of my medication

Information about taking doxycycline at the same time as other medications or herbal supplements

There is not enough evidence to suggest there are any drug interactions between herbal supplements and doxycycline. In any event, you should let your prescribing clinician know if you are taking any herbal supplements.

There are some medications that you should not take with doxycycline. Tell your doctor if you are taking:

• Antacids
• Other antibiotics
• Isotretinoin for acne treatment
• Warfarin
• Phenytoin or carbamazepine for the treatment of seizures
• Supplements containing aluminium, bismuth, calcium, magnesium, iron or zinc

How will I know if doxycycline is working?

You will start to see improvements within a few days for most infections, but you must complete the course of treatment. If you do not start to feel better after 3 days, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for medical advice.

If you are prescribed doxycycline for the prevention of malaria, you will not feel any changes. Continue taking doxycycline as prescribed for 4 weeks after leaving the malaria area.

Can doxycycline stain teeth?

Doxycycline can stick to calcium in growing bones and teeth causing them to stain. This only happens in growing bones and is why doxycycline is not normally given to children, or to pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Is there a herbal doxycycline?

No. Herbal doxycycline does not exist. If you have been marketed such a formulation, it may be fake.

Can women use doxycycline?

Women can normally take doxycycline, but it not recommended when women are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Should I avoid any particular food or drink when taking doxycycline?

You can eat and drink normally when taking doxycycline as long as you avoid alcohol.

Alternatives to doxycycline

Alternatives for the treatment of Malaria include Malarone.

Sources

• NHS – Doxycycline