Doxycycline

What is doxycycline

Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic. It fights bacteria in your body.

Doxycycline is used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, acne, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, periodontitis (gum disease), and others.

Doxycycline may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

General medical information about doxycycline

Take all of the doxycycline that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely treated.

Children younger than 8 years of age should not take doxycycline. It can cause permanent tooth discoloration, and it can affect growth.

Avoid antacids and vitamin supplements that contain calcium, iron, magnesium, or sodium bicarbonate. These minerals may decrease the effectiveness of doxycycline.

Doxycycline may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Use a second method of birth control to ensure protection from unintended pregnancy while taking doxycycline.

Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight or artificial UV light (e.g., tanning beds). Doxycycline may increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.

What you should find out before taking doxycycline

Before taking doxycycline, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease. You may not be able to take doxycycline, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during therapy.

Doxycycline is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that it is known to be harmful to an unborn baby. Doxycycline may affect bone and tooth development of the developing baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

Doxycycline passes into breast milk and may affect bone and tooth development in a nursing infant. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Children younger than 8 years of age should not take doxycycline. It can cause permanent tooth discoloration, and it can affect growth.

How should take doxycycline

Take doxycycline exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water (8 ounces).

Doxycycline may be taken with food or milk or on an empty stomach.

Do not take iron supplements, multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives within 2 hours of taking doxycycline. These products may reduce the effectiveness of doxycycline.

Take all of the doxycycline that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated.

It is important to take doxycycline regularly to get the most benefit.

Throw away any unused doxycycline when it expires or when it is no longer needed. Do not take any doxycycline after the expiration date printed on the bottle. Expired doxycycline can cause a dangerous syndrome resulting in damage to the kidneys.

Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

If you miss a dose:

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What happens if you overdose:

Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.

Symptoms of a doxycycline overdose include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Avoid while taking doxycycline

Do not take iron supplements, multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives within 2 hours of taking doxycycline. These products may reduce the effectiveness of doxycycline.

Possible side effects of doxycycline

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking doxycycline and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
- an allergic reaction (swelling of the lips, face, or tongue, difficulty breathing);
- severe headache;
- vision changes;
- confusion;
- liver damage (yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, abdominal pain or discomfort, unusual bleeding or bruising, severe fatigue);
- blood problems (fever, fatigue, easy bruising or bleeding); or
- genital sores or itching.

If you experience any of the following less serious side effects, continue to take doxycycline and talk to your doctor:
- nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
- sensitivity to the sun;
- dark colored tongue or swollen tongue; or
- vaginal or oral yeast infection.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect doxycycline

Before taking doxycycline, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:
- cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);
- an antacid such as Tums, Rolaids, Milk of Magnesia, Maalox, and others;
- a product that contains bismuth subsalicylate such as Pepto-Bismol;
- minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and over-the-counter vitamin and mineral supplements;
- didanosine (Videx);
- a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
- sucralfate (Carafate); or
- a penicillin antibiotic such as amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox, others), penicillin (BeePen-VK, Pen-Vee K, Veetids, others), dicloxacillin (Dynapen), carbenicillin (Geocillin), oxacillin (Bactocill), and others.

You may not be able to take doxycycline or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.