What you should know about
Doxycycline
What is doxycycline?
Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic. It fights
bacteria in the 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.
What is the most important information I should know
about doxycycline?
Do not use this medication if you are pregnant. It could
cause harm to the unborn baby, including permanent discoloration of the teeth
later in life. Doxycycline can make birth control pills less effective. Use a
second method of birth control while you are taking doxycycline to keep from
getting pregnant. Doxycycline passes into breast milk and may affect bone and
tooth development in a nursing baby. Do not take this medication without telling
your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give doxycycline to a child
younger than 8 years old. Doxycycline can cause permanent yellowing or graying
of the teeth, and it can affect a child's growth. Avoid exposure to sunlight or
artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Doxycycline can make your skin
more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF
15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun. Do not take iron
supplements, multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives within 2
hours before or after taking doxycycline. These products can make doxycycline
less effective. 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.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before
taking doxycycline?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to
doxycycline, or to similar medicines such as demeclocycline (Declomycin),
minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn, Vectrin), or tetracycline (Brodspec,
Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap). Before taking doxycycline, tell your doctor if you
have liver or kidney disease. You may not be able to take doxycycline, or you
may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during therapy.
If you are using doxycycline to treat gonorrhea, your
doctor may test you to make sure you do not also have syphilis, another sexually
transmitted disease.
Do not use doxycycline syrup (Vibramycin) without first
talking to your doctor if you have asthma or are allergic to sulfites.
FDA pregnancy category D. This medication can cause harm to
an unborn baby, including permanent discoloration of the teeth later in life. Do
not use doxycycline without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Tell your
doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Doxycycline can make birth
control pills less effective. Use a non-hormonal method of birth control (such
as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while you are taking
doxycycline. 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 old should not take doxycycline. Doxycycline can cause permanent tooth
discoloration and can also affect a child's growth.
How should I take doxycycline?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you.
Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than
recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Take doxycycline with a full glass of water (8 ounces).
You may take this medication with or without food. Do not
take the medication with milk or other dairy products, unless your doctor has
told you to. Dairy products can make it harder for your body to absorb the
medicine. Certain brands of doxycycline may not have restrictions about taking
them with dairy products. If your doctor has instructed you to take doxycycline
with milk, tell your pharmacist that you need a brand of doxycycline that can be
taken with milk.
Do not crush, break, or open a delayed-release capsule (Orecea).
Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the
body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be
released at one time. Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you
measure a dose. To be sure you get the correct dose, measure the liquid with a
marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you
do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
You may take this medication with or without food.
Take this medication for the entire length of time
prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is
completely treated. Doxycycline will not treat a viral infection such as the
common cold or flu. Do not give this medicine to another person, even if they
have the same condition you have.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon
ahead of time that you are taking doxycycline. You may need to stop using the
medicine for a short time.
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 label. Using expired doxycycline can cause damage to your
kidneys. Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is
almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at
the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the
missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used
too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a doxycycline overdose may include
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What should I avoid while taking doxycycline?
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a
sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it,
call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your
doctor has told you to.
Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps
or tanning beds). Doxycycline can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and
sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective
clothing if you must be out in the sun. Do not take iron supplements,
multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives within 2 hours before
or after taking doxycycline.
What are the possible side effects of doxycycline?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs
of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face,
lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using doxycycline and call your doctor at once if
you have any of these serious side effects:
severe headache, dizziness, blurred vision;
■ fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
■ severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
■ urinating less than usual or not at all;
■ pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever,
confusion or weakness;
■ severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back,
nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate.
■ loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or
eyes); or
■ easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness.
Continue using doxycycline and talk with your doctor if you
have any of these less serious side effects:
■ sores or swelling in your rectal or genital area;
■ mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach upset;
■ white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
■ swollen tongue, trouble swallowing; or
■ vaginal itching or discharge.
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.
Related
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Doxycycline
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