Doxycycline

What is Doxycycline?

Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic that blocks the growth of bacteria and is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. Doxycycline can be used to treat various bacterial infections, including acne, urinary and respiratory tract infections, eye infections, gum diseases, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and more. It can also be used for the prevention of malaria and to fight infections caused by fungi or ticks.

Warnings

It is not recommended to use doxycycline if you are intolerant to any antibiotic that contains tetracycline. Children who are younger than 8 years of age should only take doxycycline when they have severe or life-threatening illnesses. The medicine may cause permanent graying or yellowing of the teeth in children. Using doxycycline while pregnant could affect the unborn baby and cause tooth discoloration that will last after the child's life.

Before you take this drug

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to doxycycline or other tetracycline antibiotics like minocycline, demeclocycline, or tigecycline. To make sure that doxycycline is safe for you, inform your doctor if you've ever experienced:

• Liver disease.
• Kidney disease.
• Allergies to sulfur or asthma.
• An increase in pressure within your skull.
• If you are also taking isotretinoin, seizure medication, and a blood thinner, such as warfarin (Coumadin).

If you're using Doxycycline to treat chlamydia, your doctor could examine you to ensure that you are not suffering from gonorrhea, a different sexually transmitted illness. Pregnancy medications can affect the bone and tooth growth of the baby who is yet to be born. Dosing doxycycline in the latter part of pregnancy could result in permanent discoloration of the child's teeth later in life. Consult your physician if you are pregnant or become pregnant while taking this medication. Doxycycline could reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. efficient. Discuss with your doctor the possibility of using an alternative to hormonal birth control (condom diaphragm or diaphragm containing spermicide) to avoid pregnancy. Doxycycline can enter breast milk and influence the growth of bones and teeth in nursing infants. The amount of absorption is not known. Avoid breastfeeding when you take this medication. Children shouldn't use this medication. Doxycycline is known to cause permanent graying or yellowing of teeth in children less than 8 years old. Young. Children should only use doxycycline in the case of serious or life-threatening illnesses like anthrax or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. (The advantages of treating serious conditions could outweigh the risks for the child's development of teeth.)

How to take Doxycycline?

Follow the exact dosage of doxycycline as directed by your physician. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Don't take this medication in smaller or larger doses or for longer than the recommended time. Dose doxycycline using a full glass of fluid. Take plenty of fluids while you take this medication. Many brands of doxycyline are able to be taken with milk or food if you feel the medicine causes stomach upset. Different Doxycycline brands may have different directions for the use of these medications with or without food.

Consume oracea with a full stomach at least one hour prior to or two hours following the meal. You can open a normal capsule or break the tablet into smaller pieces and then sprinkle the medication in the form of a spoonful of applesauce in order to ease swallowing. Take it in right away, without chewing. Do not store the drink for use later on. Consume a whole glass (8 ounces) of chilled water immediately. Don't crush, break, or open a delayed-release tablet or capsule. Inhale the tablet completely. You might need to split tablets of doxycycline in order to obtain the proper dosage. Follow the instructions of your physician.

Measure the amount of liquid medicine using the syringe for dosing or using a dosing spoon, medicine cup, or If you don't have an instrument to measure doses, you can ask your pharmacist for one. If you are taking doxycycline to stop malaria, begin taking the medication 1 or 2 days prior to entering an area where malaria is prevalent. Continue to take the medication throughout your stay, as well as for at least four weeks after you quit the region. Wear protection clothes, insect repellents, and mosquito nets on your bed to help protect yourself from mosquito bites that can cause malaria. Doxycycline is generally administered by injection in the event that you are not able to take the medication by mouth. Your healthcare provider will offer you the injection in the form of an infusion into the vein.

Take this medication for the prescribed duration. Your symptoms may worsen until the infection is fully eliminated. In addition, skipping doses could increase the chance of developing new infections that are resistant to antibiotics. Doxycycline does not treat viral infections, such as the flu or common cold. If you require surgery, inform your surgeon beforehand that you're using Doxycycline. Place it in a cool, dry place free of heat, moisture, and light. Get rid of any unopened medicine after the expiration date that appears on the label is over. Doxycycline that is expired can cause damage to your kidneys.

What happens if I miss a dose?

You should take the dose you missed as quickly as you can. Do not take any missed doses if it's nearing the time for the next dose. Don't take any extra medication to make up for the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Get medical attention in an emergency or contact the poison help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should be avoided?

Do not consume vitamin supplements with iron, such as multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives, for 2 hours prior to or after taking doxycycline. Avoid taking other antibiotics that contain doxycycline in the absence of a prescription from your doctor. Avoid exposure to the sun as well as tanning beds. Doxycycline may increase your susceptibility to sunburn. Make sure you wear protective attire and apply sunblock (SPF 30 or greater) whenever you're outside.

Diarrhea can be caused by antibiotics, and this could be an indication of a new infection. If you experience diarrhea that is bloody or watery, contact your doctor. Don't take anti-diarrhea medication unless your doctor advises you to.

Side effects of Doxycycline

Contact a medical professional immediately. If you experience any symptoms that indicate an allergy reaction to the drug doxycycline (hives, breathing problems, or swelling of your throat or face) or a severe skin reaction (fever or sore throat, burning sensations in your eyes, pain in the skin, and an ailment or redness that causes blisters as well as peeling),

Get medical attention when you experience a severe reaction to a drug that could affect various parts of your body. Symptoms may include an itch on your skin or fever, swollen glands, flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, extreme weakness, unusual bruising, or the appearance of yellowing in your eyes or skin. The reaction can occur a few weeks after starting to use doxycycline. Doxycycline can result in serious side effects. Contact your doctor immediately in the event of:

• Extreme stomach discomfort; diarrhea that is bloody or watery.
• Difficulty swallowing; irritation of the throat.
• Chest discomfort, a heart rhythm that is irregular, and feeling sluggish.
• Very little or no urine.
• Lower white blood cell count, such as chills, fever, swollen glands, body weakening, aches, pale skin, no bleeding or bruising.
• Severe headaches and ear ringing; nausea, dizziness, eye problems, and pain behind your eyes.
• Lack of appetite, stomach pain in the upper stomach (that could be aggravated by back pain), tiredness, nausea or vomiting, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, jaundice, or dark urine (yellowing of your eye or skin).

Common side effects of doxycycline include:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Upset stomach.
• Loss of appetite.
• Mild diarrhea that is mild.
• Itching or skin rash.
• Darkened skin color.
• Vaginal itching or discharge.

This is not a comprehensive list of possible side effects, and other side effects could occur. Consult your physician for advice regarding medical adverse effects. You can report any side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Interaction with other drugs

Sometimes it's not recommended to take specific medications with other medications. Some drugs can alter the blood levels and the other medications you are taking, which could create side effects or render the drugs less effective. Other medications can interfere with doxycycline. This includes medications that are prescribed and available over the counter, such as vitamins and herbal products. Be sure to inform your health professionals about the medicines you take currently and all medicines that you decide to stop or begin taking.