Doxycycline
Brand Names: Acticlate, Adoxa, Avidoxy, Doryx, Monodox, Morgidox, Ocudox Convenience Kit, Oracea, Oraxyl, Targadox, Vibramycin
Related Medications: Minocycline (Solodyn), Demeclocycline,Tetracycline (Diabecline), Bismuth subsalicylate / Metronidazole / Tetracycline, Bismuth / Metronidazole / Tetracycline
Uses and Interactions of Doxycycline
There are many doctors who prescribe their patients to take Doxycycline to treat a range of bacterial infections, including acne and malaria, and certain
skin conditions. Basically, this medicine belongs to a group of drugs called tetracycline antibiotics, and it acts by stopping the bacterial growth. This
means that it doesn’t work against all kinds of viral infections, including flu and cold. People should be careful with Doxycycline because its misuse may
lead to reduced effectiveness.
Basic Guidelines on How to Take It
Most patients take Doxycycline 1-2 times a day, orally, and 1-2 hours before their regular meals. It’s advisable to take one pill with a glass of water,
and if they suffer from stomach ulcers, they should use this medicine with milk or food, but this combination may reduce its effectiveness. Besides, they
shouldn’t lie down for ten minutes after taking Doxycycline. When it comes to correct doses, they are always prescribed based on a few specific factors,
such as individual tolerance, weight, age and so on.
Side Effects
There are certain adverse effects associated with the intake of Doxycycline, including:
If any of these annoying symptoms worsen or persist, it’s necessary to get medical help at once. The good news is that most of those patients who use
Doxycycline don’t develop any of them. In rare cases, this treatment is associated with serious adverse effects, such as:
Those patients who use this medicine for repeated and prolonged periods may end up with oral thrush. Doxycycline is also associated with rare allergic
reactions characterized by such signs as itching, swelling, drowsiness, rash, difficulty breathing and others.
Important Precautions that Should Be Taken into Consideration
It’s not allowed to start taking this medication if patients have allergic reactions to its components, and if they have certain esophagus issues or
difficulty swallowing. They may become more sensitive to direct sunlight while undergoing this treatment, so that people should avoid prolonged sun
exposure and use effective sunscreens. For minor patients, they are more prone to developing side effects, including tooth discoloration. Doxycycline is
not advisable for pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Dangerous Drug Interactions
There are some pharmaceutical products that may potentially interact with this medicine, including barbiturates, retinoid meds, blood thinners,
anti-seizure pills, penicillin, digoxin, live bacterial vaccines and a few others. Doxycycline may have an impact on birth control pills, so that patients
should be careful when taking it. Finally, its use may interfere with different lab tests and cause their false result, so doctors should be aware of that.