Doxycycline is an antibiotic. It is used to treat certain bacterial infections of the lung, skin, urinary tract (e.g. bladder, urethra) and eyes.
This medicine is also used to treat sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhoea.
It may also be used to treat or prevent certain infections such as malaria, leptospirosis (an infection that is transmitted to humans through direct or indirect contact with the urine of infected animals), fever caused by louse, mite, or tick bites, and diarrhoea experienced during or after travelling.
Doxycycline may be used to treat other conditions as decided by your doctor.
Take Doxycycline exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether you should take this medicine with or without food. Different brands of this medicine may be taken differently.
Try to take it at the same time each day.
This medicine is available as a conventional capsule or tablet, dispersible tablet, modified-release capsule, delayed-release tablet, or oral suspension.
If you are taking the modified-release type of capsule, swallow it whole. Do not divide, chew or crush the capsule.
If you are taking the delayed-release type of tablet, you may swallow it whole or carefully break up the tablet and sprinkle the tablet contents on a spoonful of applesauce. Do not crush or damage the tablet when breaking it up. The applesauce mixture should be swallowed immediately without chewing and may be followed by a glass of water. Do not store the mixture for later use.
If you are taking a dispersible tablet, let the tablet break in a small amount of water, then drink the suspension. Do not swallow the tablet without letting it break up in water first.
If you are taking an oral suspension, shake the bottle well before you take it to ensure that the liquid is evenly mixed. Use the measuring spoon or cup provided to measure your dose.
When taking the capsules or tablets, it is recommended to swallow them whole with an adequate amount of water. You should take your dose either in a sitting or standing position and well before you go to bed. It is important not to lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking this medicine to prevent irritation of the throat or oesophagus (food pipe).
The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the treatment timeframe depending on the type and severity of your infection.
Take Doxycycline at regular intervals. Do not skip any doses. You must complete the entire course of this medicine. If you don't, the infection will not be properly controlled.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Do not take Doxycycline if you ever had an allergic reaction (e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swollen mouth or eyes) to this medicine or similar medicines such as tetracycline.
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or planning to have a baby soon. If you become pregnant while being treated with Doxycycline, alert your doctor immediately. This medicine may cause harm to your unborn child.
Do not take this medicine if you are breastfeeding.
Do not take Doxycycline with isotretinoin or other retinoids (medicines used to treat various skin conditions) or methoxyflurane (medicine to block pain and sensation).
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- syphilis and another sexually transmitted disease (STD) occurring at the same time
- myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness disorder)
- systemic lupus erythematosus (an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation)
- history of high pressure around the brain
- liver disease
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving this medicine to a child. Children may be more sensitive to the side effects.
If you are being treated with Doxycycline for a sexually transmitted disease, you should follow your doctor's advice on ways to prevent passing the disease to others. You should also avoid sexual contact until the doctor certifies that you are cleared of the infection.
If you are being treated with this medicine for malaria, you must also take preventive measures to avoid mosquito bites. This will help prevent you from being re-infected with malaria. Use an effective insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to reduce exposure. Avoid going out between dusk to dawn. Effective insect repellents should contain at least 20-33% diethyltoluamide (DEET).
The symptoms of malaria are fever, chills, headache, muscle pain and a flu-like illness. Consult a doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms again and anytime within 1 year after leaving an area known to have malaria, especially within 3 months of your return from the area.
Why is it important to keep my appointments with the doctor?
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
Routine tests (e.g. complete blood tests, liver and kidney functions) may be done while you are being treated with this medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.
Doxycycline may cause any of the following side effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, headache, dizziness, back pain, loss of appetite, swollen or black hairy tongue, throat irritation or ulceration, nail discolouration, and rash.
This medicine may also make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Apply sunscreen when going outdoors and avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and UV lamps.
Doxycycline may cause permanent discolouration of teeth or affect the proper growth of teeth in children below 8 years old.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- signs and symptoms of allergic reaction e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swelling of the face, eyes, or mouth
- rashes with peeling of the skin or blistering of the lips, mouth, or eyes accompanied by fever
- signs and symptoms of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) e.g. rashes, fever, enlarged lymph nodes
- watery and bloody stools with or without stomach cramps and fever
- severe headaches, blurred and/or double vision, loss of eyesight
- unusual bleeding or bruising, cough, colds, flu, feeling very weak or tired
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Do not take Doxycycline if you are taking any of these medicines:
- isotretinoin or other retinoids (medicines used to treat various skin conditions)
- methoxyflurane (medicine to block pain and sensation)
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- other antibiotics e.g. penicillin
- blood-thinning medicines e.g. warfarin
- medicines for fits or seizures e.g. phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine
- ciclosporin (medicine used in organ transplant or certain immune disorders)
- rifampicin (medicine to treat TB, a lung infection known as tuberculosis)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Doxycycline.
This medicine should not be taken at the same time as antacids that contain aluminium, calcium, or magnesium, or any medicines that contain iron, zinc, or bismuth salts. These medicines may reduce the effectiveness of Doxycycline.
Inform your doctor if you are currently taking birth control pills. Doxycycline may reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. You may wish to discuss additional birth control methods with your doctor or pharmacist.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Protect from light and moisture.
Throw away any unused portion of the oral suspension after 2 weeks.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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