Reviewed by Virginia Chachati MPharm
(2013, University College London)
GPhC Registration number: 2087654
Information last reviewed 31/01/21
Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat a range of bacterial infections. It is commonly used as an antimalarial when travelling abroad to areas where malaria is prevalent.
Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic, butt also has antimalarial properties. Malaria is not a bacterial infection, but a parasitic one. Doxycycline works by preventing the parasites from invading your red blood cells. Therefore, your immune system has more time to fight off the parasites in your bloodstream. Doxycycline does not prevent malarial infection, but it does prevent the development of the disease if you are infected with the malaria parasites.
Doxycycline is an effective treatment for a range of bacterial infections. However, overuse has led some strains of bacteria to develop resistance to Doxycycline. Your doctor may choose to take a tissue sample from the infected area to ensure the bacteria causing the infection are susceptible to Doxycycline. Doxycycline is an effective antimalarial in some parts of the world. Check with your doctor before you travel if you plan on using Doxycycline as an antimalarial.
When taking a Doxycycline course for malaria prevention, you should start two days before arriving in the malarial area. The recommended dose is one capsule per day at around the same time each day. You should take one capsule per day during your stay. Complete the course once you have left the malarial area by taking one capsule each day for four weeks.
For adults and children over the age of 12, the recommended dose is 200 mg on the first day of treatment, then 100 mg each day for the course duration. The course’s length will depend on the type of infection you have, so follow the directions given to you by your doctor.
You should start taking Doxycycline two days before travelling to a malarial area.
You should continue to take the recommended dose of Doxycycline for four weeks after leaving a malaria zone. If you find Doxycycline is giving you side effects, then please discuss stopping the medication with your doctor before continuing.
If you're taking Doxycycline for malaria prevention, you should try to take it at the same time each day. If you forget to take Doxycycline at the right time, you should take it as soon as possible and make sure you take the next dose at the correct time. If you miss a dose completely, you should not take a double dose. Instead, you should contact a medical professional for advice and take additional precautions against malaria such as staying indoors and using mosquito nets.
You can take Doxycycline with or without food. If you find that you feel nauseous, you may find it easier to take Doxycycline with or directly after a meal. If Doxycycline irritates your stomach, you can try having it with milk.
Like all medications, Doxycycline can cause side effects in some patients. If you experience any of the following, stop taking your medicine and seek medical attention immediately:
If you experience any of the following infrequent side effects, seek advice from your doctor as soon as possible:
Mild, infrequent side effects include:
If the above side effects are troubling you, consult your doctor for advice.
Do not take this medicine before alerting your doctor if:
Consult your doctor before taking Doxycycline if:
You should inform your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken, or are about to start taking any other medicines, including those purchased over the counter at a pharmacy. In particular, tell your doctor if you are taking:
Some common side effects of Doxycycline include headaches, nausea or vomiting and sensitivity to sunlight. Some measures you can take to manage these side effects include:
Speak to your doctor for advice if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, as this medication could harm the infant.
You should not drink alcohol while taking Doxycycline, as this may reduce the effectiveness of your medication.
Doxycycline can make you more sensitive to sunlight and UV rays. You should alert your doctor if you expect to be exposed to high UV levels, for example, when using a sunbed while taking this medication. Take care to wear sun cream in the sun, as well as sunglasses and long-sleeved clothing where possible to cover your skin.
There is no evidence to suggest that Doxycycline has an effect on male or female fertility.
Doxycycline can reduce the effectiveness of some oral contraceptives. It is recommended to use an alternative form of contraception, such as condoms, while using this medication.
Malaria is a serious disease, spread by malaria-carrying mosquitoes, which can be fatal in some cases depending on how quickly and effectively it is treated. Within approximately two to four weeks of becoming infected with malaria, symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting begin to emerge. Doxycycline can be used to treat malaria after an infection has occurred.
Like other tetracyclines, Doxycycline can be used to treat a broad range of bacterial infections, including acne, rosacea, chest infections, skin infections and STIs. Doxycycline can be used by travellers for malaria prevention.
When using Doxycycline as an antimalarial, you will need to start the course before travelling to a malarial area, during your trip and after you return. You, therefore, need to purchase Doxycycline in advance of travelling to a malaria zone.
One of the possible side effects of Doxycycline is increased sensitivity to sunlight. However, since Doxycycline is an effective and cheaper treatment for malaria prevention, it can still be used in hot countries as long as you take the appropriate precautions. Make sure to wear sun cream with a high SPF, wear sunglasses and cover up as much of your skin with long-sleeved clothing as possible.
You should avoid using Doxycycline during periods of tooth development, such as during pregnancy or in children under the age of 12. This can lead to permanent discolouration of the teeth. However, in severe or life-threatening circumstances, your doctor may decide that the benefits outweigh the risks and prescribe Doxycycline in children under the age of 12.
Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, meaning it suppresses some bacteria that reside naturally in the body. This can lead to an overgrowth of other bacteria, or of fungal and yeast infections. For this reason, using Doxycycline can lead to an outbreak of thrush in some patients.
Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic which is used to treat a broad range of bacterial infections.
The active ingredient in Doxycycline is doxycycline hyclate, an antibiotic used to treat a range of infections.
The inactive ingredients in Doxycycline are sucrose, maise starch, crospovidone, basic butylated methacrylate copolymer (Eudragit E100) and purified talc.
Please note: Inactive ingredients can vary between different brands of generic doxycycline. Check the Patient Information Leaflet provided for more information
While some people might experience a mild allergic reaction after taking Doxycycline,a severe allergic reaction is rare. A severe allergic reaction presents as facial/lip swelling, wheezing, dizziness and trouble breathing. You should seek medical attention or call 999 right away if you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above as this is a medical emergency.
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