doxycycline

(dock sih SYE kleen)
Adoxa, Doryx, Doxy-D, Monodox, Periostat, Vibra-Tabs, Vibramycin

What is the most important information I should know about doxycycline?

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Take all of the doxycycline that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated.

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Children younger than 8 years of age should not take doxycycline. Doxycycline can cause permanent tooth discoloration and adversely affect growth.

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Do not take iron supplements, multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives within 2 hours of taking doxycycline. These products may decrease the effectiveness of doxycycline.

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Doxycycline may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Use a second method of birth control while taking doxycycline to ensure protection from unintended pregnancy.

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Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight or artificial UV light (e.g., tanning beds). Doxycycline may increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight, and severe burning may result. Wear protective clothing and sunscreen if exposure to the sun is unavoidable.

What is doxycycline?

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Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic. It fights bacteria in the body.

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Doxycycline is used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, acne, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, periodontitis (gum disease), and others.

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Doxycycline may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking doxycycline?

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Before taking doxycycline, tell your doctor if you have other medical problems, especially liver disease. You may not be able to take doxycycline, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during therapy.

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Vibramycin syrup contains sodium metabisulfite, a sulfite that may cause an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals. Do not use Vibramycin syrup without first talking to your doctor if you have a sulfite sensitivity.

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Doxycycline is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that it is known to be harmful to an unborn baby. Doxycycline may affect bone and tooth development in the developing baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

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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.

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Children younger than 8 years of age should not take doxycycline. It can cause permanent tooth discoloration, and it can affect growth.

How should I take doxycycline?

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Take doxycycline exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

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Take doxycycline with a full glass of water (8 ounces). Adequate water should be taken with each dose to prevent irritation of the esophagus.

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Shake the suspension well before measuring a dose.

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To ensure you get the correct dose, measure the liquid forms of doxycycline with a dose-measuring spoon or cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.

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Doxycycline may be taken on an empty stomach or with food. Milk and other dairy products should be avoided, unless otherwise directed by your doctor, as they may decrease the absorption of the medication. Instructions regarding doxycycline use may vary by manufacturer. If you need to take doxycycline with milk, talk to your pharmacist to verify if your particular prescription should be taken with dairy products.

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Do not take iron supplements, multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives within 2 hours of taking doxycycline. These products may reduce the effectiveness of doxycycline.

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Take all of the doxycycline that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated.

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It is important to take doxycycline regularly to get the most benefit.

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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.

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Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What happens if I overdose?

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Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.

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Symptoms of a doxycycline overdose include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

What should I avoid while taking doxycycline?

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Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight or artificial UV light (e.g., tanning beds). Doxycycline may increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.

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Do not take iron supplements, multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives within 2 hours of taking doxycycline. These products may reduce the effectiveness of doxycycline.

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What are the possible side effects of doxycycline?

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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking doxycycline and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

severe headache, vision changes, or confusion;

liver damage (yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, abdominal pain or discomfort, unusual bleeding or bruising, severe fatigue); or

blood problems (fever, fatigue, easy bruising or bleeding).

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If you experience any of the following less serious side effects, continue to take doxycycline and talk to your doctor:

nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;

increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight;

swollen tongue; or

vaginal yeast infection.

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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.

What other drugs will affect doxycycline?

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Before taking doxycycline, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:

cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);

an antacid such as Tums, Rolaids, Milk of Magnesia, Maalox, and others;

a product that contains bismuth subsalicylate such as Pepto-Bismol;

minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and over-the-counter vitamin and mineral supplements;

carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol, Epitol);

phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek);

didanosine (Videx);

a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

sucralfate (Carafate);

a barbiturate such as phenobarbital, mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or pentobarbital (Nembutal);

a penicillin antibiotic such as amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox, others), penicillin (BeePen-VK, Pen-Vee K, Veetids, others), dicloxacillin (Dynapen), carbenicillin (Geocillin), oxacillin (Bactocill), and others; or

methoxyflurane (an inhaled anesthetic gas used during surgery).

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You may not be able to take doxycycline or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.

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Doxycycline may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Use a second method of birth control to ensure protection from unintended pregnancy while taking doxycycline.

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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with doxycycline. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist has additional information about doxycycline written for health professionals that you may read.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.