What is Doxycycline?

What is doxycycline?

Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic available through a prescription and used to treat a broad spectrum of infections. Doxycycline formulations include hyclate, monohydrate, and calcium salts and can be administered orally as a tablet/capsule or intravenously. Tetracycline antibiotics interfere with bacterial function and growth by blocking protein synthesis, thereby killing infection-causing organisms.

What are the most common doxycycline brands?

Common brands of doxycycline include Vibramycin®, Doryx®, Doryx MPC®, Oracea®, Acticlate®, Atridox®, Doxy 100®, and Doxy 200®.

What is doxycycline used for?

Doxycycline for acne:

Doxycycline is the oral antibiotic for acne that is most frequently prescribed by dermatologists in the United States. The American Academy of Dermatology acne guidelines recommend doxycycline as add on treatment for moderate to severe acne and for inflammatory acne resistant to topical treatments. Most who use doxycycline for acne treatment achieve at least a moderate improvement.

 

Doxycycline for sinus infection:

Doxycycline is not typically prescribed as a first option for a sinus infection. Most patients only require observation and symptom management for uncomplicated sinus infections, as these are often caused by viruses and not bacteria. Doxycycline can be prescribed for a bacterial sinus infection if a patient has a penicillin allergy. Doxycycline’s efficacy in sinus infection treatment depends on the specific bacteria involved.

What are the side effects of doxycycline?

Common side effects of doxycycline include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Doxycycline increases the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. It is important to wear sunscreen or barrier clothing when exposed to the sun while taking doxycycline and to stop the medication if you develop a rash in sun-exposed areas. Taking the medication right before bed or with insufficient liquids can cause the capsule or tablet to irritate the esophagus.

Doxycycline Interactions

Some medicines that can interact with doxycycline are antacids and supplements that contain calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, or sodium bicarbonate. If you take products containing these minerals within two hours of the time you take doxycycline, these medicines could decrease doxycycline’s effectiveness. Birth control pills also may not work as well if you are taking doxycycline, so other forms of birth control should be used while you are taking this medicine. 

What foods can I eat while taking doxycycline?

Some foods you should avoid taking with doxycycline include milk, butter, cheese, eggs, kale, and spinach. If consuming any of these foods, eat or drink them two hours before or four hours after you take doxycycline.

Can I drink alcohol while taking doxycycline?

Avoid drinking alcohol while on doxycycline in order to ensure maximum antibiotic effectiveness. Chronic alcohol ingestion may decrease the effectiveness of doxycycline. One study showed that the doxycycline blood level needed to treat an infection dropped to an ineffective level in patients who chronically drank alcohol. Occasional ingestion of alcohol does not appear to interfere with doxycycline.

Is it safe to take doxycycline while pregnant?

Doxycycline should generally be avoided during pregnancy. There are rare exceptions, such as when a woman is exposed to anthrax and is unable to take a first-line antibiotic. Doxycycline crosses the placenta and may cause fetal harm. Taking doxycycline during the last half of pregnancy can cause permanent yellow/gray/brown tooth discoloration in the fetus. Tooth enamel may not properly develop in babies whose mothers took doxycycline while pregnant. In addition, taking doxycycline early in pregnancy may delay bone development in the fetus.

Can you overdose on doxycycline?

There are no published reports of toxic effects in humans who overdose with single large doses of doxycycline. There is one case with chronic overdose causing severe, reversible toxicity. It is curious that calves who are accidentally given three to ten times the therapeutic dose often develop a serious or fatal heart condition. To date, this has not been reported in humans.

Can young children take doxycycline?

Historically, doxycycline was not recommended for use in young children (those less than 8 years of age) due to its potential to cause discoloration and staining of developing teeth. However, recent research has shown that this is unlikely to occur. The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees that short-term (21 days or less) use of doxycycline is safe for children less than 8 years of age.

What should I do if I accidentally take doxycycline or take too much doxycycline?

If you experience adverse or unexpected symptoms from doxycycline, get guidance from Poison Control immediately. Get a fast personalized recommendation online or call 1-800-222-1222. Both options are free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.

Ryan Kelly-Romero, Pharmacy Student at The University of New Mexico

Susan C Smolinske, PharmD, DABAT. Director, New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center, Professor, Pharmacy Practice and Administration Sciences