Doxycycline (Doxycycline Hyclate)

Chemical Name: Doxycycline hydrochloride hemiethanolate hemihydrate.

Synonyms: Vibramycin, Periostat, Doxytas, Sun-100, Swidox, Apo-Doxy, Atridox, Doxytec, Doxytetracycline, Doryx, Doxychel, Doxycin, Doxylin, Jenacyclin, Monodox, Novo-Doxylin, Supracyclin, Vibra-Tabs

Doxycycline Uses

Doxycycline Hyclate is a tetracycline antibiotic. It works by slowing the growth of bacteria in the body.

Doxycycline is used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, chlamydia, acne, periodontitis (gum disease), and others. Doxycycline may be used in combination with other medicines to treat certain amoeba infections. It also is used to prevent travelers' diarrhea. It does not treat viral infections, such as the common cold or flu.

Doxycycline Dosage

Doxycycline dosage is based on factors like what you are being treated for, your age, whether you have decreased kidney function, other medical conditions you may have, and other medications you are taking. For instance, the recommended doxycycline dose for most bacterial infections is 100 mg to 200 mg a day(doxycycline hyclate 100mg). For malaria prevention, doxycycline dosage guidelines recommend 100 mg a day for adults and 2 mg per kilogram of body weight for children.

What should you know before taking doxycycline

* If you have liver disease, you may not be able to take doxycycline, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during therapy.
* Your doctor may test you to make sure you do not also have syphilis or another sexually transmitted disease, if you are going to use doxycycline to treat gonorrhea.
* Don't use doxycycline syrup (Vibramycin) without first conversation with your doctor if you have a asthma or are allergic to sulfites.
* FDA pregnancy category D. Doxycycline can cause harm to an unborn baby. Don't use this medication without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Birth control pills also may not work if you are taking doxycycline. Use other forms of birth control while you are taking doxycycline.
* Do not take Doxycycline without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. This medication passes into breast milk and may affect bone and tooth development in a nursing infant.
* Doxycycline shouldn't be given to a child younger than 8 years old. The drug can cause permanent tooth discoloration and can also affect a child's growth.
* Some medicines that can interact with doxycycline are antacids and supplements that contain calcium, magnesium, iron, or sodium bicarbonate. If you take products containing these minerals within 2 hours of the time you take doxycycline, these medicines could decrease the doxycycline’s effectiveness.

How to take Doxycycline

* Take Doxycycline Hyclat exactly as it was prescribed by your doctor(Exactly the same amount and no longer than recommended).
* Take doxycycline with a glass of water.
* You may take doxycycline with or without food. Do not take it with milk or other dairy products, unless your doctor has told you to.
* Do not crush, break, or open a delayed-release capsule. Swallow the pill whole. Broken or open pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
* Take doxycycline for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Do not give it to another person, even if they have the same condition you have.
* Do not take any medication after the expiration date printed on the label. Using expired doxycycline can cause damage to your kidneys.
* You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time, if you need to have any type of surgery. Tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking doxycycline.
* Store Doxycycline at room temperature away from heat and moisture.

Missed Doxycycline dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not use 2 doses at once.

Doxycycline overdose

You should seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a doxycycline overdose may include vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.

What should you avoid while taking doxycycline

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor.
Avoid exposure to artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds) or sunlight. Doxycycline can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Wear protective clothing and use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) if you must be out in the sun.
Do not take multivitamins, iron supplements, antacids, calcium supplements, or laxatives within 2 hours after of or before taking doxycycline.

Keep doxycycline and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use it only for the indication prescribed.