doxycycline

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

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

Doxycycline is also used to treat blemishes, bumps, and acne-like lesions caused by rosacea. It will not treat facial redness caused by rosacea.

Some forms of doxycycline are used to prevent malaria, to treat anthrax, or to treat infections caused by mites, ticks, or lice.

Important information

You should not take doxycycline if you are allergic to any tetracycline antibiotic.

Children should not use this medicine. Doxycycline can cause permanent yellowing or graying of the teeth in children younger than 8 years old.

Before taking this medicine

You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to doxycycline or other tetracycline antibiotics such as demeclocycline, minocycline, tetracycline, or tigecycline.

To make sure doxycycline is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver disease;

• kidney disease;

• asthma or sulfite allergy;

• a history of increased pressure inside your skull;

• if you also take isotretinoin (Amnesteem, Claravis, Sotret); or

• if you take seizure medicine (carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin), or a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven).

If you are using doxycycline to treat gonorrhea, your doctor may test you to make sure you do not also have syphilis, another sexually transmitted disease.

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use doxycycline if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby or cause permanent tooth discoloration later in life. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment.

See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

Doxycycline can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while using doxycycline.

Doxycycline passes into breast milk and may affect bone and tooth development in a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are taking this medicine.

Children should not use this medicine. Doxycycline can cause permanent yellowing or graying of the teeth in children younger than 8 years old.

Doxycycline side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to doxycycline: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• changes in your vision;

• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

• fever, swollen glands, body aches, flu symptoms, weakness;

• skin rash, pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;

• upper stomach pain (may spread to your back), loss of appetite, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• chest pain, irregular heart rhythm, feeling short of breath;

• confusion, nausea and vomiting, swelling, rapid weight gain, little or no urinating;

• new or worsening cough with fever, trouble breathing;

• increased pressure inside the skull--severe headaches, ringing in your ears, dizziness, nausea, vision problems, pain behind your eyes; or

• severe skin reaction--fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Common doxycycline side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, upset stomach;

• mild diarrhea;

• skin rash or itching; or

• vaginal itching or discharge.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect doxycycline?

Other drugs may interact with doxycycline, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.