How much doxycycline should i take

Doxycycline can affect growing teeth so it's not prescribed for children under 12 years old or given to pregnant and breastfeeding women. Do not drink alcohol while taking doxycycline. There are also some common medicines you should not mix with it. Doxycycline can also be called by the brand name Vibramycin-D. To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have : ever had an allergic reaction to doxycycline or any other medicine in the past kidney problems liver problems an inflamed food pipe oesophagitis lupus , an autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis , an illness that causes severe muscle wasting.

Your dose of doxycycline depends on why you are taking it. Important Carry on taking doxycycline until you've completed the course, even if you feel better. How to take it Always swallow your doxycycline capsule whole and have it with a full glass of water a medium sized glass — ml. What if I forget to take it? What if I take too much? Accidentally taking an extra dose of doxycycline is unlikely to harm you. Common side effects These common side effects happen in around 1 in 10 people.

Keep taking the medicine, but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away: headaches feeling or being sick nausea or vomiting being sensitive to sunlight Serious side effects Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1, people. Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.

Visit Yellow Card for further information. What to do about: headaches — make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Everyday painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen , are safe to take with doxycycline. It might help to take your doxycycline after a meal or snack but avoid dairy products like milk, cheese and yoghurt. Dairy products can stop your body absorbing your medicine properly. If you are being sick, drink plenty of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration.

Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having strong-smelling pee. Do not take any medicines to treat vomiting without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.

Put sunscreen or sunblock on your skin - with a sun protection factor SPF of at least 15 if you have fair skin, you may need a much higher number than this. Also use a sunscreen product for your lips. Do not use sunlamps or tanning beds. If you get sunburn , there are things you can do to treat your symptoms. Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:.

There are some medicines that don't mix well with doxycycline. Tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start taking doxycycline: indigestion remedies antacids supplements which contain aluminium, bismuth, calcium, magnesium or zinc stomach ulcer medicines that contain bismuth iron supplements other antibiotics acne medicines which contain vitamin A, such as isotretinoin a blood thinner called warfarin medicines for epilepsy, such as phenytoin or carbamazepine ciclosporin, a medicine to damp down your immune system Typhoid vaccine given by mouth may not work properly if you're taking doxycycline.

Mixing doxycycline with herbal remedies and supplements There are no known problems with taking herbal remedies and supplements with doxycycline. Important: Medicine safety Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.

How does doxycycline work? When will I feel better? Find out how to take it safely and possible side effects. Doxycycline is also called Doxine.

Doxycycline is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections, such as of the chest, sinus, eye and pelvic infections. It may be chosen if you are allergic to penicillins. Doxycycline is also used to treat skin conditions such as acne and for malaria prevention when travelling to some countries. Doxycycline belongs to a group of antibiotics called tetracyclines.

Tetracyclines, including doxycycline, are distributed in small amounts into breast milk. There are no data on the effects of doxycycline on the breast-fed infant or milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, breast-feeding is not recommended during treatment with doxycycline and for 5 days after the last dose.

In general, tetracycline antibiotics are not recommended for use in breast-feeding mothers due to a theoretical risk of causing tooth discoloration, enamel hypoplasia, inhibition of linear skeletal growth, oral and vaginal thrush, or photosensitivity reactions in the nursing infant. However, because tetracyclines bind to calcium in the maternal breast milk, the risk for oral absorption by the infant is minimal.

Data are available regarding doxycycline milk concentrations in breast-feeding women; however, infant serum concentrations and any effects on breast-feeding infants were not reported.

Doxycycline mg PO daily was given to 10 mothers. On the second day of treatment, milk doxycycline averaged 0. Further available data indicate that after doses of to mg PO, milk concentrations do not exceed an average of 1.

Studies of long-term tetracycline use in breast-feeding are lacking. Previous American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations did not address doxycycline but classified another tetracycline antibiotic, tetracycline, as usually compatible with breast-feeding.

Doxycycline may be associated with reproductive risk. Based on findings from a fertility study in animals, doxycycline may cause infertility in both males and females. The reversibility of this finding is unclear. Acitretin: Contraindicated The concomitant use of acitretin and systemic tetracyclines is contraindicated, due to the potential for increased cranial pressure and an increased risk of pseudotumor cerebri benign intracranial hypertension.

Pseudotumor cerebri has been reported with systemic retinoid use alone and early signs and symptoms include papilledema, headache, nausea, vomiting and visual disturbances. Aluminum Hydroxide: Moderate Separate administration of doxycycline and antacids by 2 to 3 hours.

Coadministration may impair absorption of doxycycline which may decrease its efficacy. Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Carbonate: Moderate Separate administration of doxycycline and antacids by 2 to 3 hours. Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Hydroxide: Moderate Separate administration of doxycycline and antacids by 2 to 3 hours. Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Hydroxide; Simethicone: Moderate Separate administration of doxycycline and antacids by 2 to 3 hours.

Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Trisilicate: Moderate Separate administration of doxycycline and antacids by 2 to 3 hours. Amobarbital: Major Phenobarbital has been shown to affect the pharmacokinetics of doxycycline. Doxycycline half-life was decreased from It is likely that other barbiturates may exert the same effect. Clinicians should keep in mind that larger doses of doxycycline may be necessary in patients receiving barbiturates.

This interaction may not apply to other tetracyclines since they are less dependent on hepatic metabolism for elimination. Amoxicillin: Major Avoid the coadministration of tetracycline antibiotics with penicillins as tetracyclines may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillins.

Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Omeprazole: Major Avoid the coadministration of tetracycline antibiotics with penicillins as tetracyclines may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillins. Amoxicillin; Clavulanic Acid: Major Avoid the coadministration of tetracycline antibiotics with penicillins as tetracyclines may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillins. Ampicillin: Major Avoid the coadministration of tetracycline antibiotics with penicillins as tetracyclines may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillins.

Ampicillin; Sulbactam: Major Avoid the coadministration of tetracycline antibiotics with penicillins as tetracyclines may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillins. Antacids: Moderate Separate administration of doxycycline and antacids by 2 to 3 hours. Aspirin, ASA; Citric Acid; Sodium Bicarbonate: Major Early reports noted an increase in the excretion of tetracyclines during coadministration with sodium bicarbonate, and that the oral absorption of tetracyclines is reduced by sodium bicarbonate via increased gastric pH.

However, conflicting data have been reported, and further study is needed. Two recent studies show no effect of oral sodium bicarbonate administration on tetracycline oral bioavailability. In one of these trials, coadministration with sodium bicarbonate was reported to have no effect on tetracycline urinary excretion, Cmax, or AUC.

Until more information is available, avoid simultaneous administration of sodium bicarbonate and tetracyclines. When concurrent therapy is needed, stagger administration times by several hours to minimize the potential for interaction, and monitor for antimicrobial efficacy. The TheraCys product is made from the Connaught strain of Bacillus Calmette and Guerin, which is an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis. Sensitivity of the Connaught strain to several antibiotics was tested in vitro.

Bacteria were susceptible to doxycycline. Urinary concentrations of doxycycline could interfere with the therapeutic effectiveness of BCG. Postpone instillation of BCG if the patient is receiving antibiotics. Antituberculosis drugs should not be used to prevent or treat local, irritative toxicities associated with BCG Live treatment see Adverse Reactions. Also, BCG Live should not be used in patients with an active infection.

Barbiturates: Major Phenobarbital has been shown to affect the pharmacokinetics of doxycycline. Belladonna Alkaloids; Ergotamine; Phenobarbital: Major Phenobarbital has been shown to affect the pharmacokinetics of doxycycline. Bexarotene: Major The concomitant use of systemic retinoid therapy, such as bexarotene, and systemic tetracyclines should be avoided due to the potential for increased cranial pressure and an increased risk of pseudotumor cerebri benign intracranial hypertension.

Pseudotumor cerebri has been reported with systemic retionoid use alone and early signs and symptoms include papilledema, headache, nausea, vomiting and visual disturbances.

Bismuth Subcitrate Potassium; Metronidazole; Tetracycline: Moderate Separate administration of oral tetracyclines and bismuth subsalicylate by at least 2 to 3 hours. Coadministration may impair absorption of oral tetracyclines which may decrease their efficacy. Some data suggest that this interaction may only apply to administration with bismuth subsalicylate suspension. Bismuth Subsalicylate: Moderate Separate administration of oral tetracyclines and bismuth subsalicylate by at least 2 to 3 hours.

Bismuth Subsalicylate; Metronidazole; Tetracycline: Moderate Separate administration of oral tetracyclines and bismuth subsalicylate by at least 2 to 3 hours. Butabarbital: Major Phenobarbital has been shown to affect the pharmacokinetics of doxycycline. Butalbital; Acetaminophen: Major Phenobarbital has been shown to affect the pharmacokinetics of doxycycline. Butalbital; Acetaminophen; Caffeine: Major Phenobarbital has been shown to affect the pharmacokinetics of doxycycline. Butalbital; Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Codeine: Major Phenobarbital has been shown to affect the pharmacokinetics of doxycycline.

Calcium Acetate: Major Divalent or trivalent cations readily chelate with tetracycline antibiotics, forming insoluble compounds. The oral absorption of these antibiotics will be significantly reduced by other orally administered compounds that contain calcium salts, particularly if the time of administration is within 60 minutes of each other.

Calcium salts and tetracyclines should not be administered within 1 to 2 hours of each other, although doxycycline chelates less with calcium than other tetracyclines.

Calcium Carbonate: Major Divalent or trivalent cations readily chelate with tetracycline antibiotics, forming insoluble compounds. Calcium Carbonate; Famotidine; Magnesium Hydroxide: Major Divalent or trivalent cations readily chelate with tetracycline antibiotics, forming insoluble compounds. Calcium Carbonate; Magnesium Hydroxide: Major Divalent or trivalent cations readily chelate with tetracycline antibiotics, forming insoluble compounds.

Calcium Carbonate; Risedronate: Major Divalent or trivalent cations readily chelate with tetracycline antibiotics, forming insoluble compounds. Calcium Carbonate; Simethicone: Major Divalent or trivalent cations readily chelate with tetracycline antibiotics, forming insoluble compounds. Calcium Chloride: Major Divalent or trivalent cations readily chelate with tetracycline antibiotics, forming insoluble compounds.

Calcium Gluconate: Major Divalent or trivalent cations readily chelate with tetracycline antibiotics, forming insoluble compounds. Calcium: Major Divalent or trivalent cations readily chelate with tetracycline antibiotics, forming insoluble compounds.

Calcium; Vitamin D: Major Divalent or trivalent cations readily chelate with tetracycline antibiotics, forming insoluble compounds. Carbamazepine: Major Carbamazepine may potentially accelerate the hepatic metabolism of doxycycline. Clinicians should be alert to decreased effect of doxycycline. Carbenicillin: Major Avoid the coadministration of tetracycline antibiotics with penicillins as tetracyclines may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillins.

Carbetapentane; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine: Major Concurrent administration of oral zinc salts with oral tetracyclines can decrease the absorption of these antiinfectives and possibly interfere with their therapeutic response. This is a result of the formation of insoluble chelates between zinc and the antiinfective.

Oral zinc supplements should be administered at least 6 hours before or 2 hours after administering tetracyclines. Carbetapentane; Phenylephrine: Major Concurrent administration of oral zinc salts with oral tetracyclines can decrease the absorption of these antiinfectives and possibly interfere with their therapeutic response.

Chlorpheniramine; Pseudoephedrine: Major Concurrent administration of oral zinc salts with oral tetracyclines can decrease the absorption of these antiinfectives and possibly interfere with their therapeutic response. Cholera Vaccine: Major Avoid the live cholera vaccine in patients that have received doxycycline within 14 days prior to vaccination.

Concurrent administration of the live cholera vaccine with antibiotics active against cholera, such as doxycycline, may diminish vaccine efficacy and result in suboptimal immune response.

A duration of fewer than 14 days between stopping antibiotics and vaccination might also be acceptable in some clinical settings if travel cannot be avoided before 14 days have elapsed after stopping antibiotics.

It is likely this is enough to cause a clinically significant effect. Although no data are available for other tetracyclines, or for cholestyramine, it should be assumed that any tetracycline antibiotic may be affected similarly by either cholestyramine or colestipol. Staggering oral doses of each agent is recommended to minimize this pharmacokinetic interaction.

To minimize drug interactions, administer tetracyclines at least 1 hour before or at least 4 to 6 hours after the administration of cholestyramine. Since doxycycline undergoes enterohepatic recirculation, it may be even more susceptible to this drug interaction than the other tetracyclines. Chromium: Major Divalent or trivalent cations readily chelate with tetracycline antibiotics, forming insoluble compounds. Colesevelam: Moderate Colesevelam may decrease the bioavailability of tetracyclines.

To minimize potential for interactions, consider administering oral tetracyclines at least 4 hours before colesevelam. Although no data are available for other tetracyclines, it should be assumed that any tetracycline antibiotic may be affected similarly by colestipol.

Staggering oral doses of each agent is recommended to minimize this pharmacokinetic interaction; administer tetracyclines at least 1 hour before or at least 4 to 6 hours after the administration of colestipol. Desogestrel; Ethinyl Estradiol: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics. It was previously thought that antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of OCs containing estrogens due to stimulation of metabolism or a reduction in enterohepatic circulation via changes in GI flora.

One retrospective study reviewed the literature to determine the effects of oral antibiotics on the pharmacokinetics of contraceptive estrogens and progestins, and also examined clinical studies in which the incidence of pregnancy with OCs and antibiotics was reported.

It was concluded that the antibiotics ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, doxycycline, metronidazole, ofloxacin, roxithromycin, temafloxacin, and tetracycline did not alter plasma concentrations of OCs.

Antituberculous drugs e. Based on the study results, these authors recommended that back-up contraception may not be necessary if OCs are used reliably during oral antibiotic use. Another review concurred with these data, but noted that individual patients have been identified who experienced significant decreases in plasma concentrations of combined OC components and who appeared to ovulate; the agents most often associated with these changes were rifampin, tetracyclines, and penicillin derivatives.

These authors concluded that because females most at risk for OC failure or noncompliance may not be easily identified and the true incidence of such events may be under-reported, and given the serious consequence of unwanted pregnancy, that recommending an additional method of contraception during short-term antibiotic use may be justified. During long-term antibiotic administration, the risk for drug interaction with OCs is less clear, but alternative or additional contraception may be advisable in selected circumstances.

Data regarding progestin-only contraceptives or for newer combined contraceptive deliveries e. Dicloxacillin: Major Avoid the coadministration of tetracycline antibiotics with penicillins as tetracyclines may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillins.

Didanosine, ddI: Major Tetracyclines should not be administered simultaneously with didanosine, ddI chewable tablets or powder for oral solution. The buffering agents contained in didanosine tablets and powder reduce tetracycline absorption. Administer oral doses of tetracycline antibiotics 1 hour before or 4 hours after didanosine tablet or powder administration. The delayed-release didanosine capsules do not contain a buffering agent and would not be expected to interact with tetracycline antibiotics.

Dienogest; Estradiol valerate: Moderate It was previously thought that antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives containing estrogens due to stimulation of estrogen metabolism or a reduction in estrogen enterohepatic circulation via changes in GI flora. One retrospective study reviewed the literature to determine the effects of oral antibiotics on the pharmacokinetics of contraceptive estrogens and progestins, and also examined clinical studies in which the incidence of pregnancy with oral contraceptives OCs and antibiotics was reported.

It was concluded that the antibiotics ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, doxycycline, metronidazole, ofloxacin, roxithromycin, temafloxacin, and tetracycline did not alter plasma levels of oral contraceptives. Another review of the subject concurred with these data, but noted that individual patients have been identified who experienced significant decreases in plasma concentrations of combined OC components and who appeared to ovulate; the agents most often associated with these changes were rifampin, tetracyclines and penicillin derivatives.

Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics. Digoxin: Major Measure serum digoxin concentrations before initiating tetracyclines. DRPs have little cardiac activity due to poor cardiac receptor binding and rapid excretion. Certain antibiotics can reduce the activity of intestinal bacteria, which, in turn, may enhance digoxin bioavailability via decreased DRP formation and increased enterohepatic recycling of digoxin in some patients.

Digoxin toxicity has been reported in patients previously stabilized on digoxin who receive antibiotics that affect E. Other antibiotics that have activity against E. Drospirenone: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics.

Drospirenone; Estetrol: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics.

Drospirenone; Estradiol: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics. Drospirenone; Ethinyl Estradiol: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics. Drospirenone; Ethinyl Estradiol; Levomefolate: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics.

Elagolix; Estradiol; Norethindrone acetate: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics. Estradiol Cypionate; Medroxyprogesterone: Moderate It was previously thought that antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives containing estrogens due to stimulation of estrogen metabolism or a reduction in estrogen enterohepatic circulation via changes in GI flora.

Estradiol: Moderate It was previously thought that antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives containing estrogens due to stimulation of estrogen metabolism or a reduction in estrogen enterohepatic circulation via changes in GI flora. Estradiol; Levonorgestrel: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics.

Estradiol; Norethindrone: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics.

Estradiol; Norgestimate: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics. Ethinyl Estradiol: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics. Ethinyl Estradiol; Levonorgestrel; Folic Acid; Levomefolate: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics.

Ethinyl Estradiol; Norelgestromin: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics. Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone Acetate: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics.

Ethinyl Estradiol; Norgestrel: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics. Ethotoin: Major Hydantoin anticonvulsants induce hepatic microsomal enzymes and may increase the metabolism of other drugs, including doxycycline, leading to reduced efficacy of the concomitant medication. Ethynodiol Diacetate; Ethinyl Estradiol: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics.

Etonogestrel; Ethinyl Estradiol: Moderate It would be prudent to recommend alternative or additional contraception when oral contraceptives OCs are used in conjunction with antibiotics. Ferric Maltol: Moderate Iron salts or products that contain iron can decrease the oral bioavailability of tetracyclines.

The ability of tetracyclines to chelate with divalent cations such as iron, however, varies depending on the particular antibiotic and when the antibiotic is administered with regard to the iron-containing product. Doxycycline chelates more avidly with iron than other tetracyclines. This pharmacokinetic interaction with iron can be minimized by staggering the doses of the antibiotic and iron by as much as possible. Administering iron-containing products 4 to 6 hours before or 1 hour after the oral tetracycline antibiotic dose will minimize the risk of antibiotic failure due to poor bioavailability.

Food: Moderate Divalent or trivalent cations readily chelate with tetracycline antibiotics, forming insoluble compounds. The oral absorption of certain tetracycline class antibiotics will be reduced by agents containing these cations e. However, the oral absorption of doxycycline appears to be less affected by food interactions than tetracycline.

Some manufacturers state that absorption of oral doxycycline is not markedly influenced by simultaneous ingestion of food or milk and recommend taking doxycycline with food or milk if gastric irritation occurs upon administration. However, there are studies describing altered doxycycline pharmacokinetics when given with meals containing dairy products. A single-dose study of Periostat given with a 1, calorie, high-fat, high-protein meal, which included dairy products, resulted in a decrease in the rate and extent of absorption and delay in the time to maximum concentrations.

The dual-release capsules Oracea are not bioequivalent to other doxycycline products; absorption may be decreased when given with meals. The reductions in AUC and Cmax can be clinically significant. Moderate Divalent or trivalent cations readily chelate with tetracycline antibiotics, forming insoluble compounds. However, there are studies describing altered doxycycline pharmacokinetics when given with meals. It is also used to treat pimples and abscesses usually on the face that are caused by rosacea, also known as acne rosacea or adult acne.

Doxycycline belongs to the class of medicines known as tetracycline antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections. In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make.

For this medicine, the following should be considered:. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Doxycycline may cause permanent discoloration of the teeth and slow down the growth of bones. This medicine should not be given to children 8 years of age and younger except for the treatment of exposure to inhalational anthrax or rickettsia infection , unless directed by the child's doctor. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of doxycycline in the elderly.

However, elderly patients are more likely to have kidney, liver, or heart problems which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving doxycycline. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases.

If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur.

Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur.