Doxycycline

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What is doxycycline?

Doxycycline is an antibiotic medicine that belongs to a class of antibiotics known as tetracyclines.

What is doxycycline used for?

Doxycycline is an antibiotic used to treat and prevent certain infections.

Your doctor may prescribe doxycycline to:

treat respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis
treat other infections such as prostatitis and chlamydia
control acne
prevent malaria (for people travelling in high-risk areas)

Your doctor may have prescribed doxycycline for another reason. If you are unsure why you are taking doxycycline, ask your doctor.

It is important to always finish the course of doxycycline as prescribed by your doctor, even if you feel better. This will ensure your infection is treated completely and prevents complications such as antibiotic resistance (when the bacteria no longer respond to the antibiotic, and the antibiotic becomes less effective).

How does doxycycline work?

Doxycycline works by stopping bacteria from multiplying. In acne, it reduces the number of bacteria on the skin’s surface, and it has an anti-inflammatory action.

Doxycycline also works against parasites that cause malaria.

What forms of doxycycline are available?

Doxycycline is the name of the active ingredient. It is available in many different brands, which have different:

names
appearances (size, shape or colour)
forms (tablets and capsules)
packaging

No matter which brand you are prescribed, doxycycline works in the same way to fight the infection.

In Australia, you can only buy doxycycline with a doctor’s prescription.

What are the possible side effects of doxycycline?

All medicines have benefits, and they also have the risk of side effects.

The more common side effects of doxycycline include:

diarrhoea or vomiting
oral or vaginal thrush
rash or itching
changes to the appearance of your nails
mild irritation of the oesophagus (food pipe)
loss of sense of taste
ringing or other persistent noise in the ears

Serious side effects are rare but may need urgent medical attention. They include:

increased pressure in the brain (headache, blurred vision, vomiting)
severe blisters and bleeding in the lips, eyes, mouth, nose and genitals
severe skin reactions
difficulty or pain in swallowing
dizziness
fast heart rate

Although it is rare, some people can have an allergic reaction to doxycycline. The reaction can include hives (raised, red and itchy rash), breathing problems and swollen lips, tongue or face. If you’ve ever had allergies to any antibiotics in the past, especially in the tetracycline class, be sure to tell your doctor.

What should I be careful of when taking doxycycline?

Doxycycline can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, increasing your risk of sunburn. If you are taking doxycycline, it’s especially important to make sure you protect exposed skin with at least SPF30+ sunscreen, clothing and a hat.

Doxycycline can stain teeth and affect how teeth enamel forms, so it should not be taken by children under the age of 8 years, or if you are more than 16 weeks pregnant (when the baby’s teeth are developing).

Doxycycline can also reduce the effectiveness of some oral contraceptive pills. If you are taking oral contraceptive pills, ask your doctor if you need to use another form of contraception while you take doxycycline.

How do I take doxycycline?

You should take doxycycline with food or immediately after eating to minimise the chance of side effects.

You should also try to remain upright (by sitting up or standing) for at least 30 minutes after taking the medicine. This reduces your chance of developing irritation of the oesophagus (oesophagitis).

When should I speak to my doctor?

Speak to your doctor if you:

have side effects that trouble you
have signs of an allergic reaction
have a health condition or are taking medicine that may affect how your body reacts to doxycycline
become pregnant or start breastfeeding