Drug name: Doxycycline
Other names used:
- Apo-Doxy®
- Doryx®
- Doxy- Caps®
- Doxychel Hyclate®
- Vibramycin®
Active Ingredients:
- Doxycycline
Therapeutic effect of Doxycycline Doxycycline belongs to a class of antibiotics known as tetracycline and it's used to treat various kinds of infections. Doxycycline mode of action is to inhibit the protein syntheses that are crucial for development of the bacterial cell. Doxycycline by combining with 30S ribosome subunit totally restricts the production of the necessary protein and it prevents the growth of bacteria and also makes it very vulnerable. Doxycycline has proved its effectiveness against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria.
Indications: Doxycycline is used for the treatment of the following conditions:
- Cholera (infection of the small intestine that causes a large amount of watery diarrhea)
- Acne (skin condition that causes pimples or zits)
- Infections of the eyes, tongue, ears etc.
- Infections of the endothelium
- Infections of the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract
- Infections of the genitourinary system or urogenital system
- Infections of the ear, nose or tongue
- Respiratory tract infection
Precautions and Restrictions: Avoid taking Doxycycline if you have the following conditions:
- Leukopenia
- Lupus erythematosus
- Porphyria
- Kidney or liver disorder
- Highly sensitive to Doxycycline or other ingredients
- If the user is pregnant
- If the user breast feeding
- If the user is an young infant
Side effects of Doxycycline: The use of this medicinal drug may give rise to some side effects that are contrary to what is expected. It is not certain that these adverse reactions will affect every user of this drug. Some of the potential side effects of Doxycycline include the following:
- Difficulty in speech and eating (Xerostomia)
- Itching and rashes in the vaginal area or anus
- Diarrhea
Side effects that need immediate attention from a medical care provider are:
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Stomach ache
- Vomiting and nausea
- Severe diarrhea
- Oliguria
- Poor appetite
- Hematuria (Dark urine)
- Jaundice
- Anaphylaxis
- Impairment of sense organs
- Cephalalgia
The above mentioned side effects are by no means exhaustive, so for the complete list of adverse reactions and possible side effects please see the information provided by the drug manufacturer or consult a doctor or a pharmacist.
Interactions: Before using Doxycycline it is best to consult your physician and explain to him the treatment or medicines you are currently under. Get a prescription from your doctor before starting any new drug. This is to make sure that the combination of the two drugs is safe. Some of the drugs that may react with Doxycycline are:
- Substance which neutralizes stomach acidity (Antacids)
- Medicines that fight bacterial and other infections (Antibiotics)
- Medicines that prevent coagulation of blood (Anticoagulants)
- Drugs which have Magnesium, Iron, Zinc etc. (Minerals)
- Bismuth subsalicylate
- Drugs to treat acne
- Vitamin A
- Medicines to treat high cholesterol (Hypercholesterolemic drugs)
Additional Information: Doxycycline capsules should not be used without prior approval of a trained physician and don't share these drugs with anybody else. Doxycycline capsules are made for specific conditions and it's not advisable to use them for other purposes. Keep medicinal drugs out of the reach of children.
