DOXYCYCLINE
Background and Date of Approval
Doxycycline is an antibiotic that belongs to the class of medications called tetracyclines. The FDA approved it initially on 05th June 2006 for its medical use.
Uses
It is used to treat many different types of infections, including chest, lung, or nasal infections, urinary tract infections, acne, eye infections, and sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, fever associated with tick bites, malaria, scrub typhus, travelers diarrhea, and leptospirosis.
How is it administered?
Doxycycline will be administered to you by a doctor or other healthcare professional in a hospital setting. Your doctor will decide the dose, route of administration, and duration of the therapy based on your disease status, severity, and other factors such as body weight, other disease conditions, and age. This medicine will be given intravenously (into your vein). Do not self-administer the injection.
Side Effects
Common side effects of doxycycline are rash, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, sore gums, myalgia, and bacterial vaginosis. Other serious side effects are severe skin rash, liver injury, bone problems, and infections.
Warnings
The use of doxycycline during tooth development (the last half of pregnancy, infancy, and childhood to the age of 8) may cause permanent discoloration of the teeth (yellow-grey-brown); this adverse reaction is more common during long-term use of the drugs but has been observed following repeated short-term courses. Do not take this medicine during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Precautions
Before initiating the treatment, inform your physician if you have kidney or liver problems, blood disorders, or other diseases. Do not take Doxycycline if you are allergic to Doxycycline or any other ingredients, if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. You should avoid exposure to strong sunlight while taking this medicine as your skin may be more sensitive to sunburn than normal. Inform your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, nutritional and vitamin supplements, and herbal products. Certain medications like antacids, and iron supplements may interact with doxycycline and reduce its effectiveness by causing undesirable side effects. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. You should not become pregnant while receiving a carmustine injection or implant.
Word of Advice
Your healthcare provider will administer the drug to you. Do not self-administer. Store the medicine below 25°C. Protect the medicine from light and excessive moisture. Keep the medicine out of reach of children and pets. If you missed the dosing schedule, inform your healthcare professional immediately and reschedule. If you develop severe or prolonged or bloody diarrhea during or after using Doxycycline, tell your doctor immediately since it may be necessary to interrupt the treatment. When used for a long duration, the medicine may cause infections. Avoid tooth brushing, flossing, and other mechanical oral hygiene procedures for 7 days. Your doctor may advise you to take certain blood tests to assess the therapy's effectiveness and monitor the side effects.
References
Doxycycline Hyclate for injection. Pfizer, [Published September 2013]. [Accessed May 2, 2023.] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/050442s016lbl.pdf KD Tripathi, Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, Tetracyclines and Chloramphenicol (Broad-spectrum Antibiotics), 7th edition, 2013, 733-737. Goodman & Gilmanâs, The Pharmacological Basics of Therapeutics, Protein synthesis Inhibitors and Miscellaneous Antibacterial agents, 12th edition, 2011, 1521-1527.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Doxycycline take to work?
Doxycycline usually begins to work immediately after administration. However, it may take many days to kill all of the harmful germs and make you feel better.
Can doxycycline cause diarrhea?
Yes, doxycycline use can result in diarrhea. It is a type of antibiotic that kills harmful microorganisms. However, it also harms the beneficial bacteria in your stomach or intestine, resulting in diarrhea. If the diarrhea is severe, consult with your doctor.
Why should I avoid the sun when taking doxycycline?
Doxycycline may make your skin more susceptible to sunlight than usual. Even brief exposure to sunlight can result in skin rash, irritation, redness, other skin discoloration, and a serious sunburn.
What if I missed a dose of doxycycline?
Do not miss your dose. Keep all your appointments with the dosing regularly. In case if you forget or miss an appointment, inform your healthcare professional and reschedule the dosing.
Can I stop taking doxycycline after I feel better?
Even if you feel better, continue taking doxycycline until the prescription is completed. If you stop using doxycycline injections too soon or skip doses, your illness may not be entirely treated, and the bacteria may develop antibiotic resistance.
Does doxycycline cause hair loss?
Hair loss was not included as an adverse effect in doxycycline clinical studies. Inform your doctor and seek medical assistance if experiencing extreme hair loss.