PATIENT INFO - DOXYCYCLINE
Doxycycline may be one of the medicines used in a Combined Antibiotic Treatment Protocol (CAPi) to treat Chlamydia Pneumoniae. Doxycycline is one of a group of medicines called tetracycline antibioticsi. It is used to treat many different types of infectionsi.
Before you take your medicine
If the answer to any of the questions below is YES do not take Doxycycline. Go and see your doctor.
- Have been told you are allergic to Doxycycline or any other tetracycline antibiotic?
- Are pregnant or trying to become pregnant?
- Are breast feeding?
Avoid exposure to strong sunlight while taking this medicine. Your skin may be more sensitive to sunburn than normal. If you get a skin rash, itching, redness or severe sunburn when out in strong sunlight or under ultraviolet light (e.g. on a sun bed) stop taking the medicine and check with your doctor.
How to take your medicine
- Take Doxycycline capsules with a full glass of water.
- It is best to take your capsules at the same time(s) each day, when standing or while sitting.
- It is important not to lie down for at least thirty minutes after taking Doxycycline capsules, so that the capsule can move as swiftly as possible into the stomach and prevent irritation of the throat or oesophagus (canal taking food from the mouth to the stomach).
- Doxycycline may be taken with milk or a meal.
Can Doxycycline be taken with other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with Doxycycline. You should tell your doctor if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. Also check with your doctor if you are taking any other medicines:
- Antacids (indigestion remedies), iron preparations, oral zinc or bismuth. If you take these at the same time of day as Doxycycline it may stop this medicine from working properly.
- Warfarin or coumarins (used to prevent blood clots). Tetracyclines may increase the action of these drugs.
- Oral contraceptives (birth control pills). Use of birth control pills with tetracyclines may impair the effect of the birth control pill and increase the chance of unwanted pregnancy.
- Penicillin antibiotics (used to treat infections). Doxycycline may reduce the effect of these antibiotics.
- Alcohol. Alcohol may reduce the effect of Doxycycline.
- Carbamazepine, phenytoin (medicines used to control epilepsy) and barbiturates (used to control epilepsy or as a sedative).
- Cyclosporin (used to affect the body's immunei response).
- Methoxyflurane (an anaesthetic). If you are going to have a general anaesthetic for an operation or dental surgery you must tell your anaesthetist or dentist that you are taking doxycycline.
An occasional extra dose taken by accident is unlikely to be a problem, but if a large overdose has been taken contact your doctor or your nearest hospital Emergency Department immediately.
What if you miss a dose?
Do not worry. If you forget to take a dose take it as soon as you can. Take your next dose at the right time.
Does this medicine cause undesirable effects?
Doxycycline may cause some undesirable effects.
The undesirable effects listed below are infrequent:
- Upset stomach
- Feeling or being sick
- Stomach pain
- Heartburn
- Diarrhoea
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Sore or painful tongue or mouth
- Loss of appetite
- Flushing
- A ringing or buzzing noise in the ear
- Soreness and itching of the rectal and/or genital area.
All medicines can cause allergic reactions. Serious allergic reactions are very rare. Any sudden wheeziness, difficulty in breathing, chest pain, fever, sudden swellings, rash or itching (especially affecting the whole body) should be reported to a doctor immediately. It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you suffer any other undesirable effects which are not listed above.
Can you drive whilst taking this medicine?
This medicine should not affect your ability to drive.
Where to keep your medicine
- Keep your medicine below 25°C (80°F).
- Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.