Doxycycline (Doxycycline Monohydrate) Review

Doxycycline can also be prescribed as Adoxa, Doxy Lemmon, Doxy Caps, Monodox, Periostat, Oracea, Vera-tabs, Vibramycin, Vibramycin Calcium, Vibramycin Hyclate, Vibramycin Monohydrate, and Doryx. Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic which is commonly used to fight bacteria in the body. Doxycycline can be used to fight acne, gum infections or tooth infections, urinary tract infections, Chlamydia and other bacterial infections.

Doxycycline is not approved for the use in children under the age of eight years old. Women who are breast feeding should not use doxycycline as it can cause interference with bone and tooth development in babies. The American Food and Drug Administration rated doxycycline as a pregnancy risk category D as it has been proven to cause harm and birth defects in unborn babies. Women who are pregnant should not be prescribed this medication, nor should women who may become pregnant. Doxycycline can make hormonal based birth control ineffective and the prescribing physician should encourage women and their partners to use a second form of non-hormonal birth control while undergoing drug therapy with doxycycline.

Doxycycline should not be used after the expiration date as this can cause kidney damage. Doxycycline may need to be temporarily stopped if the patient requires any type of surgery.

Doxycycline should not be prescribed without taking a thorough medical history and a physical examination. Not all patients can tolerate it. Patients with a medical history which includes asthma or allergies to sulfites can not take the suspension doxycycline. Patients who are being treated for gonorrhea should be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases prior to receiving treatment.

Side effects which may be serious can occur when starting a new medication. Patients who experience serious side effects should be directed to the nearest emergency room for immediate medical assistance. Serious side effects may include unusual weakness, easy bruising or bleeding, jaundice, severe headache with blurry vision and dizziness, fever, chills body aches, and flu symptoms, pale skin, dark urine, pale stools, severe skin rash with blistering or peeling, a decrease or inability to urinate, loss of appetite, severe pain in the upper abdomen with fast heart rate and nausea with vomiting, or an allergic reaction.

Allergic reactions most often present with swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat, hives, and difficulty breathing. Allergic reactions are medical emergencies and should be responded to in an appropriate manner.

If doxycycline is taken inappropriately there is a risk of overdosing. Patients should not take a double dose in order to make up for a missed dose, nor should they take doses too close together, as this is likely to induce an overdose. Patients who miss a dose should take the medication as soon as possible, or skip the dose if it is almost time for the next regular dose. An overdose may appear with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Doxycycline may interact poorly with other medications. A thorough medical history and an examination may be necessary to ensure avoiding potential interactions. Patients must understand it is their responsibility to inquire with the prescribing physician before taking any new medications, including over the counter drugs and herbal remedies. Medications which are known to interact with doxycycline include blood thinners, penicillin antibiotics, zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, over the counter vitamin supplements, tretinoin, isotretinoin, antacids, medications which lower cholesterol, and medications like Pepto-Bismol that contain bismuth subsalicylates.

Taking doxycycline after the expiration date can cause kidney damage. Patients taking an antibiotic may have a secondary infection which is displayed through a case of diarrhea. Medications to control diarrhea should not be taken without first consulting with a physician.