Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic. It works by slowing the growth of bacteria in the body. Doxycycline is used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, acne, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, periodontitis (gum disease), and others.

Generic Name(s): Doxycycline
Brand Name(s): Adoxa, Alodox, Avidoxy, Doryx, Monodox, Oracea, Oraxyl, Periostat, Vibra-Tabs, Vibramycin, Vibramycin Calcium, Vibramycin Monohydrate

This medication description is not meant for treatment without a specialist's intervention.

Common Uses:
Doxycycline is used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, acne, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, periodontitis (gum disease), and others. Doxycycline is also used to treat blemishes, bumps, and acne-like lesions caused by rosacea. It will not treat facial redness caused by rosacea. Doxycycline may be used in combination with other medicines to treat certain amoeba infections.

How to use:
Take Doxycycline with a full glass of water (8 ounces).
Do not take the medication with milk or other dairy products unless your doctor has told you to. Dairy products can make it harder for your body to absorb the medicine. Certain brands of Doxycycline may not have restrictions about taking them with dairy products. If your doctor has instructed you to take Doxycycline with milk, tell your pharmacist that you need a brand of Doxycycline that can be taken with milk.
Take Doxycycline for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated.

Warning and Precautions:
Do not use Doxycycline if you are allergic to Doxycycline, or to similar medicines such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn, Vectrin), or tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap). Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease. You may not be able to take Doxycycline, or you may need a dose adjustment or special tests during treatment.
If you are using Doxycycline to treat gonorrhea, your doctor may test you to make sure you do not also have syphilis, another sexually transmitted disease.
Do not use Doxycycline syrup (Vibramycin) without first talking to your doctor if you have asthma or are allergic to sulfites.
Do not use Doxycycline without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Doxycycline can make birth control pills less effective. Use a non-hormonal method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medication. Doxycycline passes into breast milk and may affect bone and tooth development in a nursing infant. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Important safety information:
Do not use Doxycycline if you are pregnant. It could cause harm to the unborn baby, including permanent discoloration of the teeth later in life. Doxycycline can make birth control pills less effective. Use a second method of birth control while you are taking Doxycycline to keep from getting pregnant. Doxycycline passes into breast milk and may affect bone and tooth development in a nursing baby. Do not take this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to Doxycycline, or to similar medicines such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn, Vectrin), or tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap).
If you have liver or kidney disease, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Doxycycline. Do not take any Doxycycline after the expiration date printed on the bottle. Expired Doxycycline can cause a dangerous syndrome resulting in damage to the kidneys.

Side Effects:
Any medicine can cause side effects. If the side effects occur, seek medical attention or consult your doctor. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Overdose:
Almost any medicine taking in excess doses without consultation with your doctor can cause an overdose. Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Missed Dose: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Do not use this medicine:
if you have any allergic reaction to any component of this medicine

Storage conditions:
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

All the information given above is a summary. You have to visit your doctor to get more information about this medicine. Do not share it with the others who it was not prescribed for. Do not use Doxycycline for other health conditions. Do not store this medication with an end term of its storage.