Doxycycline Description

Generic Name : DOXYCYCLINE

Pronunciation : (dox I sye' kleen)

Trade Name(s) : Biodoxi, Ceedox, Dedoxyn, Dobid, Doxt, Doxy-1, Doxycycline, Doxypal-DR, Doxyric, Ginadox, LAA, Lenteclin, Lydox, Martidox-M, Microdox, Minicycline, Novadox, Nudoxy, Tetradox, Vibazine DT, Vivocycline

Why it is prescribed: Doxycycline, an antibiotic, eliminates bacteria that cause infections, including pneumonia, ance, and venereal or sexually transmitted diseases.

When it is to be taken: Doxycycline is usually taken once or twice a day. Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully.

How it should be taken:
1. Doxycycline comes in the form of capsules, tablets, and oral liquid. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose. Do not take more than the amount prescribed.
2. Doxycycline should be taken on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after meals.
3. The capsules and tablets should be taken with a full glass of water.
4. Liquid doxycycline should be shaken well before each use to mix the medication evenly.
5. You may obtain a specially marked measuring spoon to be sure of an accurate dose.
6. If you have taken all of the medication prescribed but still have symptoms, contact your doctor.

Special Instruction :
1. Take all of the medicatin prescribed, even after the infection appears to have gone away. Failure to do so could allow the infection to return.
2. Doxycycline can cause your skin to become more sensitive to sunlight. Therefore, limit the amount of time you spend in the sun until you know how this drug affects you.
3. While in the sun, keep your body covered with clothing, use a sunscreen preparation on exposed skin, and wear sunglasses.
4. If you become sunburned, contact your doctor.
5. Keep all appointment with your doctor and the laboratory. If you have diabetes, doxycycline can cause false results in some tests for sugar in the urine.
6. Check with your doctor before changing your diet or the dosage of your diabetes medicine.
7.If you forget to take a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. Take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals.

Side Effects :
1. Nausea, stomach upset. Disregard the instruction to take this medication on an empty stomach. Take it with crackers or a snack but not with dairy products.
2. Diarrhea, itching of the rectum or vagina, sore mouth, skin rash. If this problem is severe or persist for longer than two days, contact your doctor.

Other Precautions :
1. If your doctor tells you to stop taking doxycycline, throw away any unused medication. Doxycycline may lose its effectiveness over time and should not be saved to treat another infection.
2. Doxycycline should not be taken by children under eight years of age, pregnant women or women who are breast-feeding.
3. Women who become pregnant while taking doxycycline should inform their doctors.
4. Because certain medications, such as antacids (including sodium bicarbonate), iron preparations (many vitamin combinations contain iron), calcium supplements, and laxatives containing magnesium, may affect how the body responds to doxycycline, they should not be taken at the same time as doxycycline. Doxycycline should be taken two hours before or three hours after iron preparations. It should be taken one hour before or two hours after antacids, calcium supplements and laxatives.
5. Tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription medications your are taking.

Storage Conditions :
1. Keep this medication in a tightly closed container it came in and out of the reach of children.
2. Store it at room temperature.
3. The container of liquid will have an expiry date on it. Do not take the liquid after the expiry date. Throw it away and, if you need more doxycycline, get a new supply.