Doxycycline
Also sold as: Vibramycin
Usual adult dose
Usual adult dose: 200 mg on the first day, then 100 mg once or twice a day. Swallow with a full glass of water while sitting or standing, and do not lie down for 30 minutes. Do not take at the same time as milk, antacids or iron.
Your doctor may give you a different dose. Children's doses depend on weight.
Side effects
Common
- nausea
- heartburn
- diarrhoea
- sunburn more easily
Serious — get help
Stop taking it and see a doctor straight away if you notice:
- severe headache with blurred vision
- pain when swallowing (ulcer in the food pipe)
- severe allergic reaction
- severe or bloody diarrhoea
Do not take it, or take care, if
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Children under 8 (stains teeth), unless a doctor decides it is needed
- Severe liver disease
Interactions
Medicines that can react with this one.
Serious1 medicineDo not take these together unless your doctor says so.
- Isotretinoin
Together they can raise pressure inside the skull (severe headache, vision problems); do not combine.
Moderate10 medicinesTake together only with care. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- Aluminium hydroxide + Magnesium hydroxide
Antacids block absorption; leave 2 to 3 hours between them.
- Calcium carbonate
Calcium blocks absorption; leave 2 to 3 hours between them.
- Calcium carbonate + Colecalciferol
Calcium binds doxycycline in the gut; take them at least 2 to 3 hours apart.
- Ferrous fumarate
Iron and doxycycline bind together in the gut; take them at least 2 to 3 hours apart.
- Ferrous sulfate
Iron blocks absorption; leave 2 to 3 hours between them.
- Ferrous sulfate + Folic acid
Iron and doxycycline bind together in the gut; take them at least 2 to 3 hours apart.
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- Multivitamin
Minerals in multivitamins bind doxycycline; take them at least 2 to 3 hours apart.
- Retinol
Vitamin A with tetracycline antibiotics can rarely raise pressure in the head (severe headache, blurred vision).
- Warfarin
Can raise the effect of warfarin; INR should be checked.
- Zinc sulfate
Zinc reduces doxycycline absorption; take them at least 2 hours apart.