Doxycycline is what type of antibiotic

Antibiotics kill the normal harmless bacteria that help to protect you against thrush. Doxycycline does not affect any type of contraception, including the contraception pill and emergency contraception. However, if doxycycline makes you vomit or have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your combined pill may not protect you from pregnancy.

Look on the pill packet to find out what to do. Read more about what to do if you're on the pill and you're being sick or have diarrhoea. There's no clear evidence to suggest that taking doxycycline will reduce fertility in either men or women. However, speak to a pharmacist or your doctor before taking it if you're trying to get pregnant. Doxycycline can build up in growing bones and teeth by binding to calcium.

This can stain teeth. It only happens in growing bones and teeth. This is why doxycycline is not given to children under 12 years old or to pregnant or breastfeeding women. Avoid drinking alcohol with doxycycline.

Alcohol can stop it working properly. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about this. Do not take your medicine together with dairy products. This is because dairy foods like milk, cheese and yoghurt can stop your body from absorbing doxycycline.

You can have dairy products a few hours before or after your dose. Yes, you can take doxycycline if you are allergic to penicillin. They are 2 different types of antibiotic. Doxycycline has been used successfully in hot countries for many years.

The best way to protect yourself against a reaction to sunlight is to be careful with sun exposure. Page last reviewed: 23 November Next review due: 23 November Doxycycline On this page About doxycycline Key facts Who can and can't take doxycycline How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.

About doxycycline Doxycycline is an antibiotic. Doxycycline is available on prescription. It comes as capsules. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? For most infections, you'll start to feel better in a few days but it is important to finish the course of medicine. The most common side effects of doxycycline are headaches, feeling or being sick.

It can also make your skin sensitive to the sun. Doxycycline can affect growing teeth so it's not prescribed for children under 12 years old or given to pregnant and breastfeeding women. Do not drink alcohol while taking doxycycline. There are also some common medicines you should not mix with it. Doxycycline can also be called by the brand name Vibramycin-D. To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have : ever had an allergic reaction to doxycycline or any other medicine in the past kidney problems liver problems an inflamed food pipe oesophagitis lupus , an autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis , an illness that causes severe muscle wasting.

Your dose of doxycycline depends on why you are taking it. Important Carry on taking doxycycline until you've completed the course, even if you feel better.

How to take it Always swallow your doxycycline capsule whole and have it with a full glass of water a medium sized glass — ml. What if I forget to take it? What if I take too much? Accidentally taking an extra dose of doxycycline is unlikely to harm you. Common side effects These common side effects happen in around 1 in 10 people. Keep taking the medicine, but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away: headaches feeling or being sick nausea or vomiting being sensitive to sunlight Serious side effects Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1, people.

Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

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You may opt-out of e-mail communications at any time by clicking on the Unsubscribe link in the e-mail. You should not take doxycycline for the prevention of malaria for more than 4 months.

Continue to take doxycycline even if you feel well. Take all the medication until you are finished, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. One doxycycline product may not be able to be substituted for another. Be sure that you receive only the type of doxycycline that was prescribed by your doctor. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about the type of doxycycline you were given.

Doxycycline may also be used for the treatment of malaria. It may also be used to treat Lyme disease or to prevent Lyme disease in certain people who have been bitten by a tick. It may also be used to prevent infection in people who were sexually attacked. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. Doxycycline may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children.

Store it at room temperature and away from light and excess heat and moisture not in the bathroom. It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily.

To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program.

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at Keep all appointments with your doctor and laboratory.

Your doctor will want to check your response to doxycycline. Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking doxycycline.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Your prescription is probably not refillable. If you still have symptoms of infection after you finish the doxycycline, call your doctor.