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Doxycycline - Uses - Dosages - Side Effects - Precautions

Doxycycline: Frequently Asked Questions Answered

What is doxycycline?

Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that inhibits the growth of a wide range of bacteria. It belongs to the tetracycline group of antibiotics. It treats several infections of bacterial and some parasitic origin like urinary tract infections (UTIs), sexually transmitted infections ( STIs) like chlamydia, syphilis, and other systemic infections like pneumonia, acne, cholera, Lyme disease, anthrax, etc. It should not be used by young children as it causes yellowish discoloration of teeth and by pregnant women.

What are the uses of doxycycline?

  • It is used to treat urinary and genital infections like chlamydia, syphilis, urethritis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and chancroid.
  • It is widely used in combination with other drugs to treat acne rosacea, a severe form of acne.
  • It is used in the treatment of respiratory infections like pneumonia, sinusitis, etc
  • It is also combined with antimalarial drugs to treat malaria.
  • It is also used to treat Lyme disease, an infection caused by ticks resulting in spreading rash, fever, and joint pains.
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What are the side effects of doxycycline?

  • Stomach upset and irritation in the food pipe is one of the commonest complaints with doxycycline, therefore it is advised to take it with plenty of water and along with food.
  • It irritates the skin and causes sunburn.
  • Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
  • It reduces the effectiveness of contraceptives in females.
  • Yellowish or grayish discoloration of teeth among children.
  • Some serious effects include intracranial hypertension and Inflammatory bowel disease (IBS)
S.no Product Name Dosage Form
1. Doxt-SL Doxycycline (100mg) + Lactobacillus (5Billion Spores) Capsule
2. Microdox-LBX Doxycycline (100mg) + Lactobacillus (5Billion Spores) Capsule
3. Eldidox 100 Doxycycline (100mg) + Lactobacillus (90Million spores) Tablet

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Doxycycline

1. Is doxycycline a steroid?

No. It is a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic that works by stopping the multiplication of bacteria inside our bodies. A steroid is an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant drug that acts on immune cells when the immune system starts attacking its cells in certain disease conditions like auto-immune disorders and severe allergies.

2. Is doxycycline used for COVID?

Doxycycline has been used in COVID-19 patients but studies have shown no direct effect of this drug on SARS-CoV-2. Some people have shown improvement to this drug which may be because of some other effects like in cases of bacterial infection of the respiratory system. For better understanding, take consultation from a physician

3. Can azithromycin and doxycycline be taken together?

Both azithromycin and doxycycline are antibiotics of different classes. They almost have the same effects as both of them are used to treat respiratory infections, skin infections, UTIs, and STIs. However, sometimes, they are combined to treat certain conditions. That decision of combining both antibiotics should rest on your physician and one should not use both drugs without proper medical advice.

4. Is doxycycline a powerful antibiotic?

Yes, it is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that stops the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria inside your body. It is used to treat many systemic infections like infections of respiratory, digestive, urinary, and genital systems. One must avoid self-medication of antibiotics to prevent antibiotic resistance.

5. How effective is doxycycline?

Doxycycline is very effective since it is a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic. It treats a large number of bacterial and parasitic infections like malaria. It is also used to treat anthrax, one of the rare and severe infections spread via wild animals.

6. How long does doxycycline take to work for pneumonia?

100 mg of doxycycline in adults takes 5-10 days in patients suffering from pneumonia along with other drug regimens. The dosage and frequency will depend on the extent of infection and other parameters of patients which are decided by the physician. For children, the dosage is adjusted accordingly with age.

7. Can doxycycline be used to treat a UTI?

Yes, doxycycline works quite efficiently in urinary tract infections (UTIs). For UTIs, 200mg of doxycycline is taken on the first day in a divided dose of 100mg twice with a gap of 12 hours, and then 100 mg once a day is continued for 10 days. The

8. How long should I take doxycycline?

The dosage and duration of doxycycline depend upon the age status of the patients. However, it is generally advised for 5-7 days twice a day. For some health conditions, it is continued till 60 days like in anthrax. The duration of taking this drug should be taken by a physician and one should not take or stop this antibiotic on its own.

9. How long does doxycycline stay in your system?

Doxycycline stays for 16-24 hours inside the body in healthy adults and it takes almost 5 days to eliminate it from your system after you have your last dose. The elimination of drugs depends upon age, the health status of an individual, and frequency of drug use.
Don't self-medicate with antibiotics as they cause antibiotic resistance. For more detailed queries, ask your physician.

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Disclaimer: The information provided herein is accurate, updated and complete as per the best practices of the Company. Please note that this information should not be treated as a replacement for physical medical consultation or advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy and the completeness of the information so provided. The absence of any information and/or warning to any drug shall not be considered and assumed as an implied assurance of the Company. We do not take any responsibility for the consequences arising out of the aforementioned information and strongly recommend you for a physical consultation in case of any queries or doubts.