When do you start taking doxycycline

Doxycycline is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections, such as of the chest, sinus, eye and pelvic infections. It may be chosen if you are allergic to penicillins. Doxycycline is also used to treat skin conditions such as acne and for malaria prevention when travelling to some countries.

Doxycycline belongs to a group of antibiotics called tetracyclines. Like all antibiotics, doxycycline is not effective against infections caused by viruses. In New Zealand, doxycycline is available as tablets 50 mg and mg. It is important to take the whole course of antibiotics for the number of days your doctor has told you to. Do not stop taking it, even if you feel your infection has cleared up. If these symptoms become severe, talk to your doctor. Serious side effects from doxycycline are rare.

STOP taking doxycycline and get medical care right away go to the emergency room or call if you have:. Public health officials will tell you if other antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin or amoxicillin are available.

The risks and benefits of other available antibiotics will be explained in separate instructions. Although doxycycline has some potential and serious side effects, the expected benefit of doxycycline in helping to prevent disease and death associated with anthrax exposure outweighs these risks.

Tell your doctor or healthcare provider right away and report side effects or medication errors to MedWatch external icon or FDA Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. What is anthrax? Early on, you could have any of the following symptoms: fever, chills, tiredness, cough or headache. Later, you could develop shortness of breath, chest discomfort, confusion or nausea.

Symptoms usually start within 7 days of breathing in anthrax germs, but can start within 24 hours or take up to 6 to 7 weeks to appear.

See a doctor right away if you have symptoms. If you take doxycycline as directed and begin to feel sick anyway or show any of the symptoms mentioned above, get medical care right away. What is doxycycline? Who should NOT take doxycycline? How do I take doxycycline? For children weighing 76 pounds 35 kg or more and adults aged 18 years or older: Take 1 pill mg in the morning with a full glass of water with or without food or milk and Take 1 pill mg in the evening with a full glass of water with or without food or milk.

The morning and evening doses should be taken 12 hours apart each day for as long as directed. Doxycycline works just as well whether you take it with or without food or milk. Take the same amount in the morning and evening 12 hours apart each day for as long as directed. If you get an upset stomach when you take the medicine, take it with food. In rare cases, doxycycline can cause a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis. These are not all the side effects of doxycycline. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

Doxycycline is not normally recommended in pregnancy or when breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start taking doxycycline:. Typhoid vaccine given by mouth may not work properly if you're taking doxycycline. If you need a typhoid vaccine while taking doxycycline, your doctor or nurse will give it by injection.

There are no known problems with taking herbal remedies and supplements with doxycycline. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.

Doxycycline is from a group of medicines called tetracycline antibiotics. These antibiotics kill bacteria by stopping them from making the proteins that they need to survive. It's very important that you keep taking doxycycline until you finish your medicine. Do this even if you feel better. It will help stop the infection coming back. If you have rosacea, doxycycline works slowly to treat it. Your doctor will usually review you after 4 to 6 weeks to check how well the medicine is working.

If you are taking doxycycline for any other infection, tell your doctor if you don't start feeling better after 3 days. Also tell them if, at any time, you start to feel worse. If you are taking doxycycline to prevent malaria, you will not feel any different. You should take doxycycline as prescribed, and continue taking it for 4 weeks after leaving the area where there is malaria. Some people get a fungal infection called thrush after taking a course of antibiotics like doxycycline.

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.