Doxycycline

Doxycycline (hyclate) is an antibiotic that is used in the treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It is effective treating STIs caused by bacteria, such as chlamydia, non-specific urethritis and ureaplasma, and is taken orally in the form of a 100mg tablet. Doxycycline slows down the spread of the infection, so that the body's immune system can fight it more effectively.

Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic, meaning it can be used to treat a whole host of infections. One other popular use of Doxycycline is malaria prevention. It may be prescribed to individuals who are travelling to high-risk areas of the world, and especially where the malaria parasite has developed immunity to other treatments.

A secondary benefit of Doxycycline when treating STIs is the possible improvement of other bacterial infections such as urinary tract infection, acne and bronchitis, although it is never prescribed to help solely for these conditions, and should not be taken to do so.

Doxycycline itself is available in several different salts. These include; Doxycycline hydrochloride (hyclate), Doxycycline monohydrate, doxycycline carrageenate, doxycycline calcium and doxycycline phosphate (fosfatex). The form of Doxycycline we have available to order contains Doxycycline hyclate.

Doxycycline doesn't strictly kill the bacterial STI, but aids your body's immune system to do so effectively instead. It is known as a 'tetracycline antibiotic' (broad-spectrum antibiotics), which means it can successfully treat a number of STIs, not just one.

The bacterium that causes particular sexually transmitted infections needs to continually make protein to help it spread and stay alive. Doxycycline inhibits the bacteria's ability to do this, halting the progress of the STI. This gives your own immune system the help it needs to combat the infection and eventually kill it completely.

To successfully treat non-specific urethritis, chlamydia or mycoplasma genitalium, you are provided 14 tablets. This is the only dosage available for treating STIs:

• One Doxycycline 100 mg tablet should be taken twice a day for seven days.
• One tablet should be taken during the morning and one in the evening to ensure the dosage is spread out.
• Ensure you finish the full 7 days treatment course, even if symptoms have disappeared.
• Doxycycline tablets should be taken with food and water.
• Do not crush or chew the tablets.
• Store in a cool place, out of reach of children and pets.

It is important to remember that you mustn't stop taking the medicine before the end of the prescribed treatment.

Doxycycline is approximately 90% effective when taken correctly over a 7-day course. To ensure that you are completely cured, we recommend performing another STI test at home, two weeks after completing the course, to ensure the infection has passed. If the infection hasn't disappeared, the doctor may advise another week's course of Doxycycline or a second line treatment with Azithromycin.

Doxycycline dosages vary depending on what you need it for. For malaria prevention, please refer to our dedicated Doxycycline for Malaria page.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a Doxycycline tablet, simply take it as soon as you remember, but do not take 2 tablets at once as this does not combat the missed dose and it may increase the likelihood of side effects.

If it's near the time of your next tablet, take this tablet instead and continue to complete the treatment, but you'll finish one day later than planned.

As Doxycycline is effective in a lower dose of 100mg for STIs, it is normally very well tolerated. If you do experience side effects, these are usually mild in nature and disappear on their own during the continued treatment.

The most common side effects may include; nausea, itching, vomiting, diarrhoea, indigestion or abdominal pain, difficulty or pain when swallowing, skin rash, and loss of appetite or flushing.

Rare side effects include difficulty breathing, redness of the eyes and throat irritation. If you do experience any severe reactions to the treatment such as face or throat swelling ensure you visit your doctor as soon as possible. This may be linked to an allergic reaction.

If any of these side effects do happen to persist beyond the 7 days of treatment, you should contact a doctor or your local GP to inform them of your condition as soon as possible.

Doxycycline tablets can be used to treat non-specific urethritis, chlamydia or mycoplasma genitalium. There may, however, be medications and medical conditions that may make it unsafe for you to buy Doxycycline. You should make sure to provide information about your health in as much detail as possible during your consultation.

It is important to take precaution when taking Doxycycline tablets, as certain drugs can negatively affect the way the treatment works. Drugs such as; antacids, calcium and iron supplements, penicillin, blood thinners, anti-seizure drugs and oral birth control pills should be avoided when using Doxycycline 100mg tablets.

Your skin may also become more sensitive to sunlight, which can be helped by taking extra precaution and protecting your skin from the sun, by using sunglasses and sunscreen, for example.

Doxycycline capsules may also upset your stomach, but taking the medication with food might help. It's possible to drink alcohol while taking Doxycycline, however, the alcohol might increase the risk of experiencing certain side effects, such as stomach pain.

Although there isn't conclusive evidence about its effect on pregnancy, it is often advised not to use Doxycycline when you are pregnant or if you are breastfeeding. Speak to your doctor to ensure the treatment is correct for you.

If you have a hereditary blood disorder or if you have had an allergic reaction to Doxycycline capsules in the past such as severe skin reactions or a swollen face/throat, you must tell your doctor so they can decide an alternative option.

If you are using an oral contraceptive such as the pill, it may not be effective when you use this treatment. It is advised to not have sex until you have finished the course and the 7 days after, and have had a second STI test to ensure the infection has disappeared. You are also advised to inform all sexual partners so they can receive treatment as well to avoid the spread. This can be done anonymously at STI Clinics across the UK if you don't want to contact them yourself.

All prescription medications come with a full patient leaflet, which should be read before you begin treatment, even after the doctor has prescribed it to you. At HealthExpress, all medications comes with this leaflet, and they are also attached to the bottom of every treatment page.

You can buy Doxycycline online from HealthExpress to treat the STIs non-specific urethritis, chlamydia or mycoplasma genitalium.

Your consultation will be checked by one of our doctors, who will assess your suitability. If your consultation is approved, you will be able to purchase this treatment, safely and securely, along with other treatments that are suitable for your particular condition.

Please note that the manufacturer of Doxycycline may differ from that shown on the image above, but the ingredients, benefits and possible side effects of the medication will be the same. The tablets may be dispensed in plain white packaging with the dosage information included.

Can I buy Doxycycline without a prescription?

Due to the ingredients in Doxycycline, it is a prescription only medication across the world, including the UK. This means that must be approved for you to use to ensure your health isn't at risk and you won't experience any serious side effects. The same will apply whether you decide to buy online or in-person.

Is it safe to buy Doxycycline online?

Buying prescription medicines online is becoming an increasingly popular method, especially when obtaining medication quickly, discreetly and efficiently, such as for sexually transmitted infections.

To buy online, you are required to complete a medical questionnaire reviewed by our UK registered doctor to determine whether the quantity and dosage are safe for you to use. Doxycycline is prepared by our UK based pharmacy where it is checked again before being dispatched discreetly and securely.

Our service at HealthExpress has all the relevant and mandatory safety certificates including the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), General Medical Council (GMC) and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC).

Getting Doxycycline delivered in the UK

Delivery of Doxycycline at HealthExpress is via Royal Mail or private courier. Our next-day delivery is free of charge and will arrive at your chosen address the next day including Saturdays. This is eligible across the UK. This is on all orders completed and approved by our doctor by 4.30pm Monday through to Friday.

We also offer a nominated day delivery meaning you're in control of when and where your medication is sent. Lastly, HealthExpress has thousands of UPS pick-up points across the UK if you'd prefer collecting from a local shop in-person.

Packaging will only contain your name and address so delivery will always be 100% confidential.

Do you have any other queries or observations?

If you have any further questions regarding Doxycycline that we haven't answered here, you can always contact our Customer Service Team via email, phone or Live Chat available Monday to Friday 8am-5.30pm.