Doxycycline

Doxycycline is an antibiotic capsule that treats various infections and inflammations. The capsule is available in a generic form. These primarily include STIs such as chlamydia, ureaplasma urealyticum, and non-specific urethritis (NSU). It also treats acne and prevents malaria.

In fact, it can also prevent traveller's diarrhoea if you travel overseas.

Doxycycline has received regulatory approval from the MHRA.

Doxycycline helps fight a wide range of bacterial infections and diseases. This makes it useful for treating many conditions, including:

• Sexually transmitted infections (e.g. chlamydia, ureaplasma urealyticum, and non-specific urethritis).
• Skin conditions (e.g. acne and rosacea).
• Malaria.
• Eye infections.
• Fevers caused due to tick bites.
• Chest, lung or nasal infections (e.g. chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and sinusitis).

Doxycycline attaches itself to the bacteria. Because of this, the bacteria can no longer make more protein. As a result, it stops growing and multiplying. This stops further spread of STIs and prevents malaria.

The antibiotic capsule kills the P. acnes bacteria that live on the skin, causing inflammation, redness, and acne. As a result, it reduces inflammation and treats acne.

Several studies show numerous benefits of Doxycycline on the body. Some of the key benefits of the antibiotic are:

• It treats various bacterial diseases and infections like STIs, pneumonia, and UTIs.
• It helps treat acne by reducing inflammation.
• It prevents the onset of malaria.
• When combined with other gum treatments, it improves periodontitis.

Doxycycline stays in the body for a long time, so patients only have to take a dose once or twice daily.

Doxycycline works well against sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, ureaplasma urealyticum, and NSU, along with acne and malaria. It's easy to take as a pill, and most people tolerate it well. This makes it convenient and helps patients stick to their treatment, which is important for treating these infections effectively.

Dr. Anup JethwaClinical Lead

Doxycycline is highly effective for treating chlamydia.

A 2019 study explored how effective Doxycycline and Azithromycin are in treating rectal and vaginal infections caused by Chlamydia Trachomatis (CT) in women.

The researchers studied 416 women. 22 women had rectal chlamydia. 75 women had vaginal chlamydia. 312 women had both rectal and vaginal chlamydia.

The women were treated with Doxycycline (100 mg twice a day for 7 days) and Azithromycin (a single 1-gram dose).

After four weeks, the results showed that Doxycycline was more effective for treating rectal chlamydia. It cured 95.5% of women compared to 78.5% of women who took Azithromycin.

For vaginal chlamydia, both antibiotics were similarly effective, with Doxycycline offering a cure rate of 95.4% and Azithromycin offering a cure rate of 93.5%.

Overall, Doxycycline was better at treating rectal CT infections in women than Azithromycin.

Effectiveness of Doxycycline vs Azithromycin

Another 2012 study observed that Doxycycline is the most effective antibiotic for treating genital infections caused by Ureaplasma bacteria, with 91% Ureaplasma strains responding to the antibiotic.

Various studies have reported that Doxycycline helps soothe acne, with one study reporting improvement in 33% (21 out of 62) patients.

Studies showed that taking 100 mg of Doxycycline daily as prescribed protected against malaria, with protection rates ranging from 84% to 99%. One study also reported that Doxycycline provided 98% protection against the P. vivax strain, one of the primary strains that cause malaria.

Who can take this medicine?

This medication is generally safe for most people. It is active against a variety of bacteria. Your doctor might prescribe Doxycycline if you suffer from any of the following:

• STIs such as chlamydia^*, ureaplasma urealyticum, and non-specific urethritis.
• Urinary tract infections.
• Acne.
• Malaria.

Who cannot take this medicine?

Doxycycline may not be suitable for certain people. Do not take Doxycycline capsules if you:

• Are allergic to Doxycycline, other tetracycline antibiotics, or other ingredients in this medicine.
• Are already pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
• Are breast-feeding.

Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you:

• Spend extended time or are likely to spend extended time exposed to sunlight or UV light (e.g. on a sunbed).
• Have problems with your kidney or liver.
• Have myasthenia gravis (a disease that causes muscle weakness, especially in the eyelids).
• Have porphyria (a rare blood pigment disease).
• Have or had systemic lupus erythematosus (a condition that causes joint pain, skin rashes, and fever).
• May be suffering from syphilis.
• Have diarrhoea or experience diarrhoea on antibiotics.
• Have stomach or intestinal issues.
• Are taking oral retinoids for skin health. If taken with Doxycycline, these can increase the risk of severe headaches and affect vision.

When to take Doxycycline

At HealthExpress, Doxycycline is available in 100 mg capsules. The dose prescribed depends on the condition you need to treat:

How to take Doxycycline capsules

	Take the capsules at the same time every day.
	Swallow the whole capsule with plenty of water. Don't chew the capsules.
	Avoid lying down for at least 30 minutes after taking Doxycycline. This reduces the risk of throat irritation and ulceration.
	Take the capsules with food to avoid stomach problems.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget to take a capsule, take it as soon as possible. Take your next capsule at the right time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

Doxycycline absorbs quickly into the body.

Symptoms of STIs, such as chlamydia, may improve within 48 to 72 hours.

Malaria parasites exit the body between 3-7 days with the use of Doxycycline.

For acne, you will usually see initial improvements within two weeks after your first dose. However, Doxycycline takes three to six months to cure acne completely.

The key is to complete the entire course, even if symptoms start to improve.

The duration of treatment with Doxycycline depends on the condition you are being treated for.

To treat Chlamydia, ureaplasma urealyticum, and non-specific urethritis, Doxycycline is usually taken for 1 week.

To treat acne, Doxycycline is usually prescribed for 3 months. If your acne doesn’t improve or worsens during this time, your doctor may prescribe an alternative treatment.

To effectively prevent malaria, Doxycycline should be started before entering the endemic area. You should also continue taking the capsules throughout the trip and for 28 days after leaving the area.

To ensure Doxycycline's effectiveness and minimise side effects, consider the following lifestyle changes:

Essential lifestyle changes for Doxycycline users

	Avoid dairy products Calcium found in dairy products can interfere with how your body absorbs the medication and can reduce its effectiveness. It’s recommended to avoid consuming dairy products within 2-3 hours of taking Doxycycline.
	Stay hydrated Drink plenty of water to help prevent this medication from irritating the throat and to ensure that it passes smoothly into the stomach.
	Protect yourself from exposure to sunlight Doxycycline can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and may increase the risk of getting sunburnt. To avoid this, wear sunscreen with high SPF and protective clothing, and avoid staying out in the sun for too long.
	Food interactions If possible, Doxycycline should be taken on an empty stomach. However, if it causes stomach upset, take it with food, but avoid dairy.
	Avoid certain supplements Calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium supplements can bind with this medication and prevent its absorption. Take the medicine at least 2 hours before or after taking these supplements.

When taking a course of antibiotics, eat a healthy, balanced diet rich in fibre and drink plenty of fluids.This fuels your body with nutrients and helps gut health.

Silvia FondaNutritionist

Common side effects:

The most common side effects were reported to affect up to 1 in 10 people. These are listed below:

• You may feel sick or become sick.
• It may worsen if you have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease affecting the kidneys, heart, brain, and lungs.
• You may experience heart inflammation.

Contact HealthExpress’ dedicated customer support team if the side effects persist after a few days.

Uncommon side effects:

Doxycycline may cause some uncommon side effects, which affects 1 in 100 people. They are:

• Heartburn
• Vaginal infection

Speak to your doctor if the side effects persist after a few days and do not go away.

Rare side effects:

Doxycycline may also cause rare but serious side effects. These include wheezing, chest pain, difficulty breathing, body rash, fever, swollen face, eyes, lips, or eyelids, upset stomach, appetite loss, diarrhoea, swollen lymph nodes, severe headaches, blurred or double vision, loss of vision, skin blisters, sunlight sensitivity, low blood pressure, increased heart rate, and blood disorders.

If you notice any, stop taking Doxycycline and seek immediate medical advice.

Doxycycline may cause some rare but uncommon side effects such as anxiety, flushing, tinnitus-like ringing in the ears, difficulty swallowing food, rectal/genital soreness, or liver damage. These side effects affect 1 in 1000 people.

Seek medical attention immediately if you have any of the symptoms mentioned above. To learn more about Doxycycline side effects, check out the patient information leaflet.

You can also report any side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or contact our dedicated support team for help.

Doxycycline may interact with some medicines, foods, or natural health supplements. This can affect the way Doxycycline works or increase the risk of experiencing side effects. Inform your doctor if you are taking any other medications, supplements, or natural health products.

Common interactions with Doxycycline include:

• Antacids and products containing aluminium, calcium, magnesium, oral zinc, iron, or bismuth preparations. Do not take these at the same time of the day as Doxycycline.
• Medicines used to treat and control epilepsy (e.g., carbamazepine, phenytoin, and barbiturates).
• Warfarin or coumarins (used to prevent blood clots).
• Contraceptive pills.
• Penicillin antibiotics (used to treat infections).
• Ciclosporin (a medicine affecting the immune system).
• Retinoids to treat fine lines and wrinkles (e.g., isotretinoin).

Let any healthcare professionals who are treating you know that you are on Doxycycline, especially if you will be going to undergo a general anaesthetic for any surgery.

For a complete list of interactions, consult the BNF interaction checker.

It is important to take Doxycycline safely. For more information, refer to the safety information table below:

No, Doxycycline is a prescription-only medicine. You will need a licensed doctor's prescription to purchase it. This will ensure that this medicine is safe and suitable for you. You can receive an online prescription here at HealthExpress.

Ordering Doxycycline online from HealthExpress is convenient. Follow these simple steps:

1. Complete an online consultation to check if you are eligible for this medicine.
2. A GMC-registered doctor will review your response to ensure it is right for you.
3. Once approved, you’ll receive an electronic prescription via email.
4. A licensed UK pharmacy will dispatch your medication in discreet packaging.
5. Enjoy free delivery from our licensed pharmacy with tracking details.

HealthExpress offers ongoing support for any questions. You can also manage repeat prescriptions easily through your account. We ensure privacy and security with GDPR compliance and encrypted transactions.

Start your online consultation today to enjoy professional care from the comfort of your home.

HealthExpress is trusted by thousands of users for its safe and convenient service. Here’s why:

• Our experienced doctors manage your consultations and prescriptions.
• We provide a convenient service with our online consultations, quick approvals, and discreet doorstep delivery.
• Our supportive customer service team is on hand to answer treatment-related questions or concerns.
• Patients can manage their prescriptions through our secure online platform.

Begin your journey with HealthExpress today and experience our expert care for yourself.

Doxycycline pricing includes the following:

• Free doctor consultation.
• Free medicine prescription.
• Free next-day doorstep delivery.

Alternatives to Doxycycline for chlamydia

Doxycycline is generally preferred for treating chlamydia, other STIs, and acne, as it is highly effective. Azithromycin is an alternative to Doxycycline.

Both Doxycycline and Azithromycin are effective treatments for chlamydia and other STIs. However, Doxycycline may be slightly more effective, especially for rectal infections. Doxycycline also tends to have milder side effects and is generally less expensive.

Doctors usually do not recommend Azithromycin any longer due to its bacterial resistance. Azithromycin is not as effective as Doxycycline in clearing sexually transmitted infections. This is why Doxycycline is a preferred medicine for treating STIs.

Additionally, Ceftriaxone and Penicillin are also available as injectable alternatives to Doxycycline.

Alternatives to Doxycycline for malaria

For malaria prevention, Malarone is an alternative to Doxycycline.

Alternatives to Doxycycline for acne