Doxycycline (antibiotic) capsules

Description Doxycycline, an antibiotic, eliminates acne-causing bacteria to prevent future breakouts. Description Directions Dosage Your dose of doxycycline depends on why you are taking it. The usual dose is 100 mg to 200 mg, taken once or twice a day. It's important to take doxycycline while you're in an upright position. You can be sitting, standing or walking. This will stop the medicine from irritating your food pipe or stomach. Avoid lying down for at least 30 minutes after taking doxycycline. If you take it twice a day, this could be first thing in the morning, and in the evening – before you go to bed. Try to avoid lying down for at least 30 minutes after taking doxycycline. This helps to prevent any irritation. How to take capsules or standard tablets Swallow your doxycycline whole with at least 150 ml of water. Not swallowing them with enough water can cause swelling and irritation in your throat (oesophagitis). If you forget to take it If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next dose. If that happens, just leave out the dose you missed and take your next dose at the usual time. Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember to take your medicines. Directions Warnings Common side effects These common side effects of doxycycline happen in around 1 in 10 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them: Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and the side effect is still bothering you or does not go away. Serious side effects Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people. Call 111 or call a doctor now if you have: • Bruising or bleeding you cannot explain (including nosebleeds), a sore throat, high temperature and feeling tired or generally unwell – these can be signs of blood problems • Diarrhoea (possibly with stomach cramps) that contains blood or mucus – if you have severe diarrhoea that lasts longer than 4 days, also speak to a doctor • Ringing or buzzing in your ears • Pale poo and dark pee, and the whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow (although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin) – these can be signs of liver problems • Joint or muscle pain since starting doxycycline • Severe headaches, vomiting and problems with your vision – these could be signs of pressure around your brain (intracranial hypertension) • A fingernail that starts coming away from its base – this could be a reaction to sunlight called photo-onycholysis • A sore or swollen mouth, lips or tongue • Severe pain in your stomach, with or without bloody diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting – these can be signs of pancreatitis • Difficulty or pain when you swallow, a sore throat, acid reflux, a smaller appetite or chest pain which gets worse when you eat – these could be signs of an inflamed food pipe (oesophagitis) or oesophageal ulcer • Serious allergic reaction. 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 medicine packet. Doxycycline and pregnancy Doxycycline is not recommended during pregnancy. It can affect tooth and bone development in your baby. Talk to your doctor about taking a different antibiotic. Doxycycline and breastfeeding If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can take doxycycline for a short time (less than 3 weeks) while breastfeeding. Doxycycline passes into breast milk in fairly small amounts. However, the calcium in your milk sticks to the doxycycline, so the baby cannot absorb very much. When used for a short time, doxycycline is unlikely to cause side effects in your baby. When used for longer, there is a small chance that it can affect teeth and bone development. However, this has only happened when babies have been given doxycycline directly. It has not happened when babies have doxycycline through breast milk. If you need to take doxycycline for longer than a few weeks, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. If your baby is not feeding as well as usual, has a rash, has stomach upset, or has oral thrush (a fungal infection in their mouth), or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, health visitor or midwife. Cautions with other medicines There are some medicines that do not mix well with doxycycline. Before taking it, tell your doctor if you're already taking any of these medicines: • Indigestion remedies (antacids) • Stomach ulcer medicines that contain bismuth, such as Pepto-Bismol • Other antibiotics, such as rifampicin • Acne medicines containing vitamin A, such as isotretinoin • Warfarin, a medicine to help prevent blood clots • Medicines for epilepsy, such as phenytoin or