Doxycycline

Doxycycline can be used if you have an infection that your immune system is unable to deal with. This medicine belongs to the class of tetracycline antibiotics and is supposed to be used only for bacteria-induced infections. If you are allergic to this medicine or other drugs of the kind (minocycline, tetracycline or demeclocycline), make sure you do not start taking it, as an allergic reaction is possible. Doxycycline can come in different forms, and while it’s clear how to take the pill form of this drug, using the liquid form may be a bit trickier. It’s important to remember that the liquid form is supposed to be measured with a special device that comes with the medicine to make sure you are taking the exact amount prescribed. Taking the liquid form with a regular spoon is not recommended, as that way you may take more without noticing it, and this is not going to make your treatment more efficient and can actually worsen some of the side effects you may experience. The following side effects are possible when taking doxycycline: sores inside your mouth, mild nausea, trouble swallowing, stomach upset, diarrhea, vaginal itching, and vomiting. The side effects mentioned are only mild and you are not supposed to tell your doctor about them. However, make sure you talk to your health care provider as soon as possible in case you get any of the following serious side effects that need to be treated: unusual weakness, severe headache, weakness, dizziness, loss of appetite, yellowed skin, blurred vision, dark colored urine, severe blistering, nausea and vomiting, flu symptoms, chills, fast heart rate, confusion, and body aches. In general, doxycycline is very safe to take and highly efficient – provided that you take the exact dose prescribed and always use the entire amount of this medicine prescribed. Feeling better after a couple of days of the treatment does not mean your condition has been completely treated, as bacteria may still be pretty strong. Stopping the treatment at that point may lead to a relapse of infection, and more serious treatment will be required. Pregnant or breastfeeding women are never supposed to take this medication without talking to their doctor about their situation, as doxycycline has been reported to cause health problems in unborn babies. If taken by a pregnant mother this medicine can cause graying of the teeth, and if used by a nursing mother – is likely to affect bone and tooth development in the baby. It’s therefore recommended to make sure you avoid getting pregnant throughout the entire period of the treatment. Since doxycycline has been reported to make hormonal methods of contraception less efficient, you may want to discuss with your doctor some other methods of contraception that should be used additionally to make sure you benefit from doxycycline without putting the health of your baby at risk. Throw away any medicine that hasn’t been used, as otherwise damage to the kidneys is possible.