What is doxycycline

Doxycycline Fact Sheet

What is doxycycline?
Doxycycline is an antibiotic medicine belonging to the  Doxycycline and other members of the tetracycline class called "tetracyclines." It is used to treat bacterial class of antibiotics are not generally approved for infections in many different parts of the body. It does not treating patients under 8 years old. These antibiotics treat viral infections, such as the common cold. can cause swelling of the brain and a condition called bulging fontanels (soft spot on head) in infants. Is doxycycline approved to treat anthrax?
 Tetracycline antibiotics are associated with Doxycycline is approved to treat anthrax in all its forms permanent tooth discoloration in children. If used for [inhaled (lung), skin, stomach and intestinal]. long periods, they may also slow down the growth of teeth and bones in babies born prematurely. However Can medicines in the same class as doxycycline be
due to the seriousness of anthrax, dosing instructions used to prevent or treat anthrax?
for treating inhaled anthrax (post-exposure) is Other drugs in the tetracycline class carry a broad provided in approved prescribing information for indication for illnesses caused by the anthrax organism  Before taking any tetracycline antibiotic, review with Because the most up-to-date information about your health care provider ALL medicines you are
appropriate dosing following exposure to anthrax is taking, including those you take without a available for Cipro (ciprofloxacin), doxycycline, and prescription. Tetracycline antibiotics can affect how penicillin G procaine, use of these three drugs has been other medicines work and other medicines can affect Antibiotic therapy should only be started in the case of  Some medicines that can interact with doxycycline suspected or confirmed exposure to anthrax. are antacids and supplements that contain calcium, Antibiotics reduce the risk of severe disease following iron, magnesium, or sodium bicarbonate. If you take products containing these minerals within 2 hours of the time you take doxycycline, these medicines could What are some possible side effects of doxycycline?
decrease the doxycycline’s effectiveness. (This list is NOT a complete list of side effects reported  Birth control pills also may not work as well if you with doxycycline. Your health care provider can discuss are taking doxycycline. Use other forms of birth with you a more complete list of side effects.) control while you are taking this medicine. Some possible uncommon but serious side effects of  Throw away any unused doxycycline when it is out of date or when it is no longer needed. Do not take  A life-threatening allergic reaction (symptoms are any doxycycline after the expiration date printed on trouble breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of  Blood problems (symptoms are unusual bleeding or Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),  Liver damage (symptoms are yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Other more common, but less serious, side effects For more information about Doxycycline, please contact [email protected] or 1-888-INFOFDA (463-6332).  Increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight What else should I know about doxycycline?
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. If a person is exposed to anthrax, the risk of side effects caused by doxycycline treatment may be acceptable because of the seriousness of the disease. However, if a person has not been exposed to anthrax, these risks may outweigh the benefits.

Source: http://www.muskegonhealth.net/publications/fact_sheets/doxycycline.pdf