Doxycycline or Doxycin Medication
Doxycyline Hyclate is a Tetracycline Antibiotic
1. What is doxycycline?
Doxycycline Hyclate (the hyclate means it is soluble in water) is an antibiotic medicine belonging to the class called "tetracyclines." There is also another form called doxyclyline monohydrate which is only slightly soluble in water. Both Doxycycline Hyclate and monohydrate are used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body.
Doxycycline is also sold as Doxycin which is made by RIVA.
Each aqua capsule, imprinted H539 contains: Doxycycline hyclate USP equivalent to doxycyline 100 mg. It is sold in
bottles of 100 and 300 capsules.
In tablet form each orange film coated tablet is scord on one side and embossed DOXYCIN 100 on the other side. The tablets contain: Doxycycline hyclate USP equivalent to doxycyline 100 mg. The tablets can be purchased in 100 or 300 tablets and boxes of 10 and 20 peel off unit blisters.
Doxycycline is most often used to treat anthrax.
3. Can medicines in the same class as doxycycline be used to prevent or treat anthrax?
Other drugs in the tetracycline class carry a broad indication for illnesses caused by the anthrax organism (Bacillus anthracis). Because the most up-to-date information about appropriate dosing following exposure to anthrax is available for Cipro (ciprofloxacin), doxycycline, and penicillin G procaine, use of these three drugs has been recommended.
The side effects of Doxycycline Hyclate
This is NOT a complete list of doxycycline side effects. You should talk with your doctor to discuss the more complete list of side effects.
Some possible uncommon but serious doxycycline side effects include:
Life-threatening allergic reaction (symptoms are trouble breathing;
closing of the throat;
swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; hives)
blood problems (symptoms are unusual bleeding or bruising)
liver damage (symptoms are yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, nausea ,vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain)
irritation of the esophagus
More common but less serious side effects include:
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
vaginal yeast infection
What else should You know about doxycycline hyclate?
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.
Some other things to consider:
Doxycycline hyclate and other members of the tetracycline class of antibiotics are not generally approved for treating patients under 8 years old. These antibiotics can cause swelling of the brain and a condition called bulging fontanels (soft spot on head) in infants.
Tetracycline antibiotics are associated with permanent tooth discoloration in children. If used for long periods, they may also slow down the growth of teeth and bones in babies born prematurely. However due to the seriousness of anthrax, dosing instructions for treating inhaled anthrax (post-exposure) is provided in approved prescribing information for doxycycline.
Some medications that can interact with doxycycline are antacids and supplements that contain calcium, iron, magnesium, or sodium bicarbonate. If you take products containing these minerals within 2 hours of the time you take doxycycline hyclate, these medicines could decrease the doxycycline’s effectiveness.
Birth control pills also may not work as well if you are taking doxycycline. Use other forms of birth control while you are taking this medication.
Throw away any unused doxycycline when it is out of date or when it is no longer needed. Do not take any doxycycline after the expiration date printed on the bottle.
Referance: FDA/Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
Info up to date as of March 7 2006