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Doxycycline 50mg and
100mg capsules
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you
• suffer from myasthenia gravis, a condition characterised
start taking this medicine.
by muscle weakness, difficulty chewing and swal owing • Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it • are sensitive to sunlight
• If you have any further questions, ask your • have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) a condition
characterised by a rash (especial y on the face), hair loss, • This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking
or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Especial y: • warfarin or other anticoagulants (to stop the blood
1 What Doxycycline capsules are
• penicillin or rifampicin (to treat infections)
and what they are used for
• medicines such as antacids containing aluminium,
2 Before you take
calcium or magnesium or other medicines containing
iron, bismuth or zinc salts. Do not take at the same time
3 How to take
as Doxycycline capsules, as absorption of doxycycline 4 Possible side effects
• phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin or
5 How to store
primidone (to treat epilepsy)
6 Further information
• oral contraceptives (the pil )
• methoxyflurane (an anaesthetic), if you need an
operation, tel your doctor or dentist you are taking What Doxycycline capsules are and what
they are used for
• ciclosporin (used fol owing organ transplants).
Doxycycline belongs to a group of medicines cal ed tetracycline antibiotics. It is also known as a broad- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
spectrum antibiotic and may be used to treat a wide range
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are of infections caused by bacteria, these include: breast feeding ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine as doxycycline could harm the 3 How to take
Always take Doxycycline capsules exactly as your doctor • rickettsial infections such as Q fever or tick fever has told you. If you are not sure, check with your doctor or • other infections such as malaria, cholera, brucel osis, leptospirosis, psittacosis and fevers caused by lice or ticks.
You should not drink alcohol whilst taking Doxycycline
or prevent:
capsules, speak to your doctor if you have any questions.
• travel ers diarrhoea, scrub typhus and leptospirosis.
Swal ow the capsules whole with a full glass of water, if
2 Before you take
the capsules irritate your stomach take them with food
Do not take Doxycycline capsules and tell your
or milk. You should take the capsules either sitting down
or standing up
night to stop irritation and ulceration of your gul et. It is • are allergic (hypersensitive) to doxycycline, other similar
important not to lie down for at least thirty minutes after
antibiotics (such as minocycline or tetracycline) or any of the other ingredients in the capsule (see section 6) • are giving it to a child under 12 years old.
The usual doses are for at least 10 days unless otherwise Take special care with Doxycycline capsules and
Adults, Elderly and Children 12 years or over:
tell your doctor if you:
• General infections: 200mg on the first day as a single or
• have liver disease or are taking medicines which affect
two 100mg doses, fol owed by 100mg a day. For severe infections your doctor may increase the dose to 200mg a • have porphyria (a genetic disorder of the blood)
Doxycycline 50mg and 100mg capsules leaflet - UK Technical Approval
Specific infections:
• Glands and hormones: discolouration of thyroid tissue (does
• Acne vulgaris -50mg a day with food or fluid for 6-12 weeks.
• Sexual y transmitted disease - 100mg twice a day for 7-10 days • Central nervous system: headache, increased pressure in the
• Syphilis - 300mg a day in divided doses for 10 days.
skul (severe headaches, blurred and/or double vision, blind • Fevers caused by lice or ticks - a single dose of 100-200mg spots), permanent loss of vision, bulging fontanel es (soft spot depending upon severity of infection.
• Malaria - 200mg a day for at least 7 days, should be given with • Ears: tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears).
• Gastrointestinal tract: stomach pain, loss of appetite, feeling
• Prevent infection with scrub typhus - 200mg as a single dose.
or being sick, heartburn, diarrhoea, difficulty swal owing, sore • Prevent travel er’s diarrhoea - 200mg on the first day of travel or painful tongue or mouth, inflammation and/or ulcers of the fol owed by 100mg a day throughout the duration of the stay. gul et, discolouration or underdevelopment of teeth.
Do not use for more than 3 weeks unless advised by your • Liver: changes in liver function tests, inflammation of the liver
(hepatitis), jaundice (yel owing of the skin or white of the eyes), • Prevent leptospirosis infections - 200mg once a week liver failure and inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) throughout the stay in the infected area and 200mg at the end • Skin: severe skin reactions such as erythema multiforme
of the trip. Do not use for more than 3 weeks unless advised by (circular, irregular red patches), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (rash with flushing, fever, blisters or ulcers), toxic epidermal necrolysis (reddening, peeling and swel ing that resembles Children under 12 years old:
Doxycycline capsules are not recommended for use in children • Muscles and bones: muscle or joint pain.
under 12 years of age as it can cause permanent discolouration • Kidneys: an increase in urea in the blood.
of tooth enamel and affect bone development.
If you notice any side effects, they get worse, or if you notice any If you take more than you should
not listed, please tel your doctor or pharmacist.
If you (or someone else) swal ow a lot of capsules at the same time, or you think a child may have swal owed any contact 5 How to store
your nearest hospital casualty department or tel your doctor Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
If you forget to take the capules
Do not use Doxycycline capsules after the expiry date stated on Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you the label/carton/bottle. The expiry date refers to the last day of forget to take a dose take it as soon as you remember it and then take the next dose at the right time.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of If you stop taking the capsules
medicines no longer required. These measures wil help to Do not stop taking the capsules because you feel better, it is very
important to take al the capsules your doctor has prescribed for you, if you do not your condition may recur or get worse.
6 Further information
What Doxycycline capsules contain
Possible side effects
• The active substance (the ingredient that makes the capsule Like al medicines, Doxycycline capsules can cause side effects, work) is Doxycycline hyclate. Each capsules contains either Stop taking the capsules immediately and seek urgent medical
• The other ingredients are gelatin, magnesium stearate, shel ac glaze, sodium lauryl sulphate, • you notice that your skin is very sensitive to light (you may get starch, E104, E127, E131, E171, E172.
a skin rash, itching, redness or severe sunburn when out in What Doxycycline capsules look like and
contents of the pack
Contact your doctor at once if the fol owing reactions happen:
Doxycycline 50mg are green and white hard gelatin • wheeziness, difficulty in breathing, fever, sudden swel ings capsules and Doxycycline 100mg are green hard of the face, lips, throat, tongue, hands or feet, fast heart rate, low blood pressure, rash or itching (especial y affecting the Doxycycline 50mg capsules are available in pack whole body), pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane Doxycycline 100mg capsules are available in pack • swol en tongue, watery diarrhoea, fever and cramps (pseudomembranous colitis), soreness and itching around the back passage and/or genital areas, inflammation around the Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
• worsening of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Date of last revision: November 2010.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the fol owing side effects or
• Blood: altered numbers of certain types of blood cel s, you may
notice that you bruise easily, have nose bleeds, or suffer from infections and sore throats, porphyria (sensitivity of the skin to sunlight, inflammation of nerves and stomach pains).
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