Doxy
(Doxycycline) is a broad spectrum antibiotic based on the main ingredient
Doxycycline, a substance from the tetracyclines class of medication. These
substances help fight a large number of bacteria that may invade the human
organism causing infections. They have a strong positive effect in stopping the
growth of the bacteria and killing them.
Doxy
(Doxycycline) is available for oral administration, under the form of tablets.
Doxy
(Doxycycline) is a prescription medicine that is typically employed in the
treatment of various infections in the organism, most commonly for infections
of the chest, rectum, urethra and womb. However, this medicine may be
prescribed for treating a number of other medical conditions as well, including
acne. As such, if you are not sure why you have been prescribed a treatment
course with Doxy (Doxycycline), it is best to ask your personal health care professional
as he or she may be able to offer further information.
Doxy
(Doxycycline) may not be prescribed or administered to patients that have a
known or suspected allergy to Doxycycline or any of the other ingredients of
this medical product, or to any other tetracycline type antibiotic. Also, this
drug should not be administered to children of less than 12 years of age, to
pregnant women or to nursing mothers. If you belong to any of these categories,
you should consult with your personal physician to find out what the treatment
options best suited to your case are.
Prior to
starting a therapy course with Doxy (Doxycycline), you should inform your
prescriber of any medical conditions you are currently suffering from and also
if you are going to undergo surgery involving general anesthetic in the near
future or if you will be exposed to sunlight for prolonged periods of time.
It is best
that you take your Doxy (Doxycycline) doses with a glass of water or milk, or
during or after a meal in order to reduce stomach upset. The number of daily
intakes as well as the duration of the therapy may vary greatly from one case
to another, as these depend on the type of infection that is being treated. The
therapy course may last only a few days in the case of simple infections while
for the treatment of acne you may be required to take the medicine for a few
months. You should closely follow the Doxy (Doxycycline) intake directions your
prescriber provides you. You should never stop taking the medication sooner
than directed, although the symptoms may recede within a few days from the
start of the treatment.
The exact Doxy
(Doxycycline) dosage will vary greatly from one case to another, as it is
determined based on a number of factors that are specific to each case. Some
such factors are the medical condition that is being treated, the patient’s age
and general health condition, body weight and medical history. As such, it is
best that you only use the Doxy (Doxycycline) dosage that has been prescribed
in your case and never attempt to use the dosage prescribed to another patient.
This may diminish the effectiveness of the treatment or increase the risks of
side effects.
In the case
you become affected by an overdose with Doxy (Doxycycline), you should
immediately contact your local poisons center or go to the nearest medical
facility offering emergency medical assistance. It is best that you do so even
if you only suspect an overdose with this drug. In order to avoid overdosing
with this medicine, it is strongly recommended to only employ the medication
dosage that has been prescribed to you by your personal health care provider
and never attempt to take larger doses of the medicine. You should also not
take this drug more often than prescribed.
Doxy (Doxycycline) Missed Dose
It is best to
consult your personal health care professional and ask him or her to assist you
in setting up a proper intake schedule for your Doxy (Doxycycline) treatment,
in order to reduce the chances of missing any doses of your medication. If you
accidentally forget to take a dose of your medicine, it is best to take the
missed dose as soon as you remember about it. However, if it is almost time for
another scheduled Doxy (Doxycycline) intake, you should completely skip the
missed dose and continue with your regular intake schedule.
Doxy (Doxycycline) Side Effects
There are
several side effects associated with Doxy (Doxycycline) therapy. Some of these
may be severe (such as indigestion or heartburn, pain or difficulty swallowing,
stomach pain, fever, severe diarrhea, unusual bleeding or bruising, dizziness,
tiredness, headache, muscle or joint pain, photosensitivity, severe skin
itching, blistering, peeling or flaking, breathing problems) and should be
immediately brought to the attention of a competent medical authority, while
others are mild and temporary (for example vomiting, diarrhea, sore mouth,
temporary loss of taste, stomach ache, oral or vaginal thrush, itching or
swelling in the genital or anal areas, loss of tooth enamel). If you begin
experiencing any of these or any other unexpected symptoms during your Doxy
(Doxycycline) treatment you should consult your personal health care
professional for advice.
Doxy (Doxycycline) Drug
Reactions
Doxy
(Doxycycline) may interact with other tetracyclines causing a cumulative
effect, which may result in an overdose. You should avoid taking this medicine
if you are already following a therapy course with another tetracycline class
drug.
Doxy
(Doxycycline) may also interact with other types of medicines, such as
penicillins (another type of antibiotics), barbiturates, Phenytoin, Warfarin
and other blood thinning medication or with iron preparations including
vitamins, minerals and other nutritional supplements. As such, it is best that
you inform your prescriber regarding any other medication you are currently
taking before starting a new medication therapy.