Indications
Doxycycline Hydrochloride is used for infections caused by susceptible microorganisms. For respiratory tract infections, these are pneumonia, influenza, sinusitis, bronchitis, tonsillitis and tracheitis. In the gastrointestinal tract, it is used for cholera, traveler's diarrhea, shigella dysentery and acute intestinal amebiasis. For chlamydial infections, it covers lympho-granuloma venereum, psittacosis and trachoma. Among sexually transmitted diseases, the list includes non gonococcal urethritis, acute pelvic inflammatory disease, uncomplicated urethral and endocervical or rectal infections, gonorrhoea, syphilis, pyelonephritis and cystitis. Other infections it treats are impetigo, furunculosis, inclusion conjunctivitis, brucellosis, tularemia, cellulitis, acne and Q-fever.
⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.
Pharmacology
Doxycycline Hydrochloride is a semisynthetic tetracycline antibiotic that works against a broad range of bacteria. It is mainly bacteriostatic, which means it stops bacteria from multiplying rather than killing them directly. Its spectrum is similar to that of other tetracyclines, but it is more active against Staphylococcus aureus and Nocardia. It is often active against penicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, and against strains of these organisms that are resistant to other tetracyclines.
Some Gram-negative strains of E. coli, Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella are often resistant to tetracycline but may still be sensitive to doxycycline. Between 70-90% of the various anaerobes are sensitive to it too, and Bacteroides fragilis is more likely to be sensitive to doxycycline than to other tetracyclines.
Doxycycline is active against most strains of Haemophilus influenzae. It is particularly useful for infections with H. ducreyi, Actinomyces, Brucella and Vibrio cholerae. It also works against Nocardia, Chlamydia, Mycoplasma and many kinds of Rickettsiae. Among the spirochetes, it is active against Borellia recurrentis, Treponema pallidum and Treponema pertenue. It is active against Plasmodium falciparum as well.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Pregnant women should avoid doxycycline, because it can stain the baby's teeth and affect bone growth in the foetus. Doxycycline also passes into breast milk, so mothers who are taking it should not breastfeed their child.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Dosage Reference
⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.
Side Effects & Interactions
Side Effects
No side-effect data recorded yet.