Product Description
Doxycycline capsules are a commonly prescribed antibiotic from a family of drugs called Tetracyclines.
Travelers have reliably used Doxycycline for over 30 years preventing malaria when travelling to countries of the world where malaria is endemic.
Malaria is typically found in and around the tropics and this includes the regions of South America, parts of Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
The burden of malaria is greatest in Africa, but recent developments give hope to the populations who live with this disease.
Directions
Doxycycline should be swallowed whole with a full glass of water with or just after food. It should be taken at or around the same time each day whilst sitting or standing. Do not lie down for 30 minutes after taking this medicine.
The dosing regimen for Adults and Children 12 years and above is:
| How often should the tablets be taken? | 1 capsule every day with or just after food. |
| When should I start taking them? | 2 days before entering the malaria region and whilst there. |
| How long do I take them after leaving the risk area? | 28 days (four weeks) after leaving the risk area. |
Dose: ONE daily starting 2 days before arriving in the malaria risk area, every day whilst there, and then for 28 days after leaving the risk area.
Please note: If you develop flu-like symptoms whilst away or within 1 year of return please see a doctor immediately and explain where you have been.
A typical 2 week (14 days) trip will need 44 capsules (2 + 14 + 28 capsules).
It is important to note that no antimalarials are 100% effective.
Ingredients
Doxycycline 100mg Capsules contain the following:
Active Ingredients: Doxycycline 100mg
The following inactive ingredients are also usually found in Doxycycline:
Capsule contents - Hypromellose, Sodium lauryl sulphate, Microcrystalline cellulose, Magnesium stearate
Capsule shell - Gelatin, Titanium dioxide (E171), Brilliant Blue (E133), Iron Oxide Yellow (E172)
This list is not exhaustive and may differ between brands. For further information please contact us.
Side Effects
The side effects listed below may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your doctor if any of these side effects continue to bother you:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- feeling or being sick
- worsening of a disease called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This is an allergic condition that causes joint pain, skin rash, fever, and headache
- pericarditis (inflammation affecting the heart)
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- heartburn
- vaginal infection
- Sensitivity to sunlight
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
- anxiety
- difficulty in swallowing, sore or painful tongue or mouth
- skin reddening (flushing)
- a ringing or buzzing noise in the ear
- soreness and itching of the rectal and/or genital area
- inflammation of the bowel
- increased pressure in the skull (severe headache with change in vision)
- inflammation and damage to the liver
- abnormal liver function tests
- discoloration of the thyroid tissue when given for long periods. The medicine does not impair thyroid function
- loosening of the nail from the nail bed after exposure to the sun
- increased levels of urea in the blood
- yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)
- inflammation of the pancreas
- upset stomach
- loss of appetite
- diarrhea (this may occur up to two or three months after the last dose)
- stomach pain
If any of the side effects listed below occur, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
- The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction causes fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, and a skin rash that is usually self-limiting. This occurs shortly after starting doxycycline treatment for infections with spirochete such as Lyme disease
- Skin that is more sensitive to sunlight than normal. You may get a skin rash, itching, redness, or severe sunburn. If this happens stop taking the medicine, and protect your skin from sunlight
- Inflammation and/or ulcers of the gullet- Blood disorders. These are due to changes in several different cell types in the blood. Symptoms may include tiredness, easy bruising, or infections
- Low blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- Aches in the joints or muscles
- Stomach pain and diarrhea
Warnings
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Doxycycline if any of the following apply to you:
- you are likely to be exposed to strong sunlight or UV light (e.g. on a sun bed). You should avoid exposure to strong sunlight while taking this medicine as your skin may be more sensitive to sunburn than normal.
- you have kidney or liver problems.
- you have myasthenia gravis (a disease which causes unusual tiredness and weakness of certain muscles, particularly in the eyelid).
- you have porphyria (a rare disease of blood pigments).
- you have (or have ever had) systemic lupus erythematosus (an allergic condition that causes joint pain, skin rashes and fever). This condition may be worsened by taking Doxycycline capsules.
- you are suspected of having syphilis. Your doctor will continue to monitor you after your treatment has stopped.
- you have diarrhoea or usually get diarrhoea when you take antibiotics or have suffered from problems with your stomach or intestines. If you develop severe or prolonged or bloody diarrhoea during or after using Doxycycline capsules, tell your doctor immediately since it may be necessary to interrupt the treatment. This may be a sign of bowel inflammation (pseudomembranous colitis) which can occur following treatment with antibiotics.
- you are taking oral retinoids as there is a higher risk of suffering from increased pressure in your skull (severe headache with vision change) when taken with Doxycycline capsules. When used for a long duration, Doxycycline capsules may cause infections that cannot be treated with this antibiotic. Your doctor can explain the signs and symptoms of such types of infection.
Other medicines and Doxycycline
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines you have obtained without a prescription. If you are taking any of the medicines listed below tell your doctor before taking Doxycycline capsules. Some medicines can reduce the effectiveness of Doxycycline capsules, these include:
- Antacids (indigestion remedies), iron preparations, oral zinc or bismuth. These should not be taken at the same time of day as Doxycycline capsules.
- Carbamazepine, phenytoin (medicines used to control epilepsy) and barbiturates (used to control epilepsy or as a sedative).
Doxycycline capsules can affect the action of some other medicines, these include:
- Increased action of warfarin or coumarins (used to prevent blood clots)-
- Reduced effectiveness of oral contraceptives (birth control pills)-
- Reduced effectiveness of penicillin antibiotics (used to treat infections)-
- Increased blood levels of ciclosporin (a medicine used to affect the body’s immune response) If you are going to have a general anaesthetic for an operation or dental surgery, you must tell your anaesthetist or dentist that you are taking doxycycline as you may have more side effects.
Taking Doxycycline with food, drink and alcohol
Alcohol may reduce the effect of Doxycycline capsules and should be avoided.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Doxycycline capsules must not be taken if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Driving and using machines
This medicine should not affect your ability to drive or use machines.
Patient Information Leaflet
To view or download this medicine patient information leaflet (PIL) please Click Here
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Doxycycline malaria tablets should I buy and how can I buy them?
Knowing how many to buy can be tricky but we have taken the stress out of this with our redesigned consultations. Click the green "Get Started" button on the malaria prevention page and answer all the questions carefully. Multiple travelers? No problem, simply add additional travelers at the start of the consultation.
At the end of the consultation, each patient will be offered a personalised choice of malaria prevention medicines with a suitable quantity for their next trip!
Do I need a prescription to buy Doxycycline from Travelpharm?
No. Doxycycline is a prescription-only medicine, however, when using Travelpharm our team of specialist pharmacists write your prescription remotely for you. No need to visit your GP, just fill out our questionnaire and our pharmacists will take care of the rest.
Where are you based?
We are a UK-registered pharmacy based in Derbyshire. You can check our registration details with the General Pharmaceutical Council on the About Us page. All medicines sold from our pharmacy have been sourced within the UK from MHRA-approved wholesalers.
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