Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic. It is used to treat infections that are caused by bacteria. These conditions include chest infections and infections of the urinary tract. It is also used to treat certain skin conditions such as blemishes, bumps and rosacea, infections of the mouth such as periodontitis, and sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia.
Doxycycline is also prescribed to prevent people from getting malaria when they travel abroad. Although your GP will prescribe Doxycycline to treat an infection, he or she will not prescribe it as a preventative treatment for malaria. If you require it for this reason you will either have to obtain a private prescription from your NHS GP or go to a private doctor. In either case you will have to pay for the tablets.
Taking Doxycycline may result in you becoming more sensitive to sunlight for the duration of the course. For this reason you should avoid strong sunlight and sun beds while you are taking Doxycycline. Use a sun cream with a high protection factor on days when there is bright sunlight, even if it is cloudy.
You should not take Doxycycline if you are pregnant as it can cause permanent tooth discolouration as well as harming the unborn baby.
You should not take Doxycycline if you are allergic to tetracycline medications.
You should tell the doctor if you suffer with kidney or liver disease, you suffer with asthma or have an allergy to sulfites.
You should drink plenty of liquid when you are taking Doxycycline.
Children should not take Doxycycline unless advised to do so by a doctor.
You should always take the full course of Doxycycline unless advised not to do so by a doctor or medical practitioner.