Description
INDICATION
Doxycycline is an antibiotic belonging to a group of medicines called tetracyclines. It is indicated to treat many different types of infections caused by gram positive and gram negative bacteria including:
Chest, lung or nasal infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia and sinusitis.
Urinary tract infections (the passage through which urine passes) such as cystitis and urethritis
Eye infections such trachoma and conjuctivitis.
Sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia
Fevers associated with louse or tick bites.
It is also indicated for treatment of Malaria, when chloroquine is not effective.
It is also used to prevent certain infections developing, these are scrub typhus (a disease carried by small insects), Rocky Mountain spotted fever, travellers’ diarrhoea, malaria, cholera and leptospirosis (a bacterial infection from contaminated water).
DOSAGE
Usual Dose: 2 capsules on the first day, then 1 capsule daily. For more severe infections 2 capsules daily should be given for the treatment period. The length of treatment is dependent on the infection being treated.
Children aged 8 years to less than 12 years: Doxycycline for the treatment of acute infections in children aged 8 years to less than 12 years should be used in situations where other drugs are not available or are not likely to be effective. In such circumstances, the usual doses are:
For children 45 kg or less
First day: 4.4 mg for each kg of bodyweight (in single or 2 divided doses) then 2.2 mg for each kg of bodyweight (in single or 2 divided doses) from the second day. The length of treatment is dependent on the infection being treated. In more severe infections, up to 4.4 mg for each kg of bodyweight should be given throughout treatment.
For children over 45 kg: Dose administered for adults should be used; 200mg on the first day, then 100 mg daily. The length of treatment is dependent on the infection being treated.
Adults and children aged 12 years to less than 18 years: 200mg on the first day, then 100 mg daily. The length of treatment is dependent on the infection being treated.
Sexually transmitted diseases: 1 capsule twice daily for 7 to 10 days.
Primary and Secondary Syphilis: 1 capsule twice daily for 14 days. Your doctor will continue to monitor you after your treatment has stopped.
Fevers associated with louse or tick bites: Single dose of 1 or 2 capsules.
Treatment of malaria: 2 capsules daily for at least 7 days. Your doctor will also prescribe you another medicine for malarial treatment (e.g. quinine) to be taken at the same time as Doxycycline.
Prevention of malaria: 1 capsule daily from 1 to 2 days before travelling to a malarial area until 4 weeks after returning.
Prevention of scrub typhus (a disease carried by small insects): Single dose of 2 capsules, once a week.
Prevention of travellers’ diarrhoea: 2 capsules on the first day of travel, followed by 1 capsule daily throughout the stay in the area. If you are planning to take Doxycycline for more than 21 days, please consult your doctor.
Treatment of leptospirosis (infections from contaminated water): 1 capsule twice daily for 7 days.
Prevention of leptospirosis (infections from contaminated water): 2 capsules once each week throughout the stay in the infected area; 2 capsules on completion of the trip. If you are planning to take Doxycycline for more than 21 days, please consult your doctor.
Treatment and prevention of cholera: A single dose of 3 capsules.
Stage 1 and 2 Lyme disease: 1 capsule twice daily for 10 to 30 days. The length of treatment depends on how well you respond.
Infections due to susceptible strains of Bacillus anthracis Adults: 1 capsule twice a day for 60 days.
PREGNANCY AND LACTATION
Do not take Doxycycline if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breast-feeding.
SIDE EFFECTS
feeling or being sick, joint pain, skin rash, fever, pericarditis
ACTIVE INGREDIENT
Doxycycline
