Doxycycline Capsules - Malaria Prevention Treatment

Doxycycline belongs to a group of medicines called tetracycline antibiotics. It has been found clinically effective in the treatment of a variety of infections caused by susceptible strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and certain other micro-organisms. It is used to treat Acne, Chlamydia, Urinary Tract Infections and more. It can even be used to prevent malaria. It is taken once daily, starting 2 days before travel, everyday at your destination and should continue until one week after returning. This should help you calculate the number of tablets required for your trip but if you have any questions please contact us

What is Doxycycline used for?

Doxycycline is an antibiotic used for malaria prevention.

How do I take Doxycycline for malaria prevention?

Take one capsule daily, starting 2 days before travel, throughout your stay, and for 28 days after returning.

Can I take Doxycycline with food?

Yes, if your stomach is upset, you can take Doxycycline with milk or a meal.

Are there any side effects of Doxycycline?

Common side effects include headaches, nausea, vomiting, and sunlight sensitivity.

Who should not take Doxycycline?

People with severe liver or kidney problems, myasthenia gravis, porphyria, or lupus should consult a doctor before use.

How should Doxycycline be taken?

Swallow the capsule whole with a glass of water, and avoid lying down for at least 30 minutes after taking it.

Can Doxycycline be taken with other medications?

Consult your healthcare professional before combining Doxycycline with other medications to avoid potential interactions.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Doxycycline if you:

• - Are likely to be exposed to strong sunlight or ultraviolet light (e.g. on a sunbed)
• - Have liver problems or are taking medicines that affect your liver
• - Have severe kidney problems
• - Have myasthenia gravis (a disease that causes unusual tiredness and weakness of certain muscles, particularly in the eyelid, difficulty chewing and swallowing and slurred speech)
• - Have porphyria (a rare genetic disease of blood pigments)
• - Have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) a condition characterised by a rash (especially on the face), hair loss, fever, malaise and joint pain. This condition may be worsened by taking Doxycycline.
• - 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 tell your healthcare professional 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
• - Are suspected of having syphilis. Your healthcare professional will continue to monitor you after your treatment has stopped
• - Are taking oral retinoids as there is a higher risk of suffering from increased pressure in your skull (severe headache with change in vision) when taken with Doxycycline capsules

Always take your medicine exactly as your prescriber has instructed you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure. Your medicine should be taken by mouth as follows:

• - You must take your capsules as your prescriber has told you to.
• - It is important to swallow each doxycycline capsule whole with a glass of water.
• - It is best to take your capsules at the same time(s) each day, when standing or while sitting.
• - It is important not to lie down for at least thirty minutes after taking Doxycycline capsules so that the capsule can move as swiftly as possible into the stomach and prevent irritation of the throat or oesophagus (canal taking food from the mouth to the stomach).
• - If your stomach is upset, Doxycycline capsules can be taken with milk or a meal

The active ingredient is doxycycline hyclate. Other ingredients include sucrose, maize starch, crospovidone, Basic Butylated Methacrylate Copolymer (Eudragit E100) and Purified Talc.

Common side effects include: 

• - Headaches
• - Nausea
• - Vomiting
• - Sunlight sensitivity

• - Bruising or bleeding you cannot explain (including nosebleeds), a sore throat, high temperature and feeling tired or generally unwell – these can be signs of blood problems
• - Diarrhoea (possibly with stomach cramps) that contains blood or mucus – if you have severe diarrhoea that lasts longer than 4 days, also speak to a healthcare professional urgently. ringing or buzzing in your ears
• - Pale poo and dark urine, and the whites of your eyes turn yellow or your skin turns yellow (although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin) – these can be signs of liver problems joint or muscle pain since starting doxycycline
• - Severe headaches, vomiting and problems with your vision – these could be signs of pressure around your brain (intracranial hypertension)
• - A fingernail that starts coming away from its base – this could be a reaction to sunlight called photo-onycholysis
• - A sore or swollen mouth, lips or tongue
• - Severe pain in your stomach, with or without bloody diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting – these can be signs of pancreatitis difficulty or pain when you swallow, a sore throat, acid reflux, a smaller appetite or chest pain which gets worse when you eat – these could be signs of an inflamed food pipe (oesophagitis) or oesophageal ulcer