Doxacil 100

Description

Do NOT take Doxacil 100 if you have:

• A known allergy to any tetracycline antibiotics.
• Severe liver problems.
• Systemic lupus erythematosus.

Avoid taking Doxacil 100 with:

• Alkalis, antacids, or iron preparations, as they can reduce absorption.
• Penicillin, as it may interfere with penicillin’s effectiveness.

Precautions:

• Tooth Discoloration: Doxycycline can cause permanent tooth discoloration in children up to 12 years old and in the last half of pregnancy. It should only be used in these age groups if other treatments are not effective or are contraindicated.
• Pregnancy & Lactation: Doxycycline is generally not recommended during pregnancy unless your doctor deems it essential for your welfare. It enters breast milk and is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers.

Drug Interactions:

Always inform your doctor about all medications you are taking, especially:

• Isotretinoin (can cause pseudotumor cerebri, a condition with increased pressure around the brain).
• Anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin), as it can increase bleeding risk.
• Oral contraceptives (risk of breakthrough bleeding).
• Phenobarbital, carbamazepine, primidone, phenytoin, rifampicin (can decrease doxycycline’s effectiveness).
• Ciclosporin (can increase ciclosporin levels).
• Potentially Fatal Interaction: Avoid concurrent use with methoxyflurane due to the risk of fatal kidney toxicity.

Possible Side Effects

Doxycycline can cause various side effects. While not everyone experiences them, some possible effects include:

• Common: Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion, headache, photosensitivity (increased sensitivity to sunlight, leading to easy sunburn).
• Less Common/Serious: Hypotension, pericarditis, angioedema (swelling), dyspnea (shortness of breath), serum sickness, peripheral edema (swelling in limbs), tachycardia (fast heart rate), urticaria (hives), hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, porphyria, eosinophilia, brown-black microscopic discoloration of thyroid tissue, bulging fontanelles in infants, benign intracranial hypertension in adults (increased pressure in the skull), blurred vision, scotomata (blind spots), diplopia (double vision), tinnitus (ringing in ears), stomatitis (mouth inflammation), anorexia (loss of appetite), esophageal ulceration, tooth discoloration, enamel hypoplasia (thinning of tooth enamel), transient increases in liver function tests and BUN, jaundice, pancreatitis, rashes, exfoliative dermatitis, photo-onycholysis (nail separation due to light sensitivity), arthralgia (joint pain), myalgia (muscle pain), vaginitis.
• Potentially Fatal: Anaphylactoid reactions (severe allergic reactions), Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis (severe skin reactions), Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD, severe diarrhea), hepatotoxicity (liver damage).

How does Doxacil 100 work?

Doxycycline belongs to a class of antibiotics that work by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. This means it stops bacteria from making the proteins they need to grow and multiply, effectively halting their spread. It has a broad spectrum of activity against many types of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.