Doxific

Description

Important Note: While the provided text details oral dosing, Doxific is an injection. In practice, injectable forms of doxycycline are typically used when oral administration isn’t possible or for severe infections. The specific dose and administration route for Doxific Injection will be determined by your healthcare provider based on your condition.

General Dosing Information (primarily for oral administration, consult your doctor for injection specifics):

• Susceptible Infections: Typically, 200 mg on day 1 (single or divided doses), followed by 100 mg once daily. For severe infections, the initial dose may be maintained.
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs):
  • Uncomplicated Gonococcal/Chlamydial Infections: 100 mg by mouth (PO) every 12 hours for 7 days.
  • Syphilis (for those allergic to penicillin): Early Syphilis: 100 mg PO twice daily for 2 weeks. Syphilis (>1 year duration): 100 mg PO twice daily for 4 weeks.
  • Acute Epididymo-orchitis: 100 mg PO twice daily for at least 10 days.
• Acne, Rosacea: 50 mg daily for 6-12 weeks.
• Malaria Prophylaxis: 100 mg PO once daily. Start 1-2 days before travel, continue daily during travel, and for 4 weeks after leaving the affected area.
• Intestinal Amebiasis, Respiratory Tract Infections, Rickettsial Infections: 100 mg PO every 12 hours on day 1, then 100 mg PO once daily.
• Brucellosis: 100 mg PO twice daily for 6 weeks (with rifampin or streptomycin).
• Cholera: 300 mg PO once (as an adjunct to fluid and electrolyte replacement).
• Acute Bacterial Rhinosinusitis: 200 mg/day PO once daily or divided twice daily for 5-7 days.
• Anthrax (Post-exposure prophylaxis): 100 mg PO twice daily for 60 days.
• Infective Endocarditis (Bartonella): 100 mg PO twice daily for 6 weeks, often combined with other antibiotics.

Child Dosing (Oral):

• For children older than 8 years and weighing less than 45 kg: 2–4 mg/kg/day, divided every 12 hours.

Administration (Oral – if applicable for other forms of doxycycline):

• Can be taken with or without food.
• Always take with a full glass of water and remain upright for at least 30 minutes to prevent esophageal irritation.
• If you experience stomach upset, you can take it with food or milk.

Important Considerations

Do NOT take Doxific if you have:

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

Avoid taking Doxific with:

• Alkalis, antacids, or iron preparations, as they can interfere with absorption (primarily for oral forms).
• Penicillin, as it may reduce 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 judges 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 Doxific 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.