Doxyn

Description

Do NOT take Doxyn Capsule if you have:

• A known hypersensitivity (allergy) to any tetracycline antibiotics.
• Severe liver disorder.
• Systemic lupus erythematosus.

Avoid taking Doxyn Capsule with:

• Alkalis, antacids (containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium), oral zinc, iron salts, and bismuth preparations, as they can interfere with absorption.
• Penicillin, as it may interfere with penicillin’s bactericidal action.

Precautions:

• Tooth Discoloration: The use of drugs from the tetracycline group during tooth development (last half of pregnancy, infancy, and childhood up to the age of 12 years) may cause permanent discoloration of the teeth. Therefore, tetracyclines should not be used in this age group unless other drugs are unlikely to be effective or are contraindicated.
• Lactation (Breastfeeding): Doxycycline enters breast milk and is not recommended during lactation.
• Pregnancy: Doxycycline should not be used in pregnant women unless, in the judgment of the physician, it is essential for the welfare of the patient.

Drug Interactions:

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

• Isotretinoin: Concomitant use is known to cause pseudotumor cerebri (benign intracranial hypertension).
• Anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin): May prolong prothrombin time, increasing bleeding risk.
• Phenobarbital, carbamazepine, primidone, and phenytoin: Can increase the metabolism of doxycycline, potentially decreasing its effectiveness.
• Oral contraceptives: Risk of breakthrough bleeding.
• Ciclosporin: May increase the plasma concentration of ciclosporin.
• Hepatic enzyme inducers (e.g., rifampicin): Can decrease the half-life of doxycycline.
• Potentially Fatal Interaction: Concurrent use with methoxyflurane may result in fatal renal toxicity.

Possible Side Effects

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

• Common: Headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dyspepsia (indigestion), esophageal ulceration, photosensitivity (increased sensitivity to sunlight, leading to easy sunburn), vaginitis.
• Less Common/Serious: Hypotension (low blood pressure), pericarditis (inflammation around the heart), angioneurotic edema (swelling), dyspnoea (difficulty breathing), serum sickness, peripheral edema (swelling of limbs), tachycardia (fast heart rate), urticaria (hives), hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia (low platelets), neutropenia (low neutrophils), porphyria, eosinophilia, brown-black microscopic discoloration of thyroid tissue, bulging fontanelles in infants, benign intracranial hypertension in adults (increased pressure in the skull), blurring of vision, scotomata (blind spots), diplopia (double vision), tinnitus (ringing in ears), stomatitis (mouth inflammation), anorexia (loss of appetite), discoloration of teeth, enamel hypoplasia (thin tooth enamel), transient increases in LFT (liver function tests) and BUN (blood urea nitrogen), jaundice, pancreatitis, rashes, exfoliative dermatitis (severe skin peeling).
• Potentially Fatal: Anaphylactoid reactions (severe allergic reactions), Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis (severe, life-threatening skin reactions), Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD, severe diarrhea and colon inflammation), hepatotoxicity (liver damage).

How does Doxyn work?

Doxycycline inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit. This mechanism allows it to have bacteriostatic activity (it stops bacteria from multiplying) against a broad range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.