Learn About Doxycycline
Ladies, doxycycline is a strong antibiotic! It's part of the tetracycline ones and first came onto the scene in the 1950s. Most of you will take it orally, but injections are available when needed! Ladies, you can let your kids take this one too, but only for severe issues when they're younger than 8 years old. It'll trigger side effects in them otherwise.
Expect this antibiotic to be a major bacterial infection treatment. Ladies, it's very strong as a treatment for pneumonia! It'll even act as an acne treatment when medicated ointments for acne haven't worked on you. But ladies, you need to understand doxycycline works! Choosing it from oral antibiotics for infection means that you need to know all about it!
How It Works
Ladies, this is a strong antibiotic! Doxycycline stops bacteria growth. How? It binds to a ribosomal subunit only bacteria have! That's how it stops some RNAs from binding here. The result is also stopping proteins forming. Remember, this means no more bacteria growth! Ladies, this antibiotic gives your immune system time. It will fight back and destroy the harmful bacteria!
You'll see this antibiotic peak in 1 to 2 hours, ladies, and most of your body tissues and fluids absorb it! It'll be the highest in your lungs, kidneys, gallbladder, and liver, though. Ladies, when you're healthy, this medication has a half-life of 18 to 22 hours!
Uses
Doxycycline is great for treating bacterial infections, ladies. Big ones are respiratory infections like pneumonia and bronchitis! It'll even treat eye infections and gum disease. Ladies, urinary tract infections are quite common, but this antibiotic treats them fast too! This medication even treats some sexually transmitted infections.
There are other uses for this antibiotic too. Ladies, it treats acne! Doctors know that it makes you have fewer blemishes. It even makes the ones you get heal faster! This medication will even treat rosacea bumps. Some brands are given to you if you're traveling somewhere with a high-risk of malaria! Doxycycline even gets rid of infections from mites, lice, and ticks too.
Side Effects
Expect side effects on this antibiotic! Ladies, the most common are vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and indigestion. Your stomach will ache too! It's common for you to experience headaches, dry mouth, upper abdominal pain, and toothaches as well. Many of you, ladies, will deal with some flu-like symptoms too.
Of course, there are also rarer side effects! Ladies, they include gastritis, flushing, gum pain, and bloody diarrhea. Constipation and colitis are rare too! Ladies, painful swallowing happens with this antibiotic as well, but there's some great news. It goes away in about one week when you stop this medication! Of course, certain side effects mean you have to call your doctor right away. Do it for chest pain, dizziness, dark pee, joint pain, fainting, and jaundice. Light stool and harsh stomach pain need this call too! Ladies, these effects mean problems with your liver or pancreas. An allergic reaction needs emergency treatment. Watch for hives, tongue swelling, breathing problems, lip swelling, and facial swelling.
Precautions
Ladies, remember the precautions for doxycycline! Don't take it when you're allergic to other tetracycline antibiotics. It's not good for you when you're pregnant or breastfeeding as well! Talk to your doctor about when you have had kidney disease, asthma, or liver disease. They mean you'll need a different antibiotic! You'll need another one when you're allergic to sulfites too, ladies. Stay on the safe side and go over your whole medical history first.
Ladies, many of you will experience an upset stomach on this antibiotic. Most of the time, you fix this by taking it with a little food or milk. Just ask your doctor first, ladies, because some brands need you to have an empty stomach. When that's the case, take it an hour before eating or two hours after. Don't crush delayed-release tablets. Swallow them whole, ladies! When you have regular pills, though, you can break them open! Those pills are great in applesauce when you have issues swallowing. And ladies, throw away expired medication and remember to wear sunscreen. This antibiotic makes you more sensitive to the sun!
Medication Interactions
Doxycycline is going to interact with over 180 other medications, ladies. That's why you have to list everything you take and let your doctor know first. This includes vitamins and supplements too! Ladies, this is going to let them help you avoid all of these medication interactions! Your pharmacist needs to check the list again before giving you doxycycline. Two sets of eyes are better than one!
Ladies, let's learn about some examples. This antibiotic has severe interactions with lomitapide and acitretin. It's also not safe to take when you need fibroblasts from bovine collagen! You'll need other antibiotics when you take seizure medications, blood thinners, or isotretinoin.