This article describes doxycycline oral capsule’s dosages and strengths and offers details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for doxycycline.
If you want to know more about doxycycline, you can refer to this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses, side effects, and more.
Doxycycline oral capsule is a generic version of the brand-name drugs Oracea and Vibramycin. Doxycycline also comes in other forms you can take by mouth and injectable forms. But those forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about them, talk with your doctor.
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Forms and strengths of doxycycline
Doxycycline oral capsule comes in the following forms and strengths:
- doxycycline hyclate oral capsule that you swallow: 50 milligrams (mg), 100 mg
- doxycycline monohydrate oral capsule that you swallow: 40 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg
Doxycycline hyclate dissolves more easily than doxycycline monohydrate. Your doctor will prescribe the form of doxycycline oral capsule that’s right for you.
Dosage of doxycycline
This article describes the recommended dosages for doxycycline oral capsule. The drugmaker provides these dosages.
If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should take the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of doxycycline oral capsule without your doctor’s recommendation.
Usual recommended dosages of doxycycline in adults
Doxycycline is an antibiotic that treats infections caused by certain types of bacteria and pathogens. Doctors prescribe doxycycline hyclate to prevent malaria. They also use certain forms of doxycycline capsules to treat rosacea and severe acne.
Examples of infections that doxycycline treats are:
- severe acne
- some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and certain infections caused by chlamydia
- certain urinary tract infections (UTIs)
The dose and the frequency of doses vary depending on the many conditions doxycycline treats. For certain severe infections, you might take 100 mg twice per day. For others, your doctor may prescribe a maintenance dosage with or without a starting dosage. (A maintenance dosage is what you take throughout your treatment, sometimes after a starting dosage.)
Note: Doctors rarely prescribe doxycycline for UTIs. If your doctor does prescribe doxycycline for a UTI, they’ll determine the length of treatment that’s right for you.
Dosage for acne, UTI, and other conditions
The following table shows the recommended dosages of doxycycline oral capsule for severe acne and other conditions. All dosages are in milligrams (mg).
| Purpose | Recommended dosage |
|---|---|
| treat acne, certain skin infections, some STDs, and certain other infections (usual dosage)* | • starting dose: 100 mg, taken twice per day on day 1 • maintenance dose: 100 mg taken once per day or 50 mg taken twice per day |
| treat certain severe infections, such as chronic UTI | 100 mg, taken twice per day |
| treat certain types of pneumonia | 100 mg, taken twice per day for at least 5 days |
| treat anthrax | 100 mg, taken twice per day for 60 days |
| treat certain urethra infections | 100 mg, taken twice per day for 7 days |
| treat certain infections caused by chlamydia | 100 mg, taken twice per day for 7 days† |
| treat syphilis in people allergic to penicillin | • early infection: 100 mg, taken twice per day for 2 weeks • infection present longer than 1 year: 100 mg, taken twice per day for 4 weeks |
| treat certain gonorrhea infections | • 100 mg, taken twice per day for 7 days,† or • 300 mg taken once, then 300 mg taken 1 hour after first dose† |
| prevent malaria | 100 mg, taken once per day starting 1 to 2 days before travel and continued for up to 4 months |
| treat skin lesions (bumps and blisters) caused by rosacea | 40 mg, taken once per day |
* Examples include Rocky Mountain spotted fever and some respiratory tract infections. For more examples, see the prescribing information for doxycycline hyclate and doxycycline monohydrate. Severe infections may require higher dosages.
† Certain chlamydia or gonorrhea infections may require a longer duration of treatment.
Dosages of doxycycline in children
Doctors prescribe some forms of doxycycline to treat certain severe infections in some children, for example, severe life threatening infections, such as anthrax and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Doxycycline oral capsule also treats other types of infections. To learn more, ask your doctor or see the prescribing information for doxycycline hyclate and doxycycline monohydrate.
Note: 40-mg doxycycline capsules prescribed for rosacea are not approved for use in children.
Children younger than ages 9 years
In most cases, doctors do not prescribe doxycycline to children younger than ages 9 years without careful consideration. This includes weighing the risks versus benefits and ensuring that no other therapy options are available. If your child is younger than age 9 years, your child’s doctor will determine whether doxycycline is appropriate for them.
Children ages 9 through 17 years
For children ages 9 through 17 years who weigh 45 kilograms (kg) or more, doctors prescribe the adult dosage. See the table in the “Usual recommended dosages of doxycycline in adults” section above for adult dosages.
For children ages 9 through 17 years who weigh less than 45 kg, dosages are based on body weight. These dosages are in the table below in mg per kg of body weight (mg/kg). For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb). So 45 kg is about 99 lb.
| Condition | Body weight in kg | Approximate body weight in lb | Recommended dosage |
|---|---|---|---|
| severe infections | less than 45 kg | less than 99 lb | 2.2 mg/kg every 12 hours |
| less severe infections | less than 45 kg | less than 99 lb | • 2.2 mg/kg every 12 hours on day 1, then • 2.2 mg/kg once per day or divided into 2 doses per day |
| anthrax | less than 45 kg | less than 99 lb | 2.2 mg/kg twice per day for 60 days |
Dosage adjustments for doxycycline
Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of doxycycline oral capsule based on several factors. These include:
- the specific condition being treated and its severity
- your age
- body weight (for children weighing less than 45 kg or less than about 99 lb)
- other health conditions you may have
Missed dose of doxycycline
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of doxycycline oral capsule. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.
For tips on how to plan your doses of doxycycline oral capsule and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:
- downloading a reminder app on your phone
- setting an alarm
- putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table
Frequently asked questions
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about doxycycline oral capsule and its dosage.
Can doxycycline be taken for chest infection? If so, what is the dosage?
Yes, it can in some cases. A chest infection affects the airways or lungs in the lower part of your respiratory tract. Doxycycline oral capsule is a type of antibiotic. And it’s approved to treat respiratory tract infections caused by certain types of bacteria.
The recommended dosage for treating certain infections, including some respiratory tract infections, is 100 milligrams (mg) twice per day on the first day of treatment. After that, you’ll take a maintenance dosage of 100 mg once per day or 50 mg twice per day. (A maintenance dosage is what you take throughout your treatment, sometimes after a starting dosage.) But always take the dosage that your doctor prescribes.
For more dosage information, see the “Usual recommended dosages of doxycycline in adults” section above. If you have a chest infection, talk with your doctor. They can tell you whether doxycycline oral capsule is the right treatment for your condition.
Will older adults need a dosage adjustment of doxycycline?
It’s not likely that older adults (ages 65 years and older) will need a dosage adjustment of doxycycline. But if needed, your doctor may make an adjustment based on your response to the medication.
In older adults, the kidneys may work slower. A drug may stay in your body longer if the kidneys process it more slowly. Studies of doxycycline included people who had kidney problems. You can find more information on studies in the prescribing information for doxycycline hyclate and doxycycline monohydrate. They showed that with usual dosages of doxycycline, levels of the drug did not rise significantly.
Older adults may have a higher risk of side effects with medications. As a result, your doctor will monitor you during your treatment. And they’ll make any needed recommendations about your dosage.
Talk with your doctor if you’re an older adult and have concerns about your doxycycline dosage.
Is doxycycline taken long term?
No, doctors don’t typically prescribe doxycycline oral capsule as a long-term treatment. Instead, they usually recommend it for short-term use.
If you have questions about how long you should take doxycycline oral capsule, talk with your doctor.
How doxycycline is taken
You’ll swallow doxycycline oral capsule, usually once or twice per day. How often you take it depends on the condition it’s treating.
You can take doxycycline oral capsule with or without food. But taking it with food or milk may help prevent stomach upset.
You should drink plenty of liquid when you take your dose of doxycycline. This helps ensure that the capsules don’t cause any irritation when you swallow them.
You should swallow the capsules whole. The drugmaker does not state that the capsules can be opened. If it’s hard for you to swallow capsules, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.
Your doctor may advise that you take this medication around the same time each day. This can help the drug work more effectively because it keeps a consistent amount of the drug in your body.
During treatment, you may find that your skin is more sensitive to the sun. To help protect it, try applying sunscreen and wearing protective clothing.
If you’re considering stopping doxycycline, talk with your doctor first. Stopping it early can prevent your infection from going away. Likewise, if you’re taking it to prevent getting malaria, it may not fully protect you.
Be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it.
Doxycycline coupon
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Get free cardOverdose of doxycycline
It’s important that you do not take more doxycycline oral capsule than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to harmful effects.
What to do if you take too much doxycycline
If you think you’ve taken too much doxycycline, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes the usual recommended dosages for doxycycline oral capsule. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.
Do not change your dosage of doxycycline oral capsule without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take doxycycline oral capsule exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Is the dosage of doxycycline oral capsules the same as the dosage for the oral tablets?
- Is there another antibiotic that can treat my condition instead of doxycycline oral capsule? If so, what is the dosage?
- Why is doxycycline oral capsule’s duration of treatment longer for some conditions than for others?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.