Doxycycline interactions

Doxycycline is an antibiotic. Doctors commonly prescribe it to treat various bacterial infections, including respiratory tract infections, skin infections, acne, Lyme disease, and some sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Doxycycline is a generic drug. It also comes in brand-name versions, such as Acticlate, Doryx, and Doryx MPC. It comes in multiple forms, including:

• oral capsule
• oral tablet
• delayed-release tablet
• oral suspension

Doxycycline’s interactions may vary depending on the form of doxycycline that your doctor prescribes.

Are there any medications you cannot take with doxycycline?

Certain medications interact with doxycycline. So, you should avoid them while you are taking this drug. Drug interactions can cause doxycycline to have a different effect on your body than expected. This may lead to changes in its effectiveness, canceling it out or causing unexpected side effects. Some medications that may interact with doxycycline include:

• certain antibiotics: drugs like amoxicillin (Amoxil, Larotid) and penicillin will likely be less effective if you take them with doxycycline
• certain antiepileptics: drugs like carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol, others) and phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) may cause doxycycline to be less effective
• certain blood thinners: taking drugs like warfarin (Jantoven) with doxycycline may increase your risk of side effects from the blood thinners
• antacids: drugs like calcium carbonate (TUMS) and aluminum hydroxide/magnesium carbonate (Gaviscon) are likely to make doxycycline less effective
• certain birth control pills: taking drugs like ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate (Estarylla, Sprintec, others) and ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel (Seasonale, Seasonique, others) with doxycycline is likely to make your oral birth control less effective
• bile acid sequestrants: drugs like colestipol (Colestid) and cholestyramine (Locholest, Prevalite) may make doxycycline less effective
• bismuth subsalicylate: drugs like Pepto-Bismol may make doxycycline less effective
• methoxyflurane (Penthrane): may cause life threatening kidney problems if you take it with doxycycline
• isotretinoin (Accutane) and others: can increase the risk of pseudotumor cerebri (increased pressure in the brain) if you take it with doxycycline

Can you take an antihistamine with doxycycline?

It is generally safe to take an antihistamine with doxycycline. Doctors commonly use antihistamines to relieve allergy symptoms. No significant interactions are known to occur between doxycycline and antihistamines.

But it’s always best to talk with your doctor or pharmacist before combining any medications to make sure they are safe for you.

Can you take Tylenol with doxycycline?

It is generally safe to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) with doxycycline. Currently, there are no reports showing interactions between doxycycline and Tylenol.

However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Tylenol and doxycycline together. They can advise you on whether the combination is safe for you and what is the right dosage.

Doxycycline interactions with vitamins

Doxycycline may interact with certain vitamins and mineral supplements. While taking doxycycline, you may want to avoid certain vitamins and minerals such as:

• calcium
• iron
• magnesium
• aluminum
• zinc
• vitamin C
• multivitamins that contain these vitamins and minerals

Taking doxycycline with vitamins and minerals listed above may lead to reduced levels of doxycycline in your body. This could make it less effective than usual for treating your condition.

Because of this, your doctor may recommend taking doxycycline up to 6 hours before or after taking the vitamins or minerals listed above.

Summary

Doxycycline may interact with certain other drugs, vitamins, and minerals. They may make doxycycline less effective, increase your risk of side effects, or have other unexpected effects.

Because of this, it’s important to pay attention to the medications you are taking, if you take multiple drugs, have specific health conditions, or see multiple healthcare professionals.

Ensure that you inform your doctor about the medications, herbs, supplements, and vitamins that you take. This includes prescription, nonprescription, and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Even if you only take one medication, it can be helpful to talk with your doctor or pharmacist about it to identify any possible interactions.