Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved doxycycline oral capsules to treat numerous infections caused by bacteria in adults and certain children. Some examples include:
Doxycycline capsules are also prescribed to manage and treat acne. Additionally, they are prescribed to help prevent malaria when traveling to certain regions.
This article describes possible side effects of doxycycline oral capsules. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for doxycycline.
Doxycycline oral capsules are a generic version of the brand-name drugs Acticlate and Vibramycin. Doxycycline also comes in an injectable form and a liquid form that you’ll swallow, but these forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about these forms, talk with your doctor.
You can explore this overview article to learn more about doxycycline oral capsules, including the drug’s uses, dosage, ways to save on cost, and more.
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More common side effects of doxycycline
Doxycycline oral capsules may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of doxycycline oral capsules include:
- mild diarrhea
- nausea
- vomiting
- itchy skin
- sun sensitivity*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of doxycycline in detail” section below.
Mild side effects of doxycycline
Doxycycline may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of doxycycline oral capsules that occurred in studies include:
- mild diarrhea
- nausea
- vomiting
- itchy skin
- appetite loss
- difficulty swallowing
- swollen tongue
- sun sensitivity*
- mild allergic reaction*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of doxycycline in detail” section below.
Doxycycline oral capsules may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
Serious side effects of doxycycline
Doxycycline may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from doxycycline oral capsules, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911, or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with doxycycline oral capsules.
Serious side effects of doxycycline oral capsules that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of doxycycline in detail” section below.
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Side effects of doxycycline in children
Doxycycline may be prescribed to treat certain bacterial infections in children. Most side effects of doxycycline in children are expected to be similar to those in adults.
But doctors will usually avoid prescribing doxycycline to children ages 8 years and under. This is because tetracycline antibiotics, including doxycycline, can cause yellow, gray, or brown tooth discoloration when used in children of these ages. (Doxycycline is a kind of drug called a tetracycline antibiotic.) This side effect may be permanent and is more common with long-term doxycycline treatment.
Due to this risk, doctors will usually avoid prescribing doxycycline to children ages 8 years and under, unless the benefits outweigh the risks. For example, if the infection is severe or life threatening and may be treated with doxycycline.
Talk with your child’s doctor if you have more questions about doxycycline and children, including possible side effects.
Common questions about side effects of doxycycline
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of doxycycline oral capsules. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If I stop taking doxycycline, will I experience certain side effects?
No, withdrawal symptoms aren’t expected once you stop taking doxycycline. (Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on.)
If you’re taking doxycycline to treat acne, though, stopping treatment may cause your condition to worsen.
Do not stop taking doxycycline for acne without first speaking with your doctor. They can advise on other possible acne treatments you may be interested in trying if you’d like to stop taking doxycycline.
How long do side effects of doxycycline usually last?
Doxycycline side effects are usually temporary and will go away on their own, or they are easily managed.
If you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome while taking doxycycline, be sure to let your doctor know. They’ll likely want to schedule a follow-up appointment to evaluate your symptoms further.
While rare, a few long-term side effects have been reported with doxycycline. See the question just below to learn more.
Does doxycycline cause long-term side effects?
Yes, although they’re very rare.
For this article, long-term side effects are defined as those that either:
- start during treatment and continue for a long time, possibly after stopping treatment, or
- start after you’ve taken the drug for a long time or after ending treatment
Long-term side effects that are possible with doxycycline include:
- Clostridioides difficile infection. This may occur at any time while taking doxycycline. It’s also possible, although very rare, to develop this side effect a few weeks after your last doxycycline dose.
- Intracranial hypertension (increased pressure in the fluid around your brain). This may happen at any time while taking doxycycline. Very rarely, this condition can cause permanent vision loss.
- Liver damage. This may occur at any time while taking doxycycline, but is unlikely to happen after stopping treatment.
- Irritation and ulcers in your esophagus.*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of doxycycline in detail” section below.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have more questions about doxycycline and long-term side effects.
Can doxycycline cause eye-related side effects?
It’s not likely. Eye-related side effects weren’t reported by people taking doxycycline in studies.
But doxycycline can very rarely cause intracranial hypertension (increased pressure in the fluid around your brain). Symptoms of this condition include eye-related side effects such as:
- double vision
- blurry vision
- vision loss
These symptoms usually go away once doxycycline treatment is stopped. Rarely, though, intracranial hypertension caused by doxycycline may lead to permanent vision loss.
Immediately talk with your doctor if you notice eye-related side effects while taking doxycycline. They’ll likely want to schedule an exam and may recommend you contact an eye doctor as soon as possible.
Can doxycycline be used in dogs? If so, will dogs experience different side effects than humans?
Yes, doxycycline is approved to treat certain bacterial infections in dogs.
Talk with your veterinarian to learn more about doxycycline for dogs. They can tell you more about possible side effects of the drug. Do not administer doxycycline or any other medications to a pet without talking with your veterinarian.
Side effects of doxycycline in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of doxycycline oral capsules.
Irritation and ulcers in your esophagus
Similar to other tetracycline antibiotics, doxycycline can cause irritation and ulcers in your esophagus. (Doxycycline is a kind of drug called a tetracycline antibiotic.) While rare, this side effect can be serious.
Symptoms of an ulcer in your esophagus include:
- difficulty swallowing
- burning or pain in your chest
- feeling that food is stuck in the back of your throat
- blood in your vomit or stool
Over time, esophageal ulcers can cause internal bleeding. This can lead to anemia (a low red blood cell level). It can also cause other symptoms, including dizziness, shortness of breath, and fatigue (low energy).
Ways to manage
Drinking lots of fluid while taking doxycycline may lower your risk of esophageal irritation and ulcers. You should also aim to take each dose with a full glass of water. This helps prevent doxycycline from getting stuck in your throat, where it can cause or further worsen irritation.
If possible, you should also avoid going to bed or lying down immediately after you take a dose of doxycycline. Try to stay sitting or standing upright for at least 30 minutes after each dose of doxycycline to lower your risk of this side effect.
Talk with your doctor if you have symptoms of an esophageal ulcer while taking doxycycline. Your doctor can prescribe appropriate treatment for your symptoms.
Sun sensitivity
Sun sensitivity was a side effect reported in doxycycline’s studies.
Symptoms of a sun sensitivity reaction to doxycycline can include a skin rash or blisters. The rash or blisters may also itch. These reactions can take a few days to appear after exposing your skin to sunlight. Severe cases of this side effect can cause peeling or weeping skin.
Ways to manage
While taking doxycycline, you can lower your risk of sun sensitivity by minimizing the amount of time you spend in the sun. You should also minimize or avoid exposing your skin to other sources of ultraviolet (UV) light, such as tanning beds.
If you think you will be exposed to sunlight, it’s important to take precautions to protect your skin. Use appropriate sunscreen and wear protective clothing, such as long sleeves and sunglasses.
If you develop a sun sensitivity reaction while taking doxycycline, talk with your doctor right away. They can recommend a treatment to help relieve your symptoms. For example, they may prescribe a corticosteroid cream, such as hydrocortisone cream, to treat the inflammation.
Allergic reaction
For some people, doxycycline oral capsules can cause an allergic reaction. Although it isn’t clear how common these reactions happened in studies, they’re thought to be rare.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis
Life threatening allergic skin reactions have rarely happened in people taking doxycycline. These reactions include Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Symptoms include:
- sore throat
- cough
- red eyes
- muscle aches or discomfort
- severe, painful, blistering or peeling skin rash, which usually starts on your face or chest
- large areas of raw (eroded) skin
- fever
SJS and TEN are life threatening emergencies requiring immediate treatment in a hospital or emergency room.
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to doxycycline oral capsules, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Coupon for doxycycline
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Warnings for doxycycline
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking doxycycline oral capsules.
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to take doxycycline oral capsules if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether doxycycline oral capsules are a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking doxycycline oral capsules, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include those listed below.
Lupus: Be sure to let your doctor know if you have lupus before you take doxycycline. There are reports of the drug worsening lupus symptoms in people who already have the condition. Your doctor may recommend another antibiotic instead.
Females* of reproductive age who have overweight: Studies have found females of reproductive age (the time period between the first menstrual cycle and menopause) who have overweight are at increased risk of high blood pressure in the head (intracranial hypertension), a rare but serious side effect of doxycycline.
High blood pressure in your head: If you have intracranial hypertension or have had it in the past, you’re at higher risk of experiencing it as a side effect from taking doxycycline.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to doxycycline oral capsules or any of their ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe this medication. Ask them about other treatment options that may be better for you.
* In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.
Doxycycline and pregnancy
Doxycycline may cause harm if taken during pregnancy.
Animal studies found that doxycycline caused problems with skeletal development when given to pregnant animals. Animal studies don’t always predict what effects a drug will have in people. But due to the risks, doctors will usually avoid prescribing doxycycline to pregnant people unless the benefits outweigh the risks.
If you are pregnant or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor to find out whether doxycycline is safe for you.
Doxycycline and breastfeeding
Breastfeeding isn’t recommended while you’re taking doxycycline. It’s not known whether the drug appears in breast milk. But there’s concern that it could cause serious side effects in a child who is breastfed.
Talk with your doctor if you have more questions about the risks and benefits of breastfeeding based on medications you take.
Doxycycline and alcohol
Doxycycline oral capsules are not known to interact with alcohol.
But drinking alcohol may increase your risk of certain side effects from doxycycline, or the risk that they’re severe. These side effects include diarrhea, nausea, and appetite loss, because alcohol can also cause these side effects.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with doxycycline oral capsules.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of doxycycline oral capsules. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Am I still at risk of sun sensitivity after I finish taking doxycycline?
- What are signs of severe diarrhea I should watch for while taking doxycycline?
- If I have side effects from doxycycline, is there a lower dose you would prescribe that will still treat my infection?
- Does my health history place me at higher risk of side effects if I take doxycycline?
- Do any medications I take increase my risk of side effects from taking doxycycline?
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.
