What Doryx is
used for?
Doryx is
an antibiotic used to:
-
treat
certain types of
infections
-
control acne
-
prevent some forms of
malaria, sometimes in
combination with another
antimalarial medicine
This
medicine belongs to a group
of medicines called
tetracyclines.
It works
by killing or stopping the
growth of bacteria which
cause infections or make
acne worse. It also works
against parasites that cause
malaria.
Tetracyclines will not work
against viral infections
such as colds or flu.
Ask your
doctor if you have any
questions about why this
medicine has been prescribed
for you.
Your
doctor may have prescribed
it for another reason.
This
medicine is not addictive.
It is
available only with a
doctor's prescription.
Before
you take Doryx
When
you must not take it
Do not
take Doryx if you have an
allergy to:
Some of
the symptoms of an allergic
reaction may include
shortness of breath,
wheezing or troubled
breathing; swelling of the
face, lips, tongue or other
parts of the body; rash,
itching or hives on the
skin.
Do not
take this medicine if you
are taking preparations
containing vitamin A,
isotretinoin or etretinate.
Ask you doctor or pharmacist
if you are not sure if you
are taking one of these
medicines.
Do not
take this medicine if you
are more than 18 weeks
pregnant or are
breast-feeding.
As with
many medicines,
tetracyclines may harm your
developing or breast-feeding
baby. Tetracyclines may
cause enamel loss and
staining of your child's
teeth or increase the
pressure on your child's
brain.
High
doses of tetracyclines may
also cause liver problems in
pregnant women.
Do not
give this medicine to
children aged eight years or
under unless directed by the
child's doctor.
Doryx
like other tetracyclines,
may cause enamel loss and
staining in developing
teeth. It may also cause
increased pressure on the
brain if used in infants.
Do not
take this medicine after the
expiry date printed on the
pack or if the packaging is
torn or shows signs of
tampering.
If it has
expired or is damaged,
return it to your pharmacist
for disposal.
If you
are not sure whether you
should be taking Doryx, talk
to your doctor
Before
you start to take it
Tell your
doctor if you have allergies
to any other medicines,
foods, preservatives or
dyes.
Taking
other medicines
Tell your
doctor if you are taking any
other medicines, including
any that you get without a
prescription from your
pharmacy, supermarket or
health food shop.
Some
medicines and Doryx may
interfere with each other.
These include:
-
preparations containing
Vitamin A
-
some
medicines used for skin
problems, such as
isotretinoin or
etretinate
-
warfarin, a medicine
used to prevent blood
clotting
-
another group of
antibiotics called
penicillins
-
some
medicines used in the
treatment of epilepsy
such as phenytoin,
carbamazepine or
phenobarbitone
-
methoxyflurane, an
anaesthetic
-
acetazolamide, a
medicine used to help
the body get rid of salt
and water
-
the
contraceptive pill
(birth control pill).
Doryx may decrease the
effectiveness of some
birth control pills
Your
doctor may advise you to use
an additional method of
contraception while taking
Doryx and for 7 days after
taking Doryx. Refer to your
doctor or pharmacist for
advice.
These
medicines may be affected by
Doryx or may affect how well
it works. You may need
different amounts of your
medicine or you may need to
take different medicines.
If you
are taking the following
medicines, take them at
least two hours before or
two hours after taking
Doryx:
-
antacids (containing
aluminium, calcium or
magnesium) used for
indigestion
-
bismuth salts, found in
some medicines used to
treat stomach ulcers
-
preparations that
contain iron including
vitamin preparations
These
medicines may interfere with
the absorption of Doryx.
Your
doctor and pharmacist have
more information on
medicines to be careful with
or avoid while taking this
medicine.
How to
take Doryx
Follow
all directions given to you
by your doctor and
pharmacist carefully.
They may
differ from the information
contained in this leaflet.
If you do
not understand the
instructions on the pack,
ask your doctor or
pharmacists for help.
How
much to take
Your
doctor or pharmacist will
tell you how many capsules
you will need to take each
day.
For
treating infections, the
usual dose of doxycycline is
two 100 mg capsules on the
first day, followed by one
100 mg capsule each day from
then on.
For
controlling acne, the usual
dose is one 50 mg capsule
each day.
For the
prevention of malaria, the
usual dose is one 100 mg
capsule each day, commencing
two days before entering the
malarious area, during the
visit, and for two weeks
after leaving the area.
Your
doctor may ask you to take a
different dose, depending on
your condition and how you
react to the medicine.
How to
take it
Swallow
the capsules whole with a
full glass of water or milk
while sitting or standing
upright.
Do not
lie down immediately after
swallowing Doryx.
It is
important to stay upright,
for example sitting,
standing or walking around
for at least half an hour
after swallowing your
capsule. This is to help
avoid irritation to your
food pipe, also called the
oesophagus.
Do not
chew the capsules.
When
to take it
Take your
medicine at about the same
time each day (usually in
the morning).
Taking it
at the same time each day
will have the best effect.
It will also help you to
remember when to take it.
Take your
medicine during or
immediately after a meal.
If taken
on an empty stomach, it may
cause stomach upset.
How
long to take it
Continue
taking your medicine until
you finish the pack or for
as long as your doctor
recommends.
Keep
taking this medicine for the
full time of treatment even
if you begin to feel better
after a few days.
If you do
not complete the full course
prescribed by your doctor,
the infection may not clear
completely or your symptoms
may return.
For
treating infections, Doryx
is usually taken for one to
two weeks.
For
controlling acne, Doryx is
normally taken over a period
of 12 weeks.
For
preventing malaria, Doryx is
recommended to be taken for
up to a maximum of 8 weeks.
However, your doctor may
prescribe Doryx for longer
periods.
If you
are not sure how long you
should be taking this
medicine, talk to your
doctor.
If you
forget to take it
If it is
almost time for your next
dose, skip the dose you
missed and take your next
dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon
as you remember, then go
back to taking your medicine
as you would normally.
Do not
double a dose to make up for
the dose you have missed.
This may
increase the chance of you
getting an unwanted side
effect.
If you
are not sure what to do, ask
your doctor or pharmacist.
