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Doxycycline Hyclate

 

Doxycycline Hyclate (generic Periostat) Review

brand names: Doryx, Periostat, Adoxa, Doxy, Vibra-Tabs, Doxy 100, Doxy 200, Vibramycin
generic name: Doxycycline

How does it work?

This medicine contains the active ingredient doxycycline, which belongs to a group of antibiotics called the tetracyclines. It is an antibiotic that has the ability to inhibit the growth of a wide variety of bacteria and certain other organisms. It works by preventing bacteria from producing proteins that are essential to them. Without these proteins the bacteria cannot grow, replicate and increase in numbers. Doxycycline therefore stops the spread of the infection and the remaining bacteria eventually die.

Doxycycline is used to treat a wide variety of respiratory, urinary tract, eye and sexually transmitted infections, and various other infections caused by susceptible bacteria and micro-organisms.

It is also used for severe acne, as it is active against the bacteria associated with acne, Propionebacterium acnes. This is a common type of bacteria that feeds on sebum produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. It produces waste products and fatty acids that irritate the sebaceous glands, making them inflamed and causing spots. By controlling bacterial numbers, doxycycline brings the inflammation of the sebaceous glands under control, and the skin is allowed to heal.

Doxycycline is also active against the parasite that causes malaria. It is sometimes used to treat malaria, and can also be used to prevent it when visiting high-risk malarial areas, in particular areas where the malaria parasite is resistant to chloroquine.

What side effects may I notice from taking Doxycycline?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
•dark yellow or brown urine
•difficulty breathing
•increased sensitivity to the sun or ultraviolet light
•headache
•itching in the rectal or genital area
•pain on swallowing
•redness, peeling or loosening of the skin, blistering, including inside the mouth
•stomach pain or cramps
•skin rash or itching
•tingling or numbness of the hands or feet
•unusual bleeding or bruising
•unusual tiredness or weakness
•yellowing of eyes or skin.

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•diarrhea
•discolored tongue
•loss of appetite
•nausea, vomiting
•sore mouth

What is Doxycycline (Periostat)?

Doxycycline (Periostat) is a tetracycline antibiotic. It fights bacteria in the body.

Doxycycline is used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as periodontitis (gum disease), and chlamydia, gonorrhea, acne, urinary tract infections, and others.

Doxycycline (Periostat) may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Why is Doryx prescribed?

Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotic used against a wide variety of bacterial infections, fleas, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other fevers caused by ticks, and lice; trachoma (chronic infections of the eye); urinary tract infections; and some gonococcal infections in adults. It is an approved treatment for inhalational anthrax. It is also used with other medications to treat severe acne and amoebic dysentery (diarrhea caused by severe parasitic infection of the intestines).

Doxycycline (Periostat) may also be taken for the prevention of malaria on foreign trips of less than 4 months' duration.

Occasionally doctors prescribe Doxycycline (Periostat) to treat early Lyme disease and to prevent "traveler's diarrhea." These are not yet officially approved uses for this drug.

What is it used for?

• Treatment of malaria caused by chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum
  
  
• Tetanus
  
  
• Syphilis
  
  
• Sexually transmitted infection that causes genital ulcers (chancroid)
  
  
• Protozoal infection of the intestine (amoebiasis)
  
  
• Prevention of traveller's diarrhoea (enterotoxigenic E coli)
  
  
• Prevention of malaria
  
  
• Prevention of infection with Leptospira bacteria (leptospirosis)
  
  
• Prevention of an infectious disease called Scrub typhus
  
  
• Pneumonia
  
  
• Louse and tick-bourne relapsing fever
  
  
• Lesions in the groin and genitalia caused by a sexually transmitted bacteria (granuloma inguinale)
  
  
• Inflammation of the sinuses due to infection (sinusitis)
  
  
• Infectious disease of rodents that can be transmitted to humans (melioidosis)
  
  
• Infectious disease of parrots and man (parrot fever/psittacosis)
  
  
• Infections of the urinary tract
  
  
• Infections caused by Rickettsiae micro-organisms transmitted by lice, fleas, ticks and mites
  
  
• Infection of the lungs and airways (chest or lower respiratory tract infection)
  
  
• Infection caused by Brucella bacteria (brucellosis)
  
  
• Gonorrhoea
  
  
• Eye infections
  
  
• Disease of rodents and rabbits that can be transmitted to humans (tularaemia)
  
  
• Disease caused by infection with Leptospira bacteria (Weil's Disease/leptospirosis)
  
  
• Death and decay of tissue in a infected wound due to gas production by the infecting bacteria (gas gangrene)
  
  
• Chronic bronchitis
  
  
• Cholera
  
  
• Chlamydia
  
  
• Bubonic plague
  
  
• Acne vulgaris
  
  

What are Doxycycline (Periostat) tablets or capsules?

Doxycycline (Doryx®, Doxy®, Periostat®, Vibramycin®) is a tetracycline-type antibiotic. Doxycycline (Hyclate) kills certain bacteria that cause infection, or stops their growth. It treats many kinds of infections of the skin, ear, sinuses, respiratory tract, stomach, bone, and urinary tract. It also treats Lyme disease and certain sexually transmitted diseases. For travelers to certain areas Doxycycline can be given to suppress malaria. Periostat® is a specific capsule and tablet form of Doxycycline (Periostat) which helps to treat periodontitis. Generic regular Doxycycline (Hyclate) tablets and capsules are available. Generic Periostat® capsules and tablets are not available.