Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Doxycycline?Side EffectsHow Long Do Side Effects LastHow to Cope With Side EffectsWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderSummary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Doxycycline?
Side Effects
How Long Do Side Effects Last
How to Cope With Side Effects
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Summary
Doxycycline is a type ofantibiotic(called a tetracycline) for treating certain bacterial infections.Its brand names include Doryx, Vibramycin, and Doxy.
Doxycycline, like many antibiotics, can cause certain side effects. These side effects sometimes include upset stomach, skin rashes, or light sensitivity, among others. Usually, side effects from doxycycline can last for as little as a few days up to a few weeks, depending on the length of treatment and dosing.
This article will cover what you should know about taking doxycycline and how long to expect side effects to last.
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Doxycycline is a common tetracycline antibiotic for treating an array of bacterial infections, such as:
When taking doxycycline, it is important to take the medication for as many days as your healthcare provider prescribes. Certain infections may require more treatment days as opposed to others.
Doxycycline only works for bacterial infections. It cannot treat viral infections.
Side Effects of Doxycycline
More common doxycycline side effects can include:
More serious side effects can include:
Side Effects in Children
When using doxycycline in children, it is important to discuss the risks to your child’s teeth with their healthcare provider. Doxycycline use in children under 8, whose teeth are still developing, can result in tooth staining. This may change their teeth to a yellow-gray-brown color.However, this is more likely to occur with long-term use (for more than 21 days) or repeated short courses.
Additionally, taking doxycycline while pregnant can affect the fetus, causing color changes in the teeth after birth.
Long-Term Side Effects
Studies have suggested that the use of doxycycline longer-term (eight weeks) is generally safe in adults, with some mild side effects.
However, long-term use of more than 21 days of doxycycline in children under 8 has been linked to permanent teeth discoloration. For this reason, only use doxycycline in severe cases when other alternative therapies aren’t available.
If you are nursing, you should keep your doxycycline course to less than 21 days and avoid repeat treatment. Breastfeeding while taking doxycycline for long periods can lead to teeth staining in the infant. Other negative side effects in the infant can include rash and diarrhea.
If you are planning on taking doxycycline for longer-term uses, such as the treatment of acne, you may need to take routine blood tests. Certain side effects, such as kidney damage and changes in your blood concentration, have been reported.
Do Antibiotics Cause Constipation?
Usually, side effects felt from doxycycline, such as upset stomach or diarrhea, can resolve within a few days after you stop taking the medication. More serious symptoms, such as photosensitivity, can take longer to go away, sometimes up to a week after you stop taking the medication.
If you begin to develop diarrhea or bloody stool months after stopping doxycycline and your diet has remained the same, let your healthcare provider know. This could be a more serious complication known asC. difficile.
In some cases, you can manage mild side effects from doxycycline on your own:
In many cases, your side effects will be mild, or you may have no side effects at all. However, it’s important to know when you should seek advice from your healthcare provider about medication-related side effects.
See your healthcare provider:
When taken properly, doxycycline can help treat bacterial infections.
Some side effects like upset stomach or nausea will go away soon after you finish your treatment. There are also things you can do to lessen them, such as taking your dose with food. Other side effects, like sun sensitivity, should resolve about one week after treatment.
Always contact your healthcare provider if you start to feel worse or your infection has not resolved after completing your antibiotics.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Doxycycline label.Odorici G, Monfrecola G, Bettoli V.Tetracyclines and photosensitive skin reactions: a narrative review.Dermatol Ther. 2021;34(4):e14978. doi:10.1111/dth.14978Elmas ÖF, Akdeniz N.A case of doxycyclin-induced photo-onycholysis with dermoscopic features.Balkan Med J. 2020;37(2):113. doi:10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2019.2019.11.22Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet].Doxycycline. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006-.Chan PA, Le Brazidec DL, Becasen JS, et al.Safety of longer-term doxycycline use: a systematic review and meta-analysis with implications for bacterial sexually transmitted infection chemoprophylaxis.Sex Transm Dis. 2023;50(11):701-712. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001865
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Doxycycline label.Odorici G, Monfrecola G, Bettoli V.Tetracyclines and photosensitive skin reactions: a narrative review.Dermatol Ther. 2021;34(4):e14978. doi:10.1111/dth.14978Elmas ÖF, Akdeniz N.A case of doxycyclin-induced photo-onycholysis with dermoscopic features.Balkan Med J. 2020;37(2):113. doi:10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2019.2019.11.22Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet].Doxycycline. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006-.Chan PA, Le Brazidec DL, Becasen JS, et al.Safety of longer-term doxycycline use: a systematic review and meta-analysis with implications for bacterial sexually transmitted infection chemoprophylaxis.Sex Transm Dis. 2023;50(11):701-712. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001865
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
DailyMed.Doxycycline label.Odorici G, Monfrecola G, Bettoli V.Tetracyclines and photosensitive skin reactions: a narrative review.Dermatol Ther. 2021;34(4):e14978. doi:10.1111/dth.14978Elmas ÖF, Akdeniz N.A case of doxycyclin-induced photo-onycholysis with dermoscopic features.Balkan Med J. 2020;37(2):113. doi:10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2019.2019.11.22Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet].Doxycycline. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006-.Chan PA, Le Brazidec DL, Becasen JS, et al.Safety of longer-term doxycycline use: a systematic review and meta-analysis with implications for bacterial sexually transmitted infection chemoprophylaxis.Sex Transm Dis. 2023;50(11):701-712. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001865
DailyMed.Doxycycline label.
Odorici G, Monfrecola G, Bettoli V.Tetracyclines and photosensitive skin reactions: a narrative review.Dermatol Ther. 2021;34(4):e14978. doi:10.1111/dth.14978
Elmas ÖF, Akdeniz N.A case of doxycyclin-induced photo-onycholysis with dermoscopic features.Balkan Med J. 2020;37(2):113. doi:10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2019.2019.11.22
Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet].Doxycycline. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006-.
Chan PA, Le Brazidec DL, Becasen JS, et al.Safety of longer-term doxycycline use: a systematic review and meta-analysis with implications for bacterial sexually transmitted infection chemoprophylaxis.Sex Transm Dis. 2023;50(11):701-712. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001865
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