A well-known antibiotic which is a crystalline powder of light yellow color, formed in nature by a special type of fungi, having an antibacterial and bacteriostatic pharmacological effect, blocks protein synthesis in the cells of microorganisms. This semisynthetic broad spectrum antibiotic penetrates the cell and acts directly on pathogens.
It is more active than natural tetracyclines due to its higher therapeutic activity and longer duration of action.
This drug perfectly copes with infectious and inflammatory diseases (pharyngitis, bronchitis, tracheitis, lobar pneumonia), diseases of the ENT organs (otitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis), as well as with infections of the genitourinary system (cystitis, prostatitis, urethritis, gonorrhea).
Doxycycline is quite effective in preventing postoperative purulent complications, as well as such rare diseases as Ku fever, typhoid, rocky mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease.
The drug is also active in the treatment and prevention of the following diseases and ailments:
bacterial infections of the respiratory tract and genitourinary system;
cholecystitis;
pertussis;
skin and soft tissue infections;
borreliosis;
syphilis and infections caused by chlamydia, Mycoplasma and Rickettsia;
brucellosis;
tularemia.
The drug is actively prescribed if there are indications for antibacterial therapy in the exacerbation of chronic bronchitis and is used as the main drug for patients under 65 years of age without concomitant diseases. It has a pronounced effect on exacerbation of bronchopulmonary infection and is most effective in the treatment of granulocytic ehrlichiosis. In elderly patients, it shows an effect in the empirical treatment of acute prostatitis and urinary tract infection. In ophthalmological practice, Doxycycline is used to treat ulcerative keratitis. In combination with quinine, it is highly effective in the treatment of malaria.
The drug is very well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, effectively dissolves in fats and easily penetrates into biological fluids, including tissues. The drug is excreted in the feces and urine.
Absorption reduces the simultaneous administration of iron, aluminum, calcium or magnesium antacids, magnesium-containing laxatives, colestyramine and colestipol. Doxycycline reduces the reliability of contraception and increases the frequency of “breakthrough” bleeding on the background of estrogens-containing oral contraceptives.
Contraindications and side effects
Doxycycline increases the effect of coumarin derivatives and reduces the effect of penicillin and oral contraceptives. While taking the medication, you should limit your use of alcohol and psychotropic substances, since these products speed up your metabolism. Patients are hypersensitive to the drug. Doxycycline is not recommended for people with severe liver failure, leukopenia, pregnant and breast-feeding women. Experts in the field of medicine advise to exclude cases of taking the drug to children under the age of 8 years due to the high risk of formation of insoluble complexes with calcium and their deposition in the bone skeleton, enamel and dentine of teeth.
Taking the drug, you may experience side effects, such as:
in relation to the nervous system and sense organs: in adults-anorexia (metabolic disorders), headache, vomiting, edema of the optic nerve, visual impairment; in children-dizziness or the appearance of mental instability);
in relation to the cardiovascular system: hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia, neutropenia, decreased prothrombin activity;
in relation to the digestive system: nausea, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, gastritis and colitis.
Do not forget about allergic reactions to the drug, which cause rashes and itching, in some cases edema and anaphylactic shock.
Indications for use
The drug is taken orally during meals with a large amount of liquid, adults and children older than 14 years, in the first day — 200 mg once with the transition to a maintenance dose — 100 mg in 24 hours; in severe infections — 200 mg/day in 2 doses.
Children older than 9 years: in the first day — 4 mg / kg in 1-2 doses, then-2-3 mg/kg 2 times a day once (in severe cases, 2-3 mg/kg every 12 hours).
Special instruction
It should be borne in mind that use in the third trimester of pregnancy and in the first years of a child’s life can cause irreversible changes in the color and structure of teeth. Doxycycline solution is incompatible with drugs that have an alkaline pH, as well as-unstable in an acidic environment (aminophylline, hydrocortisone, erythromycin).
In the presence of severe liver failure, it is necessary to reduce the daily dosage of the drug, since it gradually accumulates in the body and there is a risk of hepatotoxic action.
Precautions when using the drug Doxycycline
To prevent irritating effects on the gastrointestinal tract, it is recommended to take the drug in the daytime, with a large amount of liquid.
To prevent the development of candidiasis simultaneously with doxycycline, nystatin is recommended. With the development of superinfection, the use of doxycycline should be discontinued.
During treatment with doxycycline and for 4-5 days after its end, direct exposure to sunlight or UV rays is contraindicated. With prolonged use, the cellular composition of peripheral blood should be regularly monitored, functional liver tests should be performed, and the content of urea in serum should be determined. When using estrogens-containing oral contraceptives, additional contraceptive methods should be used or the method of contraception should be changed. It is possible to false increase the level of catecholamines in the urine when they are determined by the fluorescent method. When examining the thyroid gland in patients who have taken doxycycline for a long time, the possibility of dark brown staining of the tissue in micro-preparations should be taken into account.
Possibility to purchase the drug online
Long queues at pharmacies and time spent searching for the necessary medical product are now in the past. Doxycycline can be purchased in an online store in just a few moments.
The advantage of buying medicine on the Internet is that there is no need to leave the house and face other customers, who may also be ill and are carriers of infections. This is a huge plus when there is no free time and desire to leave a warm apartment and once again visit a public place.
