Doxycycline prices

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How does doxycycline work

Malaria is caused by a parasite spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Doxycycline prevents malaria by killing the malaria parasite when it is in the blood stage of its life cycle. It also has some effect at the liver stage.

Before travel, it is important to check the risk of malaria for the specific location and time of year you are visiting. Consult the Travel Health Pro website or contact a travel clinic for advice on the recommended malaria tablet for different countries.

No malaria tablet gives complete protection. You should also take steps to avoid mosquito bites.

Who is at risk of malaria?

Malaria is endemic in some tropical and sub-tropical areas. The disease is spread by mosquitoes in infected areas of South America, Southern Asia, and Africa. Before travelling to these areas, it is important to check the risk of malaria for the specific location and time of year you are visiting. Consult the Travel Health Pro website or contact a travel clinic for advice on the recommended malaria tablet for different countries.

How to take doxycycline

Doxycycline to prevent malaria is taken at a dose of one 100mg capsule per day for adults and children over 12 (Dr Fox is only able to supply treatment for adults 18+, for further information see malaria tablets for children).

The course should begin 2 days before travel to a malaria zone, continuing daily throughout exposure to malaria, and then for 4 weeks afterwards. It is essential that the full course is completed.

Doxycycline can be used for up to 2 years for antimalarial prophylaxis. If longer durations are needed then please speak with a specialised travel clinic. Some long-term travellers or expats rotate the antimalarial that they use each year.

Doxycycline should always be taken with food, preferably standing or sitting up, and preferably not just before lying down as it can cause acid reflux symptoms.

When not to take doxycycline

During a consultation with Dr Fox adults will be asked to complete an online assessment questionnaire to determine suitability for antimalarial medication.

You should not take doxycycline without further consultation with your GP if you:

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding, or expect to be during your trip or for 4 weeks after.
• Have a sensitivity to tetracycline antibiotics.
• Have severe liver or kidney problems.
• Have a history of lupus, porphyria, or myasthenia gravis.
• Have problems with frequent diarrhoea.
• Are undergoing treatment for syphilis.

Doxycycline permanently discolours and damages developing teeth so should never be used beyond 15 weeks of pregnancy or in children up to age 12.

Doxycycline cautions

Doxycycline can cause serious skin reactions to sunlight and increases the incidence of sunburn. Avoid sunbeds and direct sunlight, and use high-factor sunscreen.

Please leave a message with your travel dates, country and area of travel when requesting doxycycline as an antimalarial.

As doxycycline is an antibiotic we do not prescribe other antibiotics alongside this.

Doxycycline and other medicines

Some medications interact with doxycycline and it should not be used whilst taking them.

These include:

• Warfarin or warfarin-type anticoagulants (where your blood thinning tablet dose is regularly monitored with blood tests).
• Penicillin or rifampicin (antibiotics).
• Carbamazepine, phenytoin, or primidone (often used to treat epilepsy).
• Ciclosporin (used to affect the body's immune response following organ transplants).
• Methoxyflurane (an anaesthetic). If you need an operation, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking doxycycline.
• Methotrexate (used to treat cancer, psoriasis, or rheumatoid arthritis).
• Retinoids e.g. Roaccutane (used to treat various skin conditions).
• Lithium (used to moderate mood).

Other medications can prevent doxycycline from working so can be taken, but there must be a gap between taking treatments. These include:

• Iron or zinc supplements (separate by 2-3 hours).
• Medicines such as antacids (indigestion tablets or liquids) containing aluminium, calcium or magnesium (separate by 2-3 hours).
• Sucralfate, used to treat and prevent stomach ulcers (separate by 2-3 hours).
• Quinapril.
• Typhoid vaccine oral capsules (separate by 3 days).

Possible side effects of doxycycline

All medicines have the potential to cause side-effects and reactions in some individuals.

Side effects from doxycycline can include gastrointestinal problems (such as nausea and diarrhoea), thrush, heartburn, and increased light sensitivity that can lead to sunburn.

A full list of the most frequent side effects can be found in the manufacturer's patient information leaflet supplied with doxycycline capsules.

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Antibiotic guardianship

Doxycycline is an antibiotic (for infection) and also used as malaria prophylaxis. To combat antibiotic resistance please:

• Only use antibiotics when needed
• Never share antibiotics
• Always complete course as instructed
• Take unused medicine to local pharmacy for disposal

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