What is doxycycline?

Doxycycline is an antibiotic. It belongs to a group of medicines called tetracycline antibiotics and it kills bacteria. It is also an effective preventative treatment for malaria, as it kills the malaria parasite. It is a prescription medication and you can’t buy it over the counter.

How does it work?

Doxycycline affects the way the malaria parasite produces the proteins that it needs to multiply. As doxycycline prevents the parasite from producing these proteins, it interrupts the parasite’s lifecycle. As a result, the malaria parasite can’t spread and your immune system can fend off the parasites which have made it into your bloodstream.

What is doxycycline used for?

Doxycycline is used to treat a wide range of conditions, and is commonly prescribed to prevent malaria in travellers who are going to a ‘high risk’ area.

Please note, that Superdrug Online Doctor only offers treatment with doxycycline for malaria prevention through this service – if you think you need a prescription for doxycycline for other reasons, send us a message to see if we can help.

How to take doxycycline

When taken to prevent malaria, doxycycline needs to be taken at a dosage of one 100mg tablet per day. Each doxycycline capsule should be swallowed with a full glass of water, whilst sitting or standing up straight. Take the capsule at approximately the same time each day. Allow at least 30 minutes after taking the tablet before going to bed or lying down as this helps prevent stomach problems such as ulcers. Please note, product packaging may differ from the image above.

If you experience heartburn, stomach pain or nausea when taking the capsule, you may find that taking it with a meal helps.

You need to begin taking doxycycline tablets at least 2 days before travelling to a malaria area to be protected. But, it’s recommended that you start a full week before travelling, to check for side effects. After returning from a risk area, you need to continue taking the daily tablet for 4 weeks. This is to ensure that the disease does not break out if you have been infected during your time abroad.

Malaria prevention with doxycycline is highly effective. However, no medication can give you 100% cover and you still need to avoid insect bites by using insect repellent (we’d recommend DEET of at least 20%) and bednets. If you experience malaria symptoms at any point during your travels you must seek medical help immediately, even if you have been taking malaria tablets.

What if I forget to take a tablet?

If you forget to take your daily tablet, just take it as soon as you remember and then take the next dose at the correct time, but do not take a double dose if you have completely forgotten to take one dose.

Who can take doxycycline?

Doxycycline is only available on prescription and a doctor needs to assess whether it is safe for you to take. Before prescribing doxycycline for malaria, your doctor will ask questions about your health and medical history.

You may not be able to take doxycycline if you have suffered an allergic reaction to another antibiotic in the past. The same applies if you are trying for a baby, pregnant or breastfeeding.

Doxycycline may also not be the most suitable medicine for you if:

• you are likely to be exposed to strong sunlight or ultraviolet light
• have liver problems or are taking other medicines which affect your liver
• have severe kidney problems
• have myasthenia gravis
• have porphyria (a rare genetic disease of blood pigments)
• have systemic lupus erythematosus
• have sucrose intolerance

If you would like personalised advice on malaria prevention, you can also book a £20 telephone consultation with one of our doctors.

Doxycycline and the sun

Doxycycline belongs to a group of antibiotics which can cause the side effect of photosensitivity. This means that while taking doxycycline you are more likely to get sunburnt. For the duration of your treatment, you must apply sunscreen before spending time in direct sunlight. You should not use a sunbed while taking doxycycline tablets.

There are a number of other rare but severe side-effects. If you experience any of the following reactions, stop taking the medication and seek medical help immediately. You will also need to seek alternative malaria protection for:

• severe headaches or blurred vision

Other possible Doxycycline side effects

• doxycycline can alter the numbers of your blood cells which may show in blood tests, or cause infections, sore throats, bruising, and nose bleeds
• sensitivity to sunlight
• headaches and loss of vision
• tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• stomach problems such as nausea, pain, and being sick
• mouth ulcers, sore tongue, and discolouration of the teeth
• inflammation of the liver and jaundice
• inflammation of the pancreas with severe upper abdominal pain
• reddening, peeling, and swelling of the skin; rashes
• muscle and joint pain
• increase in urea in the blood
• thrush (Candida) infections. If you are going somewhere remote, you may want to take some thrush cream or other treatment with you

For a complete list of risks and side effects, please read the patient information leaflet.

Stop taking the medication and see a doctor immediately if you experience:

• difficulty in breathing, wheezing or chest pain
• skin reaction such as rash, extreme sunburn, blistering and peeling, or itching
• swellings of the tongue, face, or throat
• watery diarrhoea and cramps
• soreness and itching around the anus and genital area
• worsening of systemic lupus erythematosus
• severe headaches or changes in vision

Doxycycline and alcohol

Alcohol and doxycycline tablets may interact, making the treatment less effective. It is therefore advisable to avoid alcohol during the treatment. If you decide to drink on doxycycline, you should limit your alcohol intake.

Doxycycline is not suitable for travellers with a history of chronic alcohol consumption or liver problems.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

You should tell your doctor if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, as it could harm your baby.

Tell your doctor if you are taking:

• medication to stop blood clotting, for example, warfarin.
• medicines which contain aluminium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc salts or bismuth.
• antacids
• epilepsy medication
• ciclosporin (a drug used after organ transplants)
• methotrexate (used to treat cancer, psoriasis, or rheumatoid arthritis)
• penicillin antibiotics
• rifampicin (used to treat tuberculosis)
• barbiturates (strong sleeping tablets)
• ergotamine or methysergide (used to treat migraines or headaches)
• the anaesthetic methoxyflurane can also interact with doxycyline, so tell your dentist or doctor that you are taking it if you need an operation