Doryx Side Effects
Doryx is an antibiotic used to:
• treat certain types of infections
• control acne
• prevent some forms of malaria, sometimes in combination with another
antimalarial medicine.
This medicine belongs to a group of medicines called tetracyclines.
It works by killing or stopping the growth of bacteria which cause
infections or make acne worse. It also works against parasites that
cause malaria.
Tetracyclines will not work against viral infections such as colds or
flu.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has
been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is not addictive.
It is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take Doryx
When you must not take it
Do not take Doryx if you have an allergy to:
• any medicine containing doxycycline
• other tetracyclines
• any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of
breath, wheezing or troubled breathing; swelling of the face, lips,
tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not take this medicine if you are taking preparations containing
vitamin A, isotretinoin or etretinate. Ask you doctor or pharmacist if
you are not sure if you are taking one of these medicines.
Do not take this medicine if you are more than 18 weeks pregnant or are
breast-feeding.
As with many medicines, tetracyclines may harm your developing or
breast-feeding baby. Tetracyclines may cause enamel loss and staining of
your child's teeth or increase the pressure on your child's brain.
High doses of tetracyclines may also cause liver problems in pregnant
women.
Do not give this medicine to children aged eight years or under unless
directed by the child's doctor.
Doryx like other tetracyclines, may cause enamel loss and staining in
developing teeth. It may also cause increased pressure on the brain if
used in infants.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or
if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for
disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should be taking Doryx, talk to your
doctor
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods,
preservatives or dyes.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any
that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or
health food shop.
Some medicines and Doryx may interfere with each other. These include:
• preparations containing Vitamin A
• some medicines used for skin problems, such as isotretinoin or
etretinate
• warfarin, a medicine used to prevent blood clotting
• another group of antibiotics called penicillins
• some medicines used in the treatment of epilepsy such as phenytoin,
carbamazepine or phenobarbitone
• methoxyflurane, an anaesthetic
• acetazolamide, a medicine used to help the body get rid of salt and
water
• the contraceptive pill (birth control pill). Doryx may decrease the
effectiveness of some birth control pills.
Your doctor may advise you to use an additional method of contraception
while taking Doryx and for 7 days after taking Doryx. Refer to your
doctor or pharmacist for advice.