Warnings

You should try to avoid taking Doxycycline around the same time as foods or supplements containing high levels of calcium, iron or magnesium as this can reduce its effectiveness. This particularly applies to dairy products.

Doxycycline is not 100% effective at preventing malaria, however it is still very effective if taken properly and combined with bite avoidance methods.

Remember to always wear high factor sun cream or protect your skin from direct sunlight whilst taking Doxycycline. Severe sunburn can be extremely unpleasant and even dangerous.

It is also important to get the correct vaccinations for your trip before you travel. These should be administered around 6 weeks before you leave.

Malaria can take up to a year to develop after you have been bitten. If you experience symptoms including headaches, night sweats and abdominal pain any time during your trip or up to one year afterwards you must see a doctor as soon as possible.

Stop taking your medicine and tell your doctor immediately, or go to accident and emergency if you notice any of the following symptoms. Although the symptoms are very rare, they may be severe.

• Symptoms of an allergic reaction - sudden wheeziness, difficulty in breathing, chest pain, fever, sudden swellings of the face, lips, tongue, throat, hands or feet, rash or itching (especially affecting the whole body), pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart), worsening of systemic lupus erythematosus (autoimmune disease).
• Severe skin reactions such as erythema multiforme (circular, irregular red patches), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (rash with flushing, fever, blisters or ulcers), toxic epidermal necrolysis (reddening, peeling and swelling that resembles burns).
• Sensitivity to sunlight - you may get a skin rash, itching, redness or severe sunburn when out in sunlight or after using a sun bed Increased pressure in the skull (severe headaches, blurred and/or double vision, blind spots, permanent loss of vision)
• Swollen tongue, severe watery or bloody diarrhoea, fever and cramps (pseudomembranous colitis)
• Low blood pressure
• Aches in the joints or muscles
• Unusual rapid heartbeats (palpitations)
• Fainting
• Blood disorders (symptoms may include tiredness, weakness, easy bruising or susceptibility to infection)

Doxycycline may be unsuitable to be prescribed online if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Especially:

• Penicillin antibiotics (used to treat infections) Rifampicin (used to treat tuberculosis) Anticoagulants (used to thin the blood, e.g. warfarin) Quinapril (used to lower high blood pressure) Kaolin (used to treat diarrhoea).
• Sucralfate (used to treat and prevent stomach ulcers).
• Oral contraceptives (“The Pill?). This medicine may make the oral contraceptive pill less effective. You should use additional contraceptive precautions whilst taking this medicine and for 7 days after stopping.
• Barbiturates (strong sleeping tablets, e.g. phenobarbital).
• Ergotamine or methysergide (used to treat migraines or headaches).
• Typhoid vaccine (used to prevent typhoid fever if travelling to infected areas).
• Carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone or other drugs used to control 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).
• Medicines such as antacids (indigestion tablets or liquids) containing aluminium, calcium, magnesium or other medicines containing iron, bismuth or zinc salts, should not be taken simultaneously with your medicine, as absorption of your medicine may be reduced.
• Retinoids (used to treat various skin conditions).

Doxycycline dosage for Malaria Prevention

• You should take one capsule every day at roughly the same time each day.
• Doxycycline needs to be taken two days before entering an area where malaria is present and continued until four weeks after leaving the malaria area.
• You should take Doxycycline with or after food and with a full glass of water.
• Doxycycline remains effective with a small alcohol intake.

Ingredients

The active substance (the ingredient that make the capsules work) is doxycycline hyclate. Each capsule contains 100mg of doxycycline hyclate.

The other ingredients in the capsule are sucrose, maize starch, crospovidone, polymethacrylate and talc. The capsule shell contains gelatin and the colourings E171, E132 and E172. The white printing contains shellac, propylene glycol, ammonium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and the colour E171.

Side effects

The most significant and noteworthy side-effect is an increased sensitivity to sunlight. Considering that Malaria risk countries tend to be tropical or hot climates then for most cases the sun’s blistering rays can easily become an issue. Using a very high-factor sunscreen (Spf50+) is highly recommended. Also, be sure to pack protective sunglasses as even the eyes can suffer from this increased sensitivity.

Other common side effects include:

• Stomach upset
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Vaginal yeast infection
• Sore tongue
• Inflammation of the liver or bowel

Please read the Patient Information Leaflet enclosed with your medicines for a full list of side effects. If you experience any adverse effects from taking your prescribed medicine it is important to let us know immediately. Please log in to your online account and message one of our healthcare professionals or alternatively call us on 0117 971 1603. In a medical emergency, you should contact the emergency services or go straight to your local Accident & Emergency.