Tetracyclines

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• QHow should I take Doryx?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Doryx should be taken by mouth as directed by your doctor. It should be swallowed whole with a full glass of water (8 ounces) and you should remain upright for at least 30 minutes afterward. Do not chew or crush this medication. If you cannot swallow pills, you can sprinkle the contents of the capsule into a tablespoon of cool applesauce which you should consume immediately without chewing. If you experience stomach upset after taking Doryx, you can take it with a glass of milk or with food.

  Doryx is usually taken once or twice per day. In order for this drug to be most effective, take it at the same time each day. Complete the full course of treatment even if your symptoms improve. Failure to do so may put you at risk of relapse and may allow the bacteria to become resistant to Doryx.

  If possible, do not take medicines that interact with Doryx as they may decrease the potency of Doryx or increase the side effects of your other medications. Medications containing iron, calcium, aluminum, magnesium, or zinc (such as vitamins and antacids) should be taken two to three hours before or after taking Doryx.

  If you are taking Doryx to prevent malaria, do not forget to start the medication one to two days before you travel to an area where malaria is known to occur. It should be taken every day while you are away and continued for four weeks after you return.

  Never take expired medication as this can injure your kidneys.

• QHow does Doryx treat acne?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Doryx can be used for the treatment of moderate to severe acne. It works by limiting the growth of bacteria and possibly reducing the inflammation that contribute to skin blemishes. In order to decrease the chance that acne-causing bacteria develop resistance to Doryx (and therefore are not treatable by Doryx), it is used for limited periods of time (three to four months) and it is combined with other acne treatments. For example, Doryx may be used with benzoyl peroxide (a topical medication that fights bacteria and opens up pimples and pores) and retinoid medications (topical medications such as Retin-A which prevent inflammation and the formation of pimples).

• QHow does Doryx treat anthrax?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Anthrax is a potentially lethal infection of the skin, gastrointestinal system, or respiratory tract caused by the bacteria, Bacillus anthracis. Exposure can occur through contact with the meat or skin of infected animals or through acts of bioterrorism.

  While Doryx cannot directly destroy the bacteria that cause anthrax, it can limit the bacteria’s ability to grow and reproduce by interfering with the production of vital proteins. Doryx is used to prevent anthrax after a known exposure or to treat anthrax that only involves the skin. Sixty days of antibiotic therapy is usually required for both prevention and treatment.

  Severe cases of anthrax (such as those involving the gastrointestinal system or respiratory tract) initially may require the use of a combination of antibiotics, including a medication similar to Doryx (doxycycline) that can be given by injection into a vein. After symptoms improve, Doryx (an antibiotic that can only be taken by mouth) can be used.

• QHow does Doryx treat Lyme disease?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Lyme disease is a bacterial infection carried by deer ticks that can cause fevers, rashes, joint pain, neurological symptoms (such as temporary paralysis of the face), and heart problems. Doryx may be used to prevent or treat Lyme disease. It works by limiting the growth and reproduction of the bacteria that cause this condition.

  If you have been bitten by a tick in an area where Lyme disease is known to occur, your doctor may prescribe a single dose of Doryx to prevent this disease. Preventative Doryx is indicated if you were bitten by a deer tick; the tick was attached to your body for more than 36 hours; and the bite occurred within 72 hours of tick removal. If you are diagnosed with Lyme disease, you will require 10 to 28 days of Doryx, depending on the type and duration of your symptoms.
  
  
  
  

• QHow does Doryx treat amoebic dysentery?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Amoebic dysentery is an intestinal infection caused by a parasite. Symptoms include abdominal cramps, profuse diarrhea containing mucus or blood, painful bowel movements, and fever. It is transmitted through the consumption of food or water contaminated with stool as well as through activities such as anal intercourse. Doryx can be used in combination with other medications to treat this condition.

• QHow does Doryx interact with other medications or foods?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Interactions between Doryx and prescription or over-the-counter medications can limit the potency of Doryx, decrease the effectiveness of other drugs, or increase the side effects of other drugs.

  Medications that may limit the potency of Doryx include: products that contain aluminum, magnesium, calcium, or iron (such as antacids, vitamins, supplements, and laxatives); bismuth subsalicylate (for gastrointestinal conditions); barbiturates (for anxiety, surgical anesthesia, and seizures); bile acid sequestrants (for high cholesterol); anti-seizure drugs; sucralfate (for ulcers); and quinapril (for high blood pressure).

  Doryx may limit the effectiveness of birth control pills, the oral typhoid vaccine, the BCG vaccine (which prevents tuberculosis), and penicillin antibiotics.

  The side effects of the following medications may be increased when taken in combination with Doryx:;; warfarin (for preventing blood clots); retinoids (for skin conditions), and neuromuscular blocking agents (for the prevention of movement during surgery). In addition, the combination of methoxyflurane (an inhaled medication that treats pain during surgical procedures) and Doryx can cause a fatal kidney condition.

  Herbal medications can also interact with Doryx. St. John’s wort, a medication used to treat depression, may decrease the potency of Doryx. Both St. John’s wort and dong quai (which is used for a variety of conditions ranging from menopause to heart disease) can exacerbate the sun sensitivity associated with Doryx.

  While Doryx levels in the body may be slightly decreased when taken with food, the clinical significance of this is not known. However, this drug may decrease the body’s absorption of calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and amino acids in foods. Mixing this medication with applesauce may slightly increase the rate of absorption. Drinking alcohol on a regular basis may make Doryx less effective.

• QHow does Doryx treat bacterial infections?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Doryx can be used to treat several types of infections caused by bacteria including eye, respiratory, intestinal, and urinary tract infections; illnesses carried by fleas, ticks, and lice that cause fevers and other symptoms (such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease); and sexually transmitted diseases, among others. For some of these bacterial infections, Doryx is not the first choice drug but rather, an alternative medication for people who cannot tolerate penicillin.

  Doryx cannot directly destroy bacteria. Instead, it interferes with the production of vital proteins which ultimately limits the bacteria’s ability to grow and reproduce.

  It is not uncommon for bacteria to be resistant to Doryx. Therefore, your doctor may require certain laboratory tests to determine whether your condition can be treated by this medication. Treatment usually involves taking a pill once a day for one to two weeks. Chronic infections may require longer therapy. For example, if syphilis has been present for more than one year, you will need to take Doryx for four weeks.