Doxycycline

Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic that can be prescribed for urinary tract infections, gum disease, skin blemishes, gonorrhea, chlamydia and in case the patient has been exposed to anthrax. Check with your doctor before starting to take doxycycline if you take or used to take some or any of these medicines: antacid drugs containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium, anti-infective medication, iron-containing products, phenobarbital, barbiturates (anti-seizure medication), carbamazepine, birth control pills, dilantin or phenytoin. Doxycycline has been reported to make hormonal methods of birth control less effective. Make sure you use an additional method of birth control to avoid getting pregnant, as doxycycline can cause harm to an unborn baby.

Continue taking doxycycline even if your symptoms improve significantly, as this does not mean all the bacteria have been killed. Some patients using this medicine for a long time or repeatedly have developed a second infection. If you experience stomach pain or stomach cramps, blood stool or severe diarrhea report it to your doctor. Do not try to treat diarrhea without first checking with your health care provider.