Doxycycline

Oral Antibiotic
Compare To Other Treatments

The following side effects are expected to occur with the use of doxycycline. Contact your doctor if these symptoms are severe and/or do not go away:

How Common (based on clinical studies)

Nausea<100mg of doxycycline: Up to 1.5% of all users>
100mg of doxycycline: Up to 13.1% of all users
HeadacheUp to 9.4% of all users
Vomiting <100mg of doxycycline: Up to 2% of all users>
100mg of doxycycline: Up to 4.2% of all users
Diarrhea<100mg of doxycycline: Up to 2% of all users>
100mg of doxycycline: Up to 4.2% of all users
Irritation or itching in the vagina or rectumUp to 3.1% of all users
Infection and inflammation of hair folliclesUp to 2% of all users
Abdominal discomfortUp to 1.8% of all users
Sore, scratchy, or painful throatUnknown
Swelling of the tongueUnknown
Discoloration of the skin, nails, eyes, mouth, or scarsUnknown
Decreased appetiteUnknown
Increased nervousness or anxietyUnknown
Back painUnknown
Dry mouthUnknown

If you experience any of the following side effects, stop using doxycycline immediately and contact your doctor or get emergency medical care right away:

  • Changes in vision, including blurring of vision, seeing double, or loss of vision
  • Persistent and/or intense headache
  • Rash that occurs alongside fever and swollen glands in the neck or elsewhere
  • Abnormal bruising or bleeding
  • Abdominal cramps, watery stools, or blood in stools either during treatment or up to 2 or more months after stopping treatment
  • Peeling, blistering, or redness of the skin
  • Trouble breathing or swallowing
  • Reappearance of sore throat, fever, and/or other symptoms of infection
  • Swelling of the eyes, lips, tongue, throat, or face
  • Change in the color of teeth
  • Joint pains
  • A sudden appearance of swelling and rash (known as hives)
  • Chest pain

Doxycycline may also cause other side effects that are not mentioned here. Contact your doctor if you experience any other troublesome symptoms when using doxycycline.

References
  1. Up to date. Doxycycline: drug information. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/doxycycline-drug-information?source=search_result&search=doxycycline&selectedTitle=1~150. Cited 15 February 2017.
  2. Kus S, Yucelten D, and Aytug A. Comparison of efficacy of azithromycin vs. doxycycline in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Clin. Exp. Dermatol. 30(3), 215-20 (2005).
  3. Toossi P, Farshchian M, Malekzad F, Mohtasham N, and Kimyai-Asadi A. Subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline in the treatment of moderate facial acne. J. Drugs Dermatol. 7(12), 1149-52 (2008).
  4. Maleszka R, Turek-Urasinska K, Oremus M, Vukovic J, and Barsic B. Pulsed azithromycin treatment is as effective and safe as 2-week-longer daily doxycycline treatment of acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, noninferiority study. Skinmed. 9(2), 86-94 (2011).
  5. Leyden JJ, et al. A randomized, phase 2, dose-ranging study in the treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory facial acne vulgaris with doxycycline calcium. J. Drugs Dermatol.12(6), 658-663 (2013).
  6. Moore A, Ling M, Bucko A, Manna V, and Rueda MJ. Efficacy and safety of subantimicrobial dose, modified-release doxycycline 40 mg versus doxycycline 100 mg versus placebo for the treatment of inflammatory lesions in moderate and severe acne: a randomized, double-blinded, controlled study. J. Drugs Dermatol. 14(6), 581-586 (2015).