Doxycycline Malaria Capsules 100mg

Malaria Doctor Service 

You can order Doxycycline for Malaria prevention online from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service.

Doxycycline is an antibacterial medication used for many purposes, one of which is malaria prophylaxis. If malaria is present in an area you are travelling to, it is essential that you ensure you are taking the correct prophylactic medication.

Doxycycline works by killing the malaria parasite at the blood stage of its life cycle and is effective against chloroquine-resistant malaria infections.

Doxycycline 100mg Capsules

Doxycycline 100mg Capsules. It belongs to a group of medicines called tetracycline antibiotics. It may be used to treat a wide range of infections caused by bacteria, these include:

• Chest, lung or nasal infections e.g. bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis
• Infections of the kidneys and bladder e.g. cystitis, urethritis
• Infections of the skin such as acne
• Eye infections
• Sexually transmitted diseases e.g. gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia
• Rickettsial infections such as Q fever or fevers associated with louse or tick bites
• Malaria, when chloroquine is not effective
• Other infections such as cholera, brucellosis, leptospirosis and psittacosis

Doxycycline capsules are also used to prevent certain infections developing such as scrub typhus, travellers diarrhoea, malaria and leptospirosis (a bacterial infection caused by exposure to bacteria in fresh water contaminated by animal urine).

Your doctor may want you to take Doxycycline capsules to treat another infection not listed above. You may also be prescribed an additional medicine to take with Doxycycline capsules to treat your infection.

You must talk to your doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse.

A good self care guide and information for malaria is available on the NHS website.

NHS  - Malaria

What Is Doxycycline? What Are Doxycycline 100mg Capsules Used For?

Doxycycline is a member of the tetracycline antibiotic family and is used to treat many different bacterial infections including Malaria prophylaxis.
Doxycycline capsules can be used to treat a number of infections, and to help prevent malaria infection.

What Is The Dosage Of Doxycycline In Malaria Prevention?
The dosage is 100mg daily. You should start Doxycycline capsules 1-2 days before you depart, for the duration of your stay and for 4 weeks after you return. It is very important that you complete the course as the treatment may be ineffective if you do not.

How Do I Take Doxycycline?
It is very important to take Doxycycline with a full glass of water and while standing or sitting. This is because it can cause irritation to your throat if it does not get properly washed down with water.

You should take your capsules around the same time every day. If you forget to take it, you should take it as soon as you remember, but do not take two capsules on the same day.

How Effective Is Doxycycline?
No Malaria prophylaxis medication is 100% effective. It will greatly reduce the likelihood of you being infected with Malaria, but it is important to prevent being bitten is the most effective measure you can take. Keeping your arms and legs covered in the evenings and night time, wearing an insect repellent containing DEET (link) and using an insecticide containing malaria net are all important preventative measures.

Is Doxycycline Ok To Take In Hot Countries?
It is important to note that a common side effect of Doxycycline is increasing the sensitivity of your skin to the sun. This means that Doxycyclcine can cause your skin to burn more easily than when not taking it. This is very important to note if you are planning to take Doxycycline as Malaria prophylaxis in a country where there is a lot of sun. Keeping your skin and head covered with long sleeved clothing and a hat will help protect against this, but it is often advised to take an alternative medication to Doxycycline if available if you are going to be exposed to the sun.

What Are The Side Effects Of Doxycycline?
The main side effects of Doxycycline are an upset stomach, heartburn, thrush and sunburn as described above.

A full list of the potential side effects that may be experienced can be found in the patient information leaflet.

Do You Need A Doctor's Prescription For Doxycycline?
Yes, a prescription is required to obtain Doxycycline. If your order is approved, our doctors will pass a prescription to our pharmacy team for processing.

Like all medicines, Doxycycline can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Possible Side Effects

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.
• A ringing or buzzing noise in the ear (tinnitus)
• 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)
• Symptoms of an allergic reaction - sudden wheezing, 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)
• Fever, swollen lymph nodes or skin rash. These may be symptoms of a condition known as DRESS (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms) and can be severe and life-threatening.

If you experience any of the side effects listed below, tell your doctor as soon as possible:
Common - may affect up to 1 in 10 people
• Sensitivity to sunlight - you may get a skin rash, itching, redness or severe sunburn when out in sunlight or after using a sun bed (Photosensitivity reaction)
• Increased pressure in the skull (severe headaches, blurred and/or double vision, blind spots, permanent loss of vision) (Peripheral oedema)
• Headache
• Low blood pressure (Hypotension)
• Nausea/vomiting
• Rashes (consisting of flat or raised red, brown or pink lesions)
• Inflammation of small blood vessels (Henoch-Schonlein purpura)
• Hives (Urticaria)
• Increased heart rate (Tachycardia)
• Shortness of breath or breathlessness (Dyspnoea).

For a full list of side effects, please read the patient information leaflet.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, our Rightdose pharmacists or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

You can help to make medicines safer by reporting any side-effects to the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

Patient Information Leaflet Doxycycline Malaria Capsules 100mg (Pack of 50)

Other medicines and Doxycycline:
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist 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)
• 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 (used to treat migraines or headaches)
• 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 at the same time as your medicine, as absorption of your medicine may be reduced
• Retinoids (used to treat various skin conditions)

Doxycycline and Alcohol
Alcohol may reduce the effect of your medicine. It is therefore advisable to avoid drinking any alcohol.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breastfeeding, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine as Doxycycline could harm the baby.
Driving and using machines
Do not drive or use machines if you suffer from visual disturbances such as blurring of vision while taking Doxycycline.

Doxycycline 100mg Capsules contain sucrose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

How to store Doxycycline capsules

• Do not use your medicine after the expiry date shown on the blister and carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Store below 25°C. Store in the original package.
• Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.

Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

How to take Doxycycline Tablets

Always take your medicine exactly as your doctor has instructed you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist, if you are unsure.

Your medicine should be taken by mouth as follows:
• It is important to swallow each doxycycline capsule whole with a glass of water.
• It is best to take your capsules at the same time(s) each day, when standing or while sitting.
• It is important not to lie down for at least thirty minutes after taking Doxycycline capsules, so that the capsule can move as swiftly as possible into the stomach and prevent irritation of the throat or oesophagus (canal taking food from the mouth to the stomach).

If your stomach is upset, Doxycycline capsules can be taken with milk or a meal.

The recommended dose is:
Adults and children aged 12 years to less than 18 years: 200mg on the first day, then 100mg daily. The length
of treatment is dependent on the infection being treated.

Treatment of malaria, when chloroquine is not effective

200mg daily for at least 7 days.

Prevention of malaria
100mg daily for 1-2 days before travelling until 4 weeks after returning.

If you take more of your medicine than you should
If you (or someone else) swallow a lot of capsules at the same time, or you think a child may have swallowed any, contact your nearest hospital casualty department or tell your doctor immediately.

If you forget to take your medicine

• Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember it and then take the next dose at the right time.

If you stop taking your medicine
Do not stop treatment early as your infection may return if you do not finish the course of capsules.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Warnings and precautions

Do not take your medicine and tell your doctor, if you:

• have taken Doxycycline or any other antibiotic before and suffered an allergic reaction (e.g. rash, itching, swelling of the face, fainting and breathing problems)
• are allergic to any of the other ingredients in Doxycycline Capsules 
• are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• are breast-feeding

Talk to your doctor before taking Doxycycline if you:
• are likely to be exposed to strong sunlight or ultraviolet light (e.g. on a sunbed)
• have liver problems or are taking medicines which affect your liver
• have severe kidney problems
• have myasthenia gravis (a disease which causes unusual tiredness and weakness of certain muscles, particularly in the eyelid, difficulty chewing and swallowing and slurred speech)
• have porphyria (a rare genetic disease of blood pigments)
• have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) a condition characterised by a rash (especially on the face), hair loss, fever, malaise and joint pain. This condition may be worsened by taking Doxycycline.
• have diarrhoea or usually get diarrhoea when you take antibiotics or have suffered from problems with your stomach or intestines. If you develop severe or prolonged or bloody diarrhoea during or after using doxycycline tell
your doctor immediately since it may be necessary to interrupt the treatment. This may be a sign of bowel inflammation (pseudomembranous colitis) which can occur following treatment with antibiotics
• are suspected of having syphilis. Your doctor will continue to monitor you after your treatment has stopped
• are taking oral retinoids as there is a higher risk
of suffering from increased pressure in your skull (severe headache with change in vision) when taken with Doxycycline capsules

You should not use Doxycycline during periods of

• tooth development (pregnancy, infancy or in children below 8 years old) as such use may lead to permanent discolouration (yellow-grey-brown) or affect the proper growth of the teeth.
• There may be circumstances (e.g. severe or life-threatening conditions), where your physician may decide that the benefits outweigh this risk in children below 8 years and Doxycycline should be prescribed.

What Doxycycline contains:

The active substanceis doxycycline hyclate.

The other ingredients in the capsule are sucrose, maize starch, crospovidone, Basic Butylated Methacrylate Copolymer (Eudragit E100) and Purified 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.

What your medicine looks like
Doxycycline capsules are opaque green capsules with “100mg” printed in white ink.
The capsules are available in packs of 8, 10, 14 and 50 capsules.