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What Is Doxycycline Hyclate for?

Doxycycline hyclate is a prescription antibiotic that can be used to treat several medical conditions, including bacterial infections such as those caused by ticks and bug bites, chronic eye infections, severe acne, dysentery and gonorrhea. It can also be used to prevent malaria in people planning to travel abroad. Doxycycline hyclate is typically taken in pill form.

  1. Restrictions

    • In general, women who are breastfeeding or in the second half of pregnancy and children younger than 8 should not take doxycycline hyclate.

    Side Effects

    • Known side effects of doxycycline hyclate include tongue inflammation, face swelling, chest pain, diarrhea, trouble swallowing, nausea and loss of appetite, vomiting, rectal or genital itching and light sensitivity. Infants will sometimes develop a bulging forehead, but the condition resolves itself after the course of medication.

    Drug Interactions

    • Doxycycline hyclate is known to interfere with the effectiveness of some other medications, including penicillin, certain antacids, oral birth control, barbiturates, sodium bicarbonate, phenytoin, carbamazepine, blood thinners and bismuth subsalicylate.

    How to Take It

    • Doxycycline hyclate can be taken with or without food. The pill should be swallowed whole. If you get an upset stomach from taking it, try taking it with a glass of milk.

    Special Instructions

    • As with other antibiotics, it's important to take the entire course of medication prescribed by the doctor, even if you feel better after just a few days. Failure to complete the prescribed course can increase the chances that the bacteria it's treating will become resistant to antibiotics.

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