Doxycycline is an antibiotic which is used to treat a number of bacterial infections such as chlamydia, COPD, and skin infections. It is also used to prevent malaria.

Doxycycline is the recommended first-line treatment for chlamydia infections in the UK.

Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, which means it can be used to treat a range of bacterial infections. Doxycycline is commonly used as a treatment for bacterial STIs such as chlamydia, but can also be used for conditions such as malaria and COPD.

What STIs are cured by doxycycline?

Doxycycline can be 100% effective in treating chlamydia meaning it can cure the infection. It can also be prescribed to treat gonorrhoea and syphilis.

Doxycycline is a type of drug called a tetracycline antibiotic, which works by stopping the bacteria causing your infection from making proteins. These proteins allow bacteria to survive and multiply, so by stopping this happening, doxycycline works to kill the bacteria that’s causing your infection.

How long does doxycycline take to work for chlamydia?

Doxycycline gets to work quickly and you should start to feel better after a few days (if you do have symptoms). It normally takes 7 for an infection to clear up completely.

You should finish your full course of doxycycline, even if you feel better or your symptoms go away. This is because the infection may not be fully cleared, and could come back or become resistant to the treatment.

How long does it take for chlamydia to go away after taking doxycycline?

You should be completely clear of chlamydia after completing your full course of doxycycline. This usually takes around 7 days.

You can get back to having sex the day after finishing your treatment, unless your sexual partner is still having treatment. You should get retested for chlamydia every 3 to 6 months if you change sexual partners, as you may be at a higher risk of catching it again.

How effective is doxycycline?

According to the NHS, if taken correctly, doxycycline will cure more than 95% of cases.

How do you know doxycycline is working?

If you have symptoms, you should start to feel better within 3 days. If your symptoms do not go away, speak to your doctor. If you start to feel worse whilst taking doxycycline, you should also speak to your doctor.

If you do not have symptoms, you may not feel any different while the medication is working.

How long does doxycycline stay in your system?

Doxycycline takes around 5 days to completely leave your system after you take it. Doxycycline has a half life of 16 to 22 hours, which is how long it takes for the levels of doxycycline to fall by 50%. It takes around 4 to 5 half lives for a drug to be completely cleared from your system.

Doxycycline 100mg capsules should be taken twice a day, for 7 days to treat chlamydia. Space your 2 doses evenly throughout the day. Take your capsules with a glass of water, with or without food. Make sure to take doxycycline in an upright position, such as sitting or standing. You should keep taking doxycycline until your treatment is finished, even if you feel better.

When to take doxycycline

Doxycycline is prescribed twice a day for chlamydia. You should space these 2 doses evenly throughout the day, such as a capsule in the morning and a capsule in the evening.

How much doxycycline to take

You should take 100mg of doxycycline twice a day, for 7 days. If you are unsure, read your prescription or check the medicine packaging.

How long do you need to take doxycycline for?

Your doctor will prescribe you with doxycycline for 7 days. Make sure to take your treatment course until it is finished.

Doxycycline can be bought through trusted online retailers, such as Superdrug Online Doctor. It must be prescribed to you after you have tested positive for chlamydia, so you cannot get it over the counter. You can also get doxycycline on the NHS, from your GP or a local sexual health clinic.

Can I buy doxycycline online?

Yes, through trusted sellers such as Superdrug Online Doctor. You must first take a chlamydia test, which can be bought through our service. If you have tested positive for chlamydia, you can then complete our short, online medical questionnaire.

One of our doctors will review this and prescribe you with doxycycline, if it is suitable for you. You can then buy doxycycline through our website, which can be collected from any Superdrug store or delivered to your home address.

Can I buy doxycycline over the counter?

No, doxycycline must be prescribed to you so cannot be bought over the counter without a prescription.

Can I get doxycycline on the NHS?

Yes, if you visit your GP or a local sexual health clinic, you can be prescribed doxycycline to treat chlamydia.

Doxycycline can have some side effects, but this does not mean everyone will get them. You should stop taking doxycycline straight away and visit A&E if you get:

• a skin rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes, as this may be a sign of a severe drug reaction
• a buzzing in your ears, as this could be a sign of tinnitus
• severe skin reactions
• symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as swelling in the face, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing

The common side effects of doxycycline include:

• hives
• increased heart rate
• shortness of breath
• sensitivity to sunlight
• increased pressure in your skull which can cause headaches, blurred visions, or blind spots
• headache
• low blood pressure
• nausea or vomiting (feeling or being sick)
• rashes
• an inflammation of your small blood vessels, known as Henoch-Schonlein purpura

Uncommon side effects include:

• infections of your vagina, such as thrush
• heartburn

Rare side effects include:

• jaundice, yellowing of your skin and whites of your eyes
• yeast infection around your genitals or anus
• an increase in the amount of urea in your blood
• aches in your muscles and joints
• loose finger or toenails after exposure to sun (photoonycholysis)
• peeling and redness of your skin
• liver failure
• hepatitis, which is inflammation of your liver
• severe, bloody, or watery diarrhoea
• inflammation of your colon
• blood disorders
• porphyria, which is a sensitivity to sunlight, stomach pains, and inflammation of nerves
• discolouration of thyroid tissue
• a decrease in appetite
• anxiety
• pancreatitis
• flushing
• ulcers or inflammation in your gastrointestinal tract
• changes in your liver function tests

You may not get any of these side effects, but if you do and they do not go away in a few days, speak to your doctor. If you get any serious side effects, speak to your doctor, call 111 or 999, or visit A&E straight away.

Doxycycline and sun

Doxycycline can cause your skin to become more sensitive to sunlight than usual. Any exposure to sunlight, even for a small amount of time, could cause itching, rash, redness, severe sunburn, or discolouration of your skin. Whilst taking doxycycline make sure you:

• cover your skin as much as possible
• wear sunglasses
• do not use tanning beds or sunlamps
• apply sunscreen with a high SPF before you go out and during the day
• use a sunscreen lip balm
• stay out of the sun as much as you can

If you do get sunburn, treat this as you normally would. If you are worried about your symptoms, speak to your doctor.

Doxycycline dizziness and fatigue

Doxycycline may cause dizziness and fatigue. This is usually a sign of low blood pressure. If you get dizziness and fatigue that does not go away, speak to your doctor.

Doxycycline headache

One of the most common side effects of doxycycline is headaches. You can treat this with paracetamol and ibuprofen, as these are safe to take with doxycycline.

If you get a severe headache with vomiting or vision problems, this may be a sign that you have increased pressure in your brain. If you get these side effects, go to A&E straight away.

How long do doxycycline side effects last

Doxycycline side effects may only last a few days, whilst your body gets used to the medication. For some patients, side effects may last for the whole treatment course. Most of these side effects can be treated at home. If they bother you too much, speak to your doctor.

What to do if you get doxycycline side effects

If you get any common doxycycline side effects, these can be treated at home. The most common side effect is headaches. To treat this, drink plenty of water, rest, and use over the counter painkillers.

If you get an upset stomach whilst taking doxycycline, make sure to take your capsules with food, as this can help. Avoid eating spicy or rich foods during this time. Avoid dairy products like cheese and milk. You should also take your capsules whilst in an upright position, such as sitting.

Doxycycline is not suitable for everyone. If you have a certain condition or take some medications, this could interact with doxycycline and make it unsafe, or less effective. You should not take doxycycline if you:

• have had an allergic reaction to doxycycline or another antibiotic before
• are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant
• are allergic to any of the ingredients in doxycycline

If any of the above apply to you, speak to your doctor.

Contraindications

You should speak to your doctor before taking doxycycline for chlamydia if you:

• think you have syphilis
• have diarrhoea or usually get diarrhoea when you take antibiotics
• have porphyria, a rare blood disorder
• have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• have myasthenia gravis, a disease which causes muscle weakness
• are likely to be exposed to strong sunlight or ultraviolet light, such as a sunbed
• have liver or kidney problems

Medications that interact with doxycycline

There are some medications that can interact with doxycycline, so speak to your doctor if you take any medications, especially:

• antibiotics containing penicillin
• anaesthetics such as methoxyflurane
• rifampicin, for tuberculosis
• methotrexate, for cancer and rheumatoid arthritis
• blood thinners, such as warfarin
• quinapril, for high blood pressure
• oral contraceptives, doxycycline can make the pill less effective, meaning you should take extra precautions whilst using doxycycline and for 7 days after treatment
• barbiturates, which are strong sleeping tablets
• ergotamine, for migraines
• any medication that contains calcium, aluminium, magnesium, or iron, such as antacids
• any medication for epilepsy
• ciclosporin, for organ transplants
• retinoids, for skin conditions

How long after taking doxycycline can I drink alcohol?

You should not drink alcohol whilst taking doxycycline. You can drink alcohol as soon as you’ve finished your treatment course, but you may want to wait a few days to make sure the medication has completely left your body.

Doxycycline is the recommended, and most effective, treatment for chlamydia.If this is not suitable for you, azithromycin may be given but this is no longer recommended. Superdrug Online Doctor only provides doxycycline for the treatment of chlamydia.

Doxycycline vs azithromycin

Azithromycin was once used as a treatment for chlamydia, but this is no longer recommended. This is because the bacteria that causes chlamydia has become resistant to azithromycin, so it is less effective at clearing an infection. Azithromycin is only offered as a treatment for chlamydia in situations where doxycycline is not suitable for the patient, but this is not offered through Superdrug Online Doctor.