Doxycycline

Blood count (CBC), liver function tests, kidney function tests.

p.o.

depending on the indication

after a few days

After 4 weeks and then every 3 months: blood count (CBC), liver and kidney function tests.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding, children (age range varies between 8 and 12 years depending on the source), hypersensitivity to the active substance or excipients, severe liver dysfunction (doxycycline, minocycline), severe kidney dysfunction (lymecycline).

Prolongation of the prothrombin time. Interactions: Reduced absorption of tetracyclines when taken concomitantly with antacids containing aluminium, calcium or magnesium, iron-containing preparations, bismuth salts, activated charcoal, cholestyramine or didanosine (ddI); accelerated metabolism of tetracyclines when taken concomitantly with rifampicin, carbamazepine, diphenylhydantoin or primidone, or in cases of chronic alcohol abuse.

Reduced elimination of methotrexate; increased toxic effects of ciclosporin A and sulphonylureas. Additive toxic effects with methoxyflurane (fatal kidney damage), theophylline (gastrointestinal side effects), isotretinoin (pseudotumour cerebri); reduced efficacy of oral contraceptives.

Age, hepatic/renal impairment, contraception. Side effects: Headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, photosensitivity reaction, hypersensitivity reactions, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, hypotension, pericarditis, exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus, dyspnoea, serum sickness, peripheral oedema, tachycardia, taste disturbances, tooth discolouration.

3 months; longer only in justified exceptional cases.