Doxycycline is an antibiotic. Antibiotics are used in bacterial infections in the body and have a specific effect there so that the pathogens can no longer multiply.
What is doxycycline?
Doxycycline is classified in the group of broad spectrum antibiotics. This means that it is effective at different points in the body, i.e. it can prevent a wide range of bacterial pathogens from growing.
It is used for infections of the respiratory tract, urinary tract and urogenital tract, gastrointestinal tract as well as skin diseases, biliary tract infections and diseases caused by chlamydia and borrelia.
Despite the broad spectrum effectiveness of doxycycline, streptococci, staphylococci and pneumococci do not fall within its scope, as the response of the pathogens to this active ingredient is rather unfavorable.
Pharmacological effect
Doxycycline has a growth-inhibiting effect, i.e. the groups of pathogens that are sensitive to the active ingredient cannot multiply any further and die, so that the infected area or organ is gradually freed from the pathogen and normal function again can accommodate.
In the near future, the inflammation caused by the disease also disappears, as the doxycycline means that there are no longer any bacteria that would have to be fended off.
Medical application & use
Doxycycline is mainly prescribed in tablet form for outpatient treatment. It should be taken with plenty of water, under no circumstances with milk or dairy products - not even with juices, you should keep the intake and consumption of dairy products and fruit juices at least two hours apart. The calcium contained in milk and often in fruit juice reduces the absorption of the active ingredient, so that the prescribed dosage is not absorbed and the doxycycline is no longer sufficiently effective.
The antibiotic often works relatively quickly, depending on the bacterium that is to be treated, and the patient already feels a significant improvement in the symptoms after one or two days. However, it is always necessary that an antibiotic is used until the end, that is, the pack must be used as directed by the doctor. This is important because, despite the improvement in symptoms, there are usually still some bacteria present.
If the doxycycline is discontinued too early, the remaining bacteria can multiply again unhindered and a new infection occurs. In addition, under these circumstances, a resistance to the active ingredient doxycycline can develop, so that in the event of a recurrent infection or a recurrence in another location where administration would be indicated, this is no longer effective. As a preventive measure, antibiotics should generally not be used, because the action process makes it clear that this usually makes little sense and would therefore be an unnecessary burden on the body.
However, for certain diseases there is the option of maintenance therapy to prevent re-infection of particularly stubborn pathogens. This maintenance therapy is carried out with a lower dose of active ingredient than in the previous therapy.
Risks & side effects
Doxycycline increases the effects of some blood sugar lowering agents. If taken at the same time, blood sugar levels should be checked and monitored regularly. In the long term, there can also be a change in blood values, so that if the treatment is used for more than 21 days, these must be taken at short intervals to avoid damage. People with severe liver damage should not take doxycycline, as this is mainly broken down by the liver and can lead to deterioration there.
As with most antibiotics, the most common side effects of doxycycline are mostly found in the gastrointestinal tract. This can lead to nausea, stomach pressure, heartburn or even nausea and often diarrhea. The symptoms generally go away completely after the end of treatment. If diarrhea persists after stopping doxycycline, a doctor should be consulted, as it can be an antibiotic-induced bowel disease that could even be life-threatening.
The other side effects are changes in the blood count or abnormal sensations and headaches. Should hypersensitivity reactions to the drug occur, such as Itching, reddening of the skin, hives with blistering and wheals, a doctor should be consulted, as doxycycline usually has to be discontinued as a result.
