What Is Doxycycline Hyclate?
Doxycycline hyclate (doxycycline hydrochloride hemiethanolate hemihydrate) is a prescription antibiotic medication that is licensed to treat a number of common bacterial infections. It is made by several different manufacturers.
Some uses for doxycycline hyclate include:
- Treatment of bacterial infections, including:
- Treatment of periodontitis (gum disease).
Doxycycline hyclate has not been approved for use in children under the age of 8.
How Does Doxycycline Hyclate Work?
Doxycycline hyclate is part of a class of drugs called
tetracyclines. It decreases bacteria's ability to make protein, which the bacterium needs to live. By affecting the protein of bacteria, the drug helps stop bacteria from continuing to live and cause infection in the body.
For treating gum disease, doxycycline hyclate actually works to inhibit an enzyme in the saliva known as collagenase.
When and How Do I Take It?
Considerations for people taking this drug include the following:
- The medication comes as a capsule, tablet, gel, or injection. It is usually taken once or twice a day, depending on your healthcare provider's instructions and the particular product.
- It works best when taken without food. However, some products can be taken with food if stomach upset occurs. Make sure to refer to the instructions for your specific product.
- It is important to take doxycycline hyclate with plenty of water (or other fluids) while in an upright position, in order to prevent the medication from irritating the throat.
- Doxycycline hyclate should be taken at the same time(s) each day to maintain an even level of the medication in your system.
- For the drug to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed. Make sure that you complete your entire prescription of doxycycline hyclate, even if you start feeling better. This will ensure that the infection is completely treated.
There is conflicting information available about the possibility of an interaction with milk and doxycycline hyclate. While it is clear that doxycycline hyclate is less likely to interact with milk than other tetracyclines, researchers have not reached a definitive conclusion about whether or not milk might reduce the effectiveness of doxycycline hyclate.
Most sources state that it is probably not a problem to combine doxycycline hyclate with milk.
Doxycycline Hyclate Dosing
The dosage that your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- The particular product
- The condition being treated
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you may be currently taking.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless specifically instructed by your healthcare provider to do so.
As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with doxycycline hyclate. Not everyone who takes the medication will experience side effects, though. When people do develop side effects, they are generally minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by your healthcare provider.
Common doxycycline hyclate side effects include, but are not limited to:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Skin reaction to sunlight (photosensitivity)
- Upset stomach (dyspepsia)
- Unexplained rash
- Loss of appetite
- Yeast infection.
(Click Doxycycline Side Effects to learn about the specific side effects of doxycycline hyclate, including some less common but potentially serious complications.)
Drug Interactions With Doxycycline Hyclate
This product can potentially interact with a number of other medications.
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking This Medicine?
You should tell your healthcare provider prior to taking this medication if you:
Tell your healthcare provider about all other medications you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What If I Overdose on Doxycycline Hyclate?
People who take too much of this medication may have overdose symptoms that could include, but are not limited to:
If you happen to overdose on this medication, seek medical attention immediately
(see Doxycycline Overdose).
Doxycycline hyclate should be stored at room temperature and kept protected from light.
Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?
If you do not take your doxycycline hyclate as scheduled, take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, simply skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take your next scheduled dose. Never take a double dose.
Strengths of Doxycycline Hyclate
This medication comes in a number of strengths. These include:
Doxycycline also comes in other forms, such as doxycycline monohydrate or doxycycline
calcium (see Doxycycline for more information about all doxycycline products).
