Your healthcare provider may prescribe
doxycycline to treat a number of conditions, such as bacterial infections,
rosacea, or periodontitis (gum disease), to name a few. However, the dose of doxycycline your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, such as the condition being treated, the particular product, your age, other medical conditions you may have, and other medications you are taking.
For example, the recommended dose of
doxycycline tablets (Periostat
®) for treating periodontitis is 20 mg every 12 hours on an empty stomach, at least one hour before or two hours after a meal.
Doxycycline comes in several forms, including capsules, tablets, a syrup, an oral suspension, a gel, or an 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.
It is important to take doxycycline with plenty of water (or other fluids) while in an upright position, in order to prevent the medication from irritating the throat.
(Click Doxycycline Dosage for more information on using 20 mg doxycycline for treating a variety of conditions. This article also discusses the factors that may affect your dosage and offers tips on using the medication.)
