Antibiotics Channel
Topics & Medications
Quicklinks
Related Channels
Doxycycline Indications
Some people may wonder about the indications (or uses) of doxycycline. Doxycycline is a prescription medication approved to treat various conditions in adults and children as young as 8 years old. Specifically, uses of the drug include:
- Treating bacterial infections, such as:
- Certain types of pneumonia
- Chlamydia
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- Typhus fever
- Tick fever
- Syphilis (when unable to take penicillin)
- Some respiratory or urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Treating acne
- Preventing malaria
- Treating anthrax infections
- Treating rosacea
- Treating periodontitis (gum disease).
Doxycycline can also be prescribed "off-label" to treat infections that are resistant to another antibiotic known as vancomycin. This medication is also used to treat several uncommon bacterial infections. It also may be substituted in place of penicillin to treat common infections in those people who are allergic to that particular drug.
(Click Doxycycline Uses for a more in-depth look at this topic, including specific uses of doxycycline and the safety of its use in children.)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD