How It Works
Doxycycline is an antibiotic that prevents the development of parasites in the blood that cause malaria. Doxycycline does not destroy the Plasmodium (P.) vivax and/or P. ovale parasites that may remain in the liver.
You take doxycycline as a tablet (orally).
To prevent malaria, you take doxycycline 1 to 2 days before you travel to an area where malaria is present, daily while you are in the area, and daily for 4 weeks after you leave the area.
To treat malaria, doxycycline is usually used along with quinine sulfate for 7 days.
Why It Is Used
Doxycycline is used to prevent malaria:
- In chloroquine-resistant areas (where chloroquine is no longer effective against the parasite) when you cannot take mefloquine (for example, because of side effects).
- If you will be traveling in certain areas of Thailand.
Side Effects
Side effects of doxycycline are common and include:
- Stomach upset and nausea.
- Diarrhea.
- Vaginal yeast infection (yeast vaginitis).
- Sensitivity of the skin to sun exposure (severe sunburn) and of the eyes to light (photosensitivity).
Side effects may be relieved if you take the medicine with meals.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Do not use doxycycline if you are pregnant. It is not used for children younger than age 9 because it may stain their teeth.
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Credits
| Author | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Denele Ivins |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease |
| Last Updated | May 16, 2007 |
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