1. A Good Fighter
Doxycycline has been around since the 1960s. It's called a broad spectrum antibiotic because it effectively treats many different bacterial infections. Once they enter your body, bacteria reproduce by manufacturing protein. Doxycycline invades the bacterial cells and obstructs the protein production so the bacteria cannot multiply. Your body's white blood cells rush in to finish the battle. Doxycycline is used for treatment of upper respiratory tract infections like pneumonia, tick borne disorders like Lyme disease, skin infections like acne, urinary tract infections and anthrax. It is also prescribed for prevention of malaria.
2. Time Your Doses Right
Doxycycline is a prescription medication. It is dispensed most often in tablet or capsule form. Depending on the illness, treatment varies from one or two doses a day and lasts 1 to 2 weeks. It's important not to stop your regimen early. Failure to finish your doxycycline treatment can cause your infection to return with a vengeance. You can take doxycycline with food or without it, but be sure to drink plenty of water when you take a dose, and sit up or stand up for 30 minutes or more so the bottom of your food pipe doesn't get irritated. This painful condition is called oesophagitis. Antacids, laxatives and mineral supplements that contain aluminum, magnesium or calcium will adhere to doxycycline and prevent the body from absorbing it. To avoid this problem, take doxycycline at least 1 full hour before or 2 hours after using antacids or laxatives. Iron supplements also prevent doxycycline from working. Take iron no less than 2 hours prior to or 3 hours past your doxycycline dose.
3. Safeguard Little Smiles
An unborn child's teeth develop during the last half of a mother's pregnancy. Taking doxycycline during pregnancy can result in permanent discoloration of a child's teeth to yellow, brown or gray. The drug is also excreted in breast milk, so similar problems can occur when a mother takes doxycycline while nursing her child. To increase the chances of a white smile, doxycycline should not be used in children under 8 years of age. Doxycycline is also contraindicated in this age group because it can cause swelling of the brain.
4. Lather on the Sunscreen
Doxycycline makes you prone to sunburn, regardless of your natural skin color. Take precautions depending on the time of day and length of exposure. Use sunscreen, and remember the higher the sun protection factor the better. Wear protective clothing including sunglasses and a hat.
5. Arrest Your Acne
Doxycycline is widely used for mild to moderate acne. It's often the first line of therapy used in teenagers with facial acne infections. Many continue taking it through puberty, a time when acne is particularly troublesome. Prolonged use is not linked to bacteria becoming resistant to doxycycline. This makes it preferable to other antibiotics for acne treatment.
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