A tetracycline antibiotic, doxycycline is prescribed to treat bacterial infections in the body. It works by reducing the rate at which bacteria grow, stopping the infection. A wide variety of infections can be treated with doxycycline, including urinary tract infections, periodontal disease and gonorrhea.
Common Side Effects
Although this drug is tolerated well by most people who take it, the most commonly reported side effects of doxycycline include nausea, indigestion, heartburn, photosensitivity (an increased sensitivity to light), diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite. These side effects typically pose no serious health risk and subside within a few days of beginning your treatment.
Serious Side Effects to Report
If you experience serious side effects, Drugs.com recommends discontinuing the medication at once and calling your doctor immediately. These side effects include problems swallowing accompanied by severe throat pain, severe stomach cramps, unusual headaches and an unexplained rash. You may also suffer from fever or diarrhea, find blood in your stools or discover that your vision is blurry. Joint pain and fatigue also rank with these side effects and should not be ignored.
Allergic Reaction and Overdose
Doxycycline is merely an antibiotic, but an overdose is quite possible--especially if you miss a dose and take too many with your next dosing time. An overdose requires immediate medical attention. Signs of a doxycycline overdose include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Allergic reactions are just as serious; these can be life-threatening for some people. If you experience an allergic reaction, seek emergency medical care. Symptoms include unexplained swelling of your lips, mouth, throat and face, hives, an unexplained rash and difficulty breathing or swallowing.
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