Do not take your medicine and tell your doctor, if you:
• have taken Doxycycline or any other antibiotic before and suffered an allergic reaction (e.g. rash, itching, swelling of the face, fainting and breathing problems)
• are allergic to any of the other ingredients in Doxycycline Capsules (see section 6 Contents of the pack and other information)
• are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• are breast-feeding Warnings and Precautions Talk to your doctor before taking Doxycycline if you:
• are likely to be exposed to strong sunlight or ultraviolet light (e.g. on a sunbed)
• have liver problems or are taking medicines which affect your liver
• have severe kidney problems
• have myasthenia gravis (a disease which causes unusual tiredness and weakness of certain muscles, particularly in the eyelid, difficulty chewing and swallowing and slurred speech)
• have porphyria (a rare genetic disease of blood pigments)
• have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) a condition characterised by a rash (especially on the face), hair loss, fever, malaise and joint pain. This condition may be worsened by taking Doxycycline.
• have diarrhoea or usually get diarrhoea when you take antibiotics or have suffered from problems with your stomach or intestines. If you develop severe or prolonged or bloody diarrhoea during or after using doxycycline tell your doctor immediately since it may be necessary to interrupt the treatment. This may be a sign of bowel inflammation (pseudomembranous colitis) which can occur following treatment with antibiotics
• are suspected of having syphilis. Your doctor will continue to monitor you after your treatment has stopped
• are taking oral retinoids as there is a higher risk of suffering from increased pressure in your skull (severe headache with change in vision) when taken with Doxycycline capsules You should not use Doxycycline during periods of tooth development (pregnancy, infancy or in children below 8 years old) as such use may lead to permanent discolouration (yellow-grey-brown) or affect the proper growth of the teeth. There may be circumstances (e.g. severe or life-threatening conditions), where your physician may decide that the benefits outweigh this risk in children below 8 years and Doxycycline should be prescribed. Other medicines and Doxycycline: Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Especially: • Penicillin antibiotics (used to treat infections)
• Rifampicin (used to treat tuberculosis)
• Anticoagulants (used to thin the blood, e.g. warfarin)
• Quinapril (used to lower high blood pressure)
• Oral contraceptives (‘The Pill’). This medicine may make the oral contraceptive pill less effective. You should use additional contraceptive precautions whilst taking this medicine and for 7 days after stopping.
• Barbiturates (strong sleeping tablets, e.g. phenobarbital)
• Ergotamine (used to treat migraines or headaches)
• Carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone or other drugs used to control epilepsy
• Ciclosporin (used to affect the body’s immune response following organ transplants)
• Methoxyflurane (an anaesthetic). If you need an operation, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Doxycycline.
• Methotrexate (used to treat cancer, psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis)
• Medicines such as antacids (indigestion tablets or liquids) containing aluminium, calcium, magnesium or other medicines containing iron, bismuth or zinc salts, should not be taken at the same time as your medicine, as absorption of your medicine may be reduced
• Retinoids (used to treat various skin conditions) Doxycycline and Alcohol Alcohol may reduce the effect of your medicine. It is therefore advisable to avoid drinking any alcohol. Pregnancy and breast-feeding If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine as Doxycycline could harm the baby.