Doxycycline |
| Biological
agents targetted |
Anthrax,
Brucellosis,
Cholera, Ornithosis,
Plague, Tularemia,
Rickettsioses |
| Generally
effective against |
Effective
against a broad range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria
and Rickettsia. |
| Available
forms |
Syrups,
capsules, oral suspensions, tablets. Can also be formulated for
injections and intravenous drips.
Doxycline
is usually supplied as the hydrochloride or the hyclate (monohydrate
complex with ethanol). |
| Indications
and usage |
Recommended
for use against against a wide variety of infections when susceptibility
is demonstrated. Typically treatment begins with 2 doses of 100
miligrams on the first day followed by two doses of 50 milligrams
on following days.Specific dosage regimes are at the discretion
of the attending physician acting on information from the manufacturer
and the national authority for drug safety and use. Suggested dosages
for specific agents may be on the individual agent pages, |
| Contraindications |
Doxycycline
and other tetracyclines must not be given to women during the
last half of pregnancy or to children under the age of eight.
It can affect development of the skeleton in the fetus and can
cause discoloration and malformation of the teeth.
Any
demonstrated sensitivity to tetracylines contraindicates use.
Some
people may show increased sensitivity to sunlight. |
| Drug
interactions |
If
used in conjunction with the anesthetic methoxyflurane there can
be severe or fatal kidney damage.
May
interact with anticoagulants and its effectiveness is lowered
by over the counter antacids and bismuth subsalicylate, barbiturates,
the anticonvulsants carbamazepine and phenytoin.
Tetracycline
blocks the action of bactericidal antibiotics such as penicillins
and should not be given in combination with such antibiotics. |
| Adverse
reactions and side effects
NOTE:
all such reactions are rare. |
A
common problem is some irritation of the esophagus if capsules
are taken without food or water immediately before going to bed.
A dose-dependent
increase in blood urea nitrogen (an indicator of loss of kidney
function) is well documented.
Pseudomembranitis
colitis, a common side effect of intensive antibiotic therapy,is
unusual when doxycycline is used but loss of appetite, nausea,
vomiting and diarrhea have been observed. Hypersensitivity, anaphylaxis,
and exacerbation of immune disorders has been seen.Hemolytic anemia
and other disturbances of the white cell population of the blood
are known.
|
| Mode
of action |
Tetracyclines
block protein synthesis by preventing the binding of aminoacyl-tRNA
to the ribosome. Its action is bacteriostatic (preventing the growth
of bacteria) rather than killing (bactericidal). |
| Structure |
 |
| Chemical
names |
(4S,4aR,5S,5aR,6R,12aS)-4-(dimethylamino)-1,4,4a,5,5a,6,11,12a-octahydro-3,5,10,12,12a-pentahydroxy-6-methyl-1,11-dioxo-2-naphthacenecarboxamide |
| Trade
Names |
|
| CAS
Registry numbers |
- 564-25-0
(Doxycycline)
- 10592-13-9
(Doxycycline monohydrochloride)
- 17086-28-1
(Doxycycline monohydrate)
- 24390-14-5
(Doxycline hyclate)
- 39055-69-1
(Doxycycline acetylcysteinate)
- 65034-48-2
(Doxycline phosphate)
- 83038-87-8
(Doxycycline monosodium salt with metaphosphoric acid)
|