Doxycycline for Chlamydia
Doxycycline is a bacteriostatic medication and belongs to a group of medications called antibiotics. This medication is a broad-spectrum antibiotic which means that it is effective on a wide range of bacteria. Doxycycline can be used to treat a wide range of infections from cholera and periodontal disease to chlamydia.
Free online assessment with a UK prescriber
Doxycycline is an antibiotic from the tetracycline family. It treats a range of bacterial infections, including chlamydia, chest infections and acne, and it's also used to prevent malaria when travelling. It usually comes as 100mg capsules or tablets. At MedsRus, a UK prescriber reviews a confidential online consultation before supplying doxycycline, and we send it in plain packaging.
Doxycycline at a glance
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Type of medicine | Tetracycline antibiotic |
| Strength | 100mg capsules |
| Used for | Chlamydia, chest infections, acne and rosacea, Lyme disease, malaria prevention |
| Chlamydia dose | 100mg twice a day for 7 days |
| Take it with | A full glass of water, sitting or standing |
| Prescription needed | Yes |
What is doxycycline used for?
Doxycycline is used to treat or prevent:
- chlamydia and some other sexually transmitted infections;
- chest infections, such as some types of pneumonia;
- acne and rosacea, usually for a few months alongside a cream or gel;
- Lyme disease, after a tick bite;
- malaria, as a daily tablet when travelling to risk areas.
At MedsRus, we supply doxycycline for chlamydia on this page, and for malaria prevention on our doxycycline for malaria page. For other infections, see your GP.
How does doxycycline work?
Doxycycline stops bacteria from making the proteins they need to grow and multiply. This stops the infection spreading, and your immune system clears the remaining bacteria. It works against a wide range of bacteria, including chlamydia, which lives inside your cells.
Doxycycline for chlamydia
UK guidelines recommend doxycycline 100mg twice a day for 7 days as the first choice for chlamydia. It cures the infection in the vast majority of people.
- Don't have sex, including oral sex, until you and your partner have finished treatment and 7 days have passed.
- Tell recent partners, so they can get tested and treated.
- If you're under 25, get retested after 3 months.
Our page on chlamydia treatment covers symptoms, testing and what to do after treatment.
How to take doxycycline
- Swallow each capsule whole with a full glass of water.
- Take it sitting or standing, and don't lie down for at least 30 minutes afterwards. Taking it just before bed can irritate your food pipe.
- Take it with food if it upsets your stomach.
- Leave at least 2 hours between doxycycline and indigestion remedies, or iron, calcium or zinc supplements, as they stop it being absorbed.
- Finish the whole course, even if you feel better.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for the next one. Don't take two doses together.
Side effects of doxycycline
Common side effects include:
- feeling sick or being sick;
- diarrhoea;
- headache;
- sensitivity to sunlight: your skin can burn more easily, so use a high-factor sunscreen, cover up and avoid sunbeds.
Stop taking it and get medical help if you have:
- pain or difficulty swallowing, or chest pain behind the breastbone;
- severe or bloody diarrhoea;
- a severe headache with changes to your vision;
- signs of a serious allergic reaction.
Who shouldn't take doxycycline?
Doxycycline isn't suitable if you:
- are pregnant or breastfeeding;
- are allergic to tetracycline antibiotics;
- are under 12, as it can stain developing teeth.
Tell the prescriber if you have liver problems or myasthenia gravis, or take blood thinners, epilepsy medicines or isotretinoin.
Does doxycycline affect the contraceptive pill?
Doxycycline doesn't stop the pill working. But if it makes you vomit within a few hours of taking your pill, or gives you severe diarrhoea, follow your pill's missed-pill advice.
How to order doxycycline from MedsRus
- Complete a confidential consultation about your symptoms or test result, your health and any medicines you take.
- A UK prescriber reviews it and, if suitable, approves your treatment.
- We send it in plain, unmarked packaging.
Doxycycline FAQs
What is doxycycline used for?
Chlamydia and other infections, including chest infections, acne, Lyme disease and malaria prevention.
How long does doxycycline take to work for chlamydia?
The course lasts 7 days. Wait 7 days after you and your partner finish before having sex.
Can I drink alcohol with doxycycline?
Moderate alcohol is usually fine, but it can make side effects such as feeling sick worse.
Can I take doxycycline with milk?
A splash of milk in tea is fine, but avoid taking your dose with large amounts of dairy, which can reduce absorption.
Why does doxycycline make me sensitive to the sun?
It makes skin react more strongly to UV light. Use sunscreen and cover up while you're taking it.
Can I take doxycycline before bed?
It's best not to lie down for 30 minutes after taking it, so avoid taking it right before bed.
Further reading
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