Product Description

The capsules should be swallowed with plenty of fluid in either the resting or standing position and well before going to bed for the night to reduce the likelihood of oesophageal irritation and ulceration.

If gastric irritation occurs, it is recommended that Doxycycline Capsules be given with food or milk. Studies indicate that the absorption of doxycycline is not notably influenced by simultaneous ingestion of food or milk.

Posology

Adults and children aged 12 years to less than 18 years

The usual dosage of Doxycycline for the treatment of acute infections in adults and children aged 12 years to less than 18 years is 200mg on the first day (as a single dose or in divided doses with a twelve hour interval) followed by a maintenance dose of 100mg/day. In the management of more severe infections (particularly chronic infections of the urinary tract), 200mg daily should be given throughout the treatment period.

Exceeding the recommended dosage may result in an increased incidence of side effects. Therapy should be continued for at least 24 to 48 hours after the symptoms and fever have subsided.

When used in streptococcal infections, therapy should be continued for 10 days to prevent the development of rheumatic fever or glomerulonephritis.

Dosage recommendations in specific infections:

Acne vulgaris

50mg daily with food or fluid for 6 to 12 weeks.

Sexually transmitted diseases

100mg twice daily for 7 days is recommended in the following infections: uncomplicated gonococcal infections (except anorectal infections in men); uncomplicated urethral, endocervical or rectal infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis; non-gonococcal urethritis caused by Ureaplasma urealyticum.

Acute epididymo-orchitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoea 100mg twice daily for 10 days.

Primary and secondary syphilis:300mg a day in divided doses for at least 10 days.

Louse and tick-borne relapsing fevers

A single dose of 100mg or 200mg according to severity.

Treatment of chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria

200mg daily for at least 7 days. Due to the potential severity of the infection, a rapid- acting schizonticide such as quinine should always be given in conjunction with Doxycycline; quinine dosage recommendations vary in different areas.

Prophylaxis of malaria

100mg daily in adults and children over the age of 12 years. Prophylaxis can begin 1-2 days before travel to malarial areas. It should be continued daily during travel in the malarial areas and for 4 weeks after the traveller leaves the malarial area. For current advice on geographical resistance patterns and appropriate chemoprophylaxis, current guidelines or the Malaria Reference Laboratory should be consulted, details of which can be found in the British National Formulary (BNF).

For the prevention of scrub typhus

200mg as a single dose.

For the prevention of travellers' diarrhoea in adults

200mg on the first day of travel (administered as a single dose or as 100mg every 12 hours) followed by 100mg daily throughout the stay in the area. Data on the use of the drug prophylactically are not available beyond 21 days.

For the prevention of leptospirosis

200mg once each week throughout the stay in the area and 200mg at the completion of the trip. Data on the use of the drug prophylactically are not available beyond 21 days.

Children aged 8 years to less than 12 years. (Section 4.4)

The use of doxycycline for the treatment of acute infections in children aged 8 years to less than 12 years should be carefully justified in situations where other drugs are not available, are not likely to be effective or are contraindicated.

In such circumstance, the doses for the treatment of acute infections are:

For children 45 kg or less- Initial dose: 4.4 mg/kg (in single or 2 divided doses) with maintenance dose: 2.2 mg/kg (in single or 2 divided doses). In the management of more severe infections, up to 4.4 mg/kg should be given throughout treatment.

For children, over 45 kg - Dose administered for adults should be used.

Children aged from birth to less than 8 years.

Doxycycline should not be used in children aged younger than 8 years due to the risk of teeth discolouration. (Section 4.4 and 4.8)

Paediatric population: Not recommended.

Elderly patients

Doxycycline may be prescribed in the usual dose with no special precautions. No dosage adjustment is necessary in the presence of renal impairment.

Renal impairment: Studies to date have indicated that administration of doxycycline at the usual recommended doses does not lead to excessive accumulation of the antibiotic in patients with renal impairment.

The anti-anabolic action of the tetracyclines may cause an increase in blood urea. Studies to date indicate that this does not occur with the use of doxycycline in patients with impaired renal function.

Haemodialysis does not alter the serum half-life of doxycycline.