Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic with potent antibacterial activity against a wide variety of bacteria. According to drugs.com, doxycycline is used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as acne, urinary tract infections, intestinal infections, respiratory infections, eye infections, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, periodontitis (gum disease), and others.
Doxycycline exerts its effect by stopping the growth of bacteria when treating bacterial infections and is also thought to have an anti-inflammatory action when used for other conditions. Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic. Some forms of doxycycline are used to prevent malaria, treat anthrax, or treat infections caused by mites, ticks, or lice.
How Doxycycline works
Doxycycline works by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis by binding to a ribosomal subunit, preventing amino acids from being linked together. Without proteins, bacteria are unable to function. Doxycycline is bacteriostatic which means it stops bacteria from reproducing but doesn’t necessarily kill them.
What is an adverse drug reaction?
Adverse drug reaction, also known as ADR or adverse drug effect is a broad term referring to unwanted, uncomfortable, or dangerous effects that a drug may have.
Adverse drug reactions can be considered a form of toxicity. Examples of such adverse drug reactions include rashes, jaundice, anemia, a decrease in the white blood cell count, kidney damage, and nerve injury that may impair vision or hearing. These reactions tend to be more serious but typically occur in a very small number of people.
Beyond adverse drug reactions, doxycycline has been linked with adverse mental health outcomes. The life of many patients taking doxycycline has been ruined by adverse events and unexpected side effects. In this article, “doxycycline ruined my life” we will read several doxycycline reviews and stories behind the many unpleasant experiences with doxycycline.
How Doxycycline Ruined My Life
Miriam wrote “Several hours after my first dose I started having bad tendon pain in my shoulder and bicep area as well as a dull pain behind my right eye when looking any direction other than straight. After my second dose, I began feeling mentally disconnected, and later that night after my second dose my lips, tongue, and throat began swelling. I was taken to the ER and was given an antihistamine shot alone with steroids and Pepcid. The doctor told me not to take Doxycycline ever again. This drug may work for a lot of people but be careful and watch out for allergic reactions.”
Here is how Aski shared his experience “I was prescribed 7 days of 100mg, the first day taking 2 pills for a sinus infection. I took the first dose as directed with a glass of water and within an hour was doubled over in pain, nauseous, and dizzy On Day 2 I felt a lot of pressure in my head, especially the right side of my head, really bad ringing in my ears and feeling like my ears would pop/burst. Today I woke up with a stiff neck and joints with the right side of my neck really tender to touch and feeling extremely tired. I took the medication after a full breakfast and started feeling so much pressure in my head, ears ringing extremely loudly, and anxious to the point of what felt like a panic attack. My hands and arms also felt what’s best described as light and tingly. I threw the medication up today on purpose to get it out of my body and thankfully I had it with a large meal. The rest I have thrown away. I’d rather be sick than take this medication.”
Horrible said Ashley “I will NEVER take this again. I was hesitant to even start but everyone told me it would be fine so I did. I took 2 doses for a post-cyst-excision damage control type thing, and I am not taking my third to seventh doses. EXTREME nausea. I’m on the couch trying to keep it in as I type, and this is ALMOST A DAY after my last dose. This is a BAD medicine. Also caused intracranial pressure with headaches and fatigue. I just cannot do this medicine. I have never felt so queasy in my life. I will be taking cephalexin, my less harsh go-to, whenever I need this type of thing again. It may work but I promise there are better-tolerated alternatives. Ask for them. Not this.”
An angry user whose life was ruined by the doxycycline wrote “I was put on this medicine post-abortion, and I regret ever putting this medication in my mouth. I was sick as a dog thru my pregnancy and just couldn’t wait for it to be over. After going thru the procedure I thought finally a sigh of relief. Wrong. I didn’t feel awful the first day so I skipped the meds since I was already thru enough. The next day I did what the Dr said n took it on a full stomach. All of a sudden I started to get cold and I couldn’t do anything to get myself warm. I was thinking how am I ever going to make it through work. All of a sudden I got nauseous and I’m like oh no here we go again I thought I wasn’t pregnant anymore. I was cold all night with shakes and a major headache. I refuse to take these meds again.”
Keane “I’m scared of this little pill. I’m on day 5 and I’m miserable. The first day I took it, I got in the shower, and about 30 minutes later I all of a sudden got super hot, worst stomach pains ever, and nausea. I got sick and threw up all of the medication. I thought maybe this happened because I took it on an empty stomach like it says to do on the bottle, so the next day I attempted again. On the 2nd day, I made sure I ate and washed down well with water… Again I had stomach pains but even worse because this time it wouldn’t come back up. I was so miserable that I sat over the toilet for an hour trying to make myself puke. The pain lasted about 2 hours before it went away. Other side effects I’ve been having are diarrhea, headaches, and insomnia for some reason. Now at this point, I just prepare myself for the worst before taking this antibiotic. I’m finishing my course but this is the last time I’ll ever use these.”
Abellexo’s Story goes thus……. “I developed severe photo-onycholysis. Doctors had no idea what happened, apparently, it a rare complication that caused all nails to begin lifting from the nail bed. I’d barely spent any time outdoors but it was long enough to cause painful separation. Initially, they turned half-white, lunula disappearing completely and Google said this was Terry’s nails due to kidney failure. After panicking phone calls and a blood test, they’re fine, but my nails still are not. 7 weeks after stopping them and they’re the most painful they’ve been yet. I’ve quit my second job because I can’t use my hands that much and typing causes them to throb after an hour. Cosmetically, they don’t look too bad.
However, I can’t get them wet (gross), I’ve been advised to dip them in TCP to keep them clean and cut them to a length short enough to not catch but long enough to just keep my nailbeds safe. It’s taken this long to get any answers because apparently, it’s rare, doctors didn’t know, A & E didn’t know, I made a last-ditch attempt and saw a podiatrist who provided me with a lot of support, dressings if needed, and gloves. I can’t believe this happened, and I can’t believe I wasn’t warned that my fingernails might flippin’ fall off because of it. I also developed a burning sensation in my throat two days before the end of the course and couldn’t keep water down. The best part is, that I still have chronic sinusitis. Absolutely would not recommend” she concluded.
Ann’s doxycycline review was equally damning she wrote “DO NOT TAKE if you already have anxiety or other mental health issues. I have a panic disorder which is fully controlled on Lexapro. I took Doxycycline for 2 days and had unbearable panic attacks again, severe anxiety, and nervousness. I stopped taking it after 2 days and it took at least 2 weeks for Me to feel normal again. My doctor had to prescribe me Ativan to deal with it. I was super disappointed because my friend said it really helps acne so I gave it a try. I’d rather have acne though. Never ever again!! She ended her review of the medication.
Amber said “This pill makes me feel like absolute garbage. They say to take this pill with no dairy and on an empty stomach which isn’t smart in the first place. I’ve been dizzy and sick for 3 days now and it hasn’t happened until after I started the medication for a bacterial infection in my bladder. This is ridiculous”. Ray sums up his experience as follows “My experience, doxycycline was absolute hell. I had to take it for the entire month of June, two capsules in the morning and two at night, and in the very beginning, I learned that the photosensitivity (increased risk of sunburn) was no joke. I am not a person who burns easily, but I put on full sunscreen and got the worst burns of my life from about 20 minutes in the sun. I ended up just avoiding sunlight for the rest of the time I was taking the doxycycline. The other main effect I felt was how easily I got sick. For me, I could only eat before taking the medicine, and if I ate soon after taking it, I would throw up within 15 minutes. Even one slice of apple after taking my morning dose caused me to throw up twice. Some mornings, I wake up feeling sick, and I learned that it’s best to not eat at all on those mornings and to just wait it out until I was feeling a little better”
A patient using doxycycline for Acne wrote “I started with painful swelling under the tongue, blurred vision, blood in stool, bruises, difficulty swallowing, chills, headache into eyes … mental impairment negative thoughts, on edge, irritated, just not myself at all. It scared the hell out of me….and I was taking morphine during taking the antibiotic. I think the only thing that saved me from worse was the Benadryl I was taking. I am sure it negatively affected me, even allergic to it or something. Took April 21 to May 9. Allergic reactions started May 7th. I will never take it again.
Why Some People Have Negative Experience With Doxycycline
While it is generally safe and effective, some people may experience adverse side effects.
Some of the most common side effects of doxycycline include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. These side effects are usually mild and go away on their own, but in some cases they can be severe.
Other less common but more serious side effects of doxycycline can include allergic reactions, liver damage, and damage to the esophagus. People with a history of liver disease or who are taking certain medications may be more susceptible to these side effects.
Additionally, doxycycline can make people more sensitive to sunlight, leading to sunburn and other skin reactions. It is important to wear protective clothing and sunscreen while taking doxycycline to avoid these side effects.
Overall, while doxycycline is a safe and effective medication for many people, some may experience adverse side effects. It is important to talk to your doctor about any concerns you have and to follow their instructions carefully while taking this medication.
How To Prevent Negative Experience With Doxycycline
There are several ways to prevent negative experiences:
- Take doxycycline with food or a full glass of water to reduce the risk of stomach upset. Avoid taking it on an empty stomach.
- Do not take doxycycline with dairy products, antacids, or iron supplements, as these can interfere with its absorption.
- Finish the full course of doxycycline, even if you feel better before the medication is finished. Stopping early can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
- Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen when outdoors, as doxycycline can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Avoid tanning beds.
- Let your doctor know if you have any history of liver or kidney problems, as this can affect the dosage of doxycycline that you need.
- If you experience any side effects such as rash, hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, stop taking doxycycline immediately and seek medical attention.
By following these guidelines, you can reduce the risk of negative experiences with doxycycline and safely treat your infection.
