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This page is included here because this anti-biotic is being prescribed for treatment of fibromyalgia. Antibiotics treat INFECTION. INFLAMMATION is different from infection and my opinion is that fibromyalgia is a problem of inflammation rather than infection. If, but usually not, the infection is caused by something that also causes an inflammation, probably an antibiotic will not be effective in the case of fibromyalgia. Something such as an anti-inflammatory substance could be.
Aspirin is often used as an anti-inflammatory agent, but it is a dangerous drug and not very effective in fighting inflammation in any event.
There is a new non-drug formula that my research suggests is a far more effective anti-inflammatory agent, safer to use in place of an antibiotic, and has no drug side effects. This anti-inflammatory was first introduced to me in a lecture by Dr. Garry F. Gordon. Click HERE to read my lecture notes about "FYI" and links to more information including how you can buy that formula from Vibrant Life.
Karl Loren
1. What is doxycycline?
Doxycycline is an antibiotic medicine belonging to the class called "tetracyclines." It is used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. It does not treat viral infections, such as the common cold.
2. Is doxycycline approved to treat anthrax?
Doxycycline is approved to treat anthrax in all its forms [inhaled (lung), skin, stomach and intestinal].
3. Can medicines in the same class as doxycycline be used to prevent or treat anthrax?
Other drugs in the tetracycline class carry a broad indication for illnesses caused by the anthrax organism (Bacillus anthracis). Because the most up-to-date information about appropriate dosing following exposure to anthrax is available for Cipro (ciprofloxacin), doxycycline, and penicillin G procaine, use of these three drugs has been recommended.
Antibiotic therapy should only be started in the case of suspected or confirmed exposure to anthrax. Antibiotics reduce the risk of severe disease following exposure, but do not prevent exposure.
4. What are some possible side effects of doxycycline?
This list is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with doxycycline. Your health care provider can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.
Some possible uncommon but serious side effects of doxycycline include:
Other more common, but less serious, side effects include:
5. What else should I know about doxycycline?
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. If a person is exposed to anthrax, the risk of side effects caused by doxycycline treatment may be acceptable because of the seriousness of the disease. However, if a person has not been exposed to anthrax, these risks may outweigh the benefits.
Some other things to consider:
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Doxycycline |
Also indexed as: Alti-Doxycycline®, Apo-Doxy®, Atridox®, Cyclodox®, Demix®, Doryx®, Doxy®, Doxycin®, Doxylar®, Doxytec®, Monodox®, Novo-Doxylin®, Nu-Doxycycline®, Periostat®, Ramysis®, Vibramycin®
Interactions with Dietary Supplements
Berberine-containing herbs
Berberine is a chemical extracted from
goldenseal (Hydrastis
canadensis),
barberry (Berberis vulgaris), and
Oregon grape (Berberis
aquifolium), which has antibacterial activity. However, one double-blind
study found that 100 mg berberine given with
tetracycline
(a drug closely related to doxycycline) reduced the efficacy of tetracycline
in people with cholera.1 In that trial, berberine may have
decreased tetracycline absorption. Another double-blind trial found that
berberine neither improved nor interfered with tetracycline effectiveness in
cholera patients.2 Therefore, it remains unclear whether a
significant interaction between berberine-containing herbs and doxycycline and
related drugs exists.
Minerals
Many minerals can decrease the absorption and reduce effectiveness of
doxycycline, including
calcium,
magnesium,
iron,
zinc, and others.3
To avoid these interactions, doxycycline should be taken two hours before or
two hours after
dairy
products (high in calcium) and mineral-containing
antacids or
supplements.
Probiotics
A common side effect of antibiotics is
diarrhea,
which may be caused by the elimination of beneficial bacteria normally found
in the colon. Controlled studies have shown that taking probiotic
microorganisms—such as Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus
acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, or Saccharomyces
boulardii—helps prevent antibiotic-induced diarrhea.4
The diarrhea experienced by some people who take antibiotics also might be due to an overgrowth of the bacterium Clostridium difficile, which causes a disease known as pseudomembranous colitis. Controlled studies have shown that supplementation with harmless yeast—such as Saccharomyces boulardii5 or Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s or brewer’s yeast)6 —helps prevent recurrence of this infection. In one study, taking 500 mg of Saccharomyces boulardii twice daily enhanced the effectiveness of the antibiotic vancomycin in preventing recurrent clostridium infection.7 Therefore, people taking antibiotics who later develop diarrhea might benefit from supplementing with saccharomyces organisms.
Treatment with antibiotics also commonly leads to an overgrowth of yeast (Candida albicans) in the vagina (candida vaginitis) and the intestines (sometimes referred to as “dysbiosis”). Controlled studies have shown that Lactobacillus acidophilus might prevent candida vaginitis.8
Vitamin K
Several cases of excessive bleeding have been reported in people who take
antibiotics.9 10 11 12 This side
effect may be the result of reduced vitamin K activity and/or reduced vitamin
K production by bacteria in the colon. One study showed that people who had
taken broad-spectrum antibiotics had lower liver concentrations of vitamin K2
(menaquinone), though vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) levels remained normal.13
Several antibiotics appear to exert a strong effect on vitamin K activity,
while others may not have any effect. Therefore, one should refer to a
specific antibiotic for information on whether it interacts with vitamin K.
Doctors of natural medicine sometimes recommend vitamin K supplementation to
people taking antibiotics. Additional research is needed to determine whether
the amount of vitamin K1 found in some multivitamins is sufficient to prevent
antibiotic-induced bleeding. Moreover, most multivitamins do not contain
vitamin K.
Interactions with Foods and Other Compounds
Food
Doxycycline may be taken with or without food and should be taken with a full
glass of water.14 However, doxycycline should not be taken with
milk15 or other
dairy
products.
Summary of Interactions for Doxycycline
| Depletion or interference | Vitamin K* |
|---|---|
| Adverse interaction | None known |
| Side effect reduction/prevention |
Bifidobacterium longum* Lactobacillus acidophilus* Lactobacillus casei* Probiotics* Saccharomyces boulardii* Saccharomyces cerevisiae* Vitamin K* |
| Supportive interaction | Saccharomyces boulardii* |
| Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability | Minerals* (calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc) |
| Other (see text) | Berberine-containing herbs such as goldenseal, barberry, and Oregon grape |
For the convenience of the reader, the information in the summary is categorized as follows: “Depletion or interference” indicates the drug may deplete or interfere with the absorption or function of the supplement or herb. “Adverse interaction” indicates that the supplement or herb used together with the drug may result in undesirable effects. “Side effect reduction/prevention” indicates the supplement or herb may reduce the likelihood and/or severity of a potential side effect caused by the drug. “Supportive interaction” indicates the supplement or herb may support or aid the function of the drug. “Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability” indicates that the supplement or herb may decrease the absorption and/or activity of the drug in the body. An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.
1. Khin-Maung-U, Myo-Khin, Nyunt-Nyunt-Wai, et al. Clinical trial of berberine in acute watery diarrhoea. BMJ 1985;291:160–5.
2. Rabbani GH, Butler T, Knight J, et al. Randomized controlled trial of berberine sulfate therapy for diarrhea due to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae. J Infect Dis 1987;155:979–84.
3. Threlkeld DS, ed. Anti-Infectives, Tetracyclines. In Facts and Comparisons Drug Information. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons, Dec 1989, 342b–2d.
4. Elmer GW, Surawicz CM, McFarland LV. Biotherapeutic agents. A neglected modality for the treatment and prevention of selected intestinal and vaginal infections. JAMA 1996;275:870–6 [review].
5. Elmer GW, Surawicz CM, McFarland LV. Biotherapeutic agents. A neglected modality for the treatment and prevention of selected intestinal and vaginal infections. JAMA 1996;275:870–6 [review].
6. Schellenberg D, Bonington A, Champion CM, et al. Treatment of Clostridium difficile diarrhoea with brewer’s yeast. Lancet 1994;343:171–2.
7. Surawicz CM, Elmer GW, Speelman P, et al. Prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea by Saccharomyces boulardii: A prospective study. Gastroenterol 1989;96:981–8.
8. Elmer GW, Surawicz CM, McFarland LV. Biotherapeutic agents. A neglected modality for the treatment and prevention of selected intestinal and vaginal infections. JAMA 1996;275:870–6 [review].
9. Suzuki K, Fukushima T, Meguro K, et al. Intracranial hemorrhage in an infant owing to vitamin K deficiency despite prophylaxis. Childs Nerv Syst 1999;15:292–4.
10. Huilgol VR, Markus SL, Vakil NB. Antibiotic-induced iatrogenic hemobilia. Am J Gastroenterol 1997;92:706–7.
11. Bandrowsky T, Vorono AA, Borris TJ, Marcantoni HW. Amoxicllin-related postextraction bleeding in an anticoagulated patient with tranexamic acid rinses. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 1996;82:610–2.
12. Kaiser CW, McAuliffe JD, Barth RJ, Lynch JA. Hypoprothrombinemia and hemorrhage in a surgical patient treated with cefotetan. Arch Surg 1991;126:524–5.
13. Conly J, Stein K. Reduction of vitamin K2 concentration in human liver associated with the use of broad spectrum antimicrobials. Clin Invest Med 1994;17:531–9.
14. Threlkeld DS, ed. Anti-Infectives, Tetracyclines. In Facts and Comparisons Drug Information. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons, Dec 1989, 342b–2d.
15. Meyer FP, Specht H, Quednow B, Walther H. Influence of milk on the bioavailability of doxycycline—new aspects. Infection 1989;17:245–6.
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