Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic (broad-spectrum antibiotic) taken before, during and after a trip to a high-risk area of the world where the malaria parasite is present. It can be used to prevent 4 different types of malaria parasite. It works by significantly reducing the spread of the infection allowing the body’s defences to destroy the parasite before it takes hold.
Doxycycline can be used instead of the other malaria prevention medication Paludrine/Avloclor, as some malaria parasites have become resistant to the ingredient chloroquine. It can also be taken for longer than 28 days, which the other malaria medication Malarone cannot.
Doxycycline is available in a 100mg dosage for malaria, and is available in quantities of 48, 56 and 64 to protect you throughout the duration of your trip. This low dosage means side effects seldom occur.
A tetracycline antibiotic (broad-spectrum antibiotic) means it can be used to treat a wide range of infections effectively. For Doxycycline, this includes bacterial infections such as the STIs chlamydia, non-specific urethritis and ureaplasma, as well as UTIs, acne and bronchitis. It is the same dosage of 100mg for both malaria and bacterial STIs but they are taken for different periods of time so therefore require a different consultation with other doctor.
The form of Doxycycline we have available here at Allschoolabs includes the salts ‘hyclate’.