Doxycycline for Other Conditions

Disorders of the digestive system

Doxycycline may be used to treat some infections of the digestion system that cause gastric symptoms such as diarrhoea. More serious infections called cholera, leptospirosis and anthrax (begins as a flu-like illness and causes gastrointestinal symptoms) are also treated using doxycycline.

Sexually transmitted infections

Chlamydia, gonorrhea and ureaplasma urealyticum (or non-specific urethritis) can be treated using doxycycline. Doxycycline and metronidazole together may also be used to treat pelvic inflammatory disease.


Parasitic infections

Doxycycline can be used as a treatment for syphilis (also a sexually transmitted disease) and malaria. It can be taken to prevent malaria if it is taken with quinolone.

Disorders of the respiratory system

Acute bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with fever, and other respiratory tract infections are treated with doxycycline. Along with more serious diseases such as brucellosis, Q fever, Psittacosis (caused by a bacteria of family of chlamydia bacteria) and Lyme disease that begins as a flu-like illness.

Eye disorders

Doxycycline can also be used to treat conjunctivitis (as a consequence of leptospirosis or chlamydia), pseudomonas keratitis, ocular rosea and ocular bartonellosi (a consequence of cat scratch disease).

Kidney disorders and urinary tract infections

Infections of the bladder and mild infections of the kidney that haven’t caused complications are treated using doxycycline.

Skin disorders

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), cellulitis, acne and facial rosacea can be treated using doxycycline. However the treatment is taken over several weeks to clear skin conditions.

Oral and dental disease

Doxycycline may be oral infections, tooth abscesses, gingivitis and periodontitis (a condition of the gums which can cause teeth to become loose or fall out). If you have periodontitis you may have to take the antibiotic for several months until your condition improves.

Doxycycline resistance

Resistance to doxycycline and other tetracycline antibiotics is a growing concern as they are widely used. Many bacteria harmless and harmful are becoming resistant to them, particularly streptococcal infections. To avoid any risk of bacterial resistance it is important to finish the course of the antibiotic even if you feel well.

Doxycycline usage in animals

Doxycycline is used to treat respiratory infections of birds, specifically psittacosis. For other animals it is effective during a range of infections such as Cat-scratch disease, Trench fever, Bacillary angiomatosis and Oroya fever and verruga peruana. Notably these diseases also occur in humans. Dosages given to dogs and cats may be 5mg/kg every 12 hours and for horses 10-20 mg/kg every 12 hours orally only.

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