Doxycycline (Vibramycin) Medication

Doxycycline belongs to the tetracycline class of antibiotics. It is a semi-synthetic tetracycline derived from oxytetracycline. This antibiotic is slowly and much better absorbed orally than are other tetracyclines, and blood levels are sustained longer.

This antibiotic medication is used to treat a wide variety of respiratory tract infections (sinusitis, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis), urinary tract infections, and sexually transmitted infections. Doxycycline is also active against the parasite that causes malaria. It is sometimes used to treat malaria, and can also be used to prevent it.

Doxycycline is indicated for the treatment of the following infections:

• Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus fever and the typhus group, Q fever, rickettsialpox, and tick fevers caused by Rickettsiae
• Respiratory tract infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae.
• Respiratory tract and urinary tract infections caused by Klebsiella species.
• Upper respiratory infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (formerly Diplococcus pneumoniae)
• Lymphogranuloma venereum caused by Chlamydia trachomatis
• Psittacosis (ornithosis) caused by Chlamydia psittaci
• Trachoma caused by Chlamydia trachomatis
• Inclusion conjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis
• Uncomplicated urethral, endocervical or rectal infections in adults caused by Chlamydia trachomatis
• Nongonococcal urethritis caused by Ureaplasma urealyticum
• Relapsing fever due to Borrelia recurrentis
• Chancroid caused by Haemophilus ducreyi
• Plague due to Yersinia pestis (formerly Pasteurella pestis )
• Tularemia due to Francisella tularensis (formerly Pasteurella tularensis )
• Cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae (formerly Vibrio comma )
• Campylobacter fetus infections caused by Campylobacter fetus (formerly Vibrio fetus )
• Brucellosis due to Brucella species (in conjunction with streptomycin)
• Bartonellosis due to Bartonella bacilliformis
• Granuloma inguinale caused by Calymmatobacterium granulomatis
• Anthrax due to Bacillus anthracis
• Uncomplicated gonorrhea caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• Syphilis caused by Treponema pallidum
• Yaws caused by Treponema pertenue
• Listeriosis due to Listeria monocytogenes
• Infections caused by Clostridium species
• In acute intestinal amebiasis, doxycycline may be a useful adjunct to amebicides
• In severe acne, doxycycline may be useful adjunctive therapy.

Off-label uses (not FDA-approved):

• Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)4
• Lyme disease, prevention and treatment5
• Chronic inflammatory lung diseases (panbronchiolitis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, bronchitis)6
• Rosacea3

Doxycycline Advantages & Benefits

• "Best antibiotic" in the tetracycline class - one of the most potent antibiotics.
• Excellent bioavailability.
• Convenient dosing regimen - twice daily.
• Absorption is not significantly impaired by the food and milk.
• Better tolerated than other tetracyclines.
• Greater activity against a variety of organisms (particularly Staphylococci and Enterococci) than other tetracyclines.
• First line medication for chlamydial infections2.
• Low price.
• Long - established track record in clinical trials and in practice, long history of extensive use.
• Anti-inflammatory effects1.

Doxycycline Drawbacks

• Contraindicated during pregnancy or lactation, and in children <8 years of age.
• Photosensitivity reactions.
• Can cause esophageal burns.

Doxycycline for pneumonia

Doxycycline is active against all common typical and atypical bacterial causes of pneumonia, is inexpensive, offers twice-daily dosing, has a favorable side-effect profile, and achieves unusually high penetration into lung tissue and especially into alveolar macrophages. American Thoracic Society guidelines for community-acquired pneumonia recommend Doxycycline as an alternative to macrolides. Considering the expense of the macrolides, and the fact that Erythromycin is poorly tolerated, Doxycycline is the drug that is most frequently used in outpatient treatment of pneumonia. Doxycycline is well absorbed orally, but about half of the dose is converted to inactive compounds. Approximately 30% to 40% of the remainder is excreted by the kidneys.

Doxycycline for rosacea

Doxycycline hyclate 20 mg (subantimicrobial dose doxycycline) administered twice daily as an adjunct to metronidazole 0.75% topical lotion can significantly reduce inflammatory lesions and may be useful maintenance monotherapy3.

Mode of action

Doxycycline is an antibiotic that has the ability to inhibit the growth of a wide variety of bacteria and certain other organisms. It works by preventing bacteria from producing proteins that are essential to them. Without these proteins the bacteria cannot grow, replicate and increase in numbers. Doxycycline therefore stops the spread of the infection and the remaining bacteria eventually die.

Doxyxyline Alternatives - Natural Antibiotics

• Garlic
  Garlic is a natural antibiotic. It has been used for thousands of year in folk medicine as an "infection fighther". Modern reseach confirmes that garlic has serious antimicrobal potential7-8. Garlic is active against common food pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes) and has potential for the preservation of processed foods9.
• Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
  Oregano is a potent natural antibiotic. The body of positive evidence for oregano oil as a major antibiotic is growing. Oil of oregano at relatively low doses is efficacious against Staphylococcus bacteria and comparable in its germ-killing properties to antibiotic drugs such as streptomycin, penicillin and vancomycin10. Oil of oregano exhibite great antibacterial action against common pathogenic bacteria such as Staph, E. coli and Listeria.
• Thyme
  Thyme was used medicinally by the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Most present day research has centered on thyme’s ability as an antibacterial and anti-infectious agent. It is used to treat different infections including coughs, colds, sore throats, tonsillitis, flu, chest infections, and gastroenteritis11-12. It also enhances immunity and helps the body fight against infection.
• Eucalyptus
  Eucalyptus has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and decongesting properties, and has been used traditionally to treat asthma, nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, sore throat, and sinusitis13. The oil from eucalyptus is antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral, and has been used topically to treat skin and dental infections, and to prevent cavities.
  
• Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
  Traditionally, turmeric has been taken orally as a remedy for bronchitis and other respiratory conditions14. Curcumin and other chemicals in turmeric may promote mucus production, thereby making mucus thinner and possibly easier to eliminate from the body. In addition, curcumin's anti-inflammatory properties may help to relieve lung congestion caused by inflammation.
  
• Colloidal Silver
  Colloidal silver is a liquid suspension of microscopic particles of silver. It is universal natural antibiotic and disinfectant. If you want to take this instead of an antibiotic, you need to begin at the onset of an illness and take the max dosage without skipping a dose. Colloidal Silver was used in the U.S. to effectively fight bacterial infections until the late 1940’s. Externally, this water may be applied directly to cuts, rashes, burns, and moles. Internally, it may be used for viral infections, throat and respiratory infections, Candida yeast infections, parasites, diarrhea, allergies.
• Bee Propolis
  
• Bee propolis, which bees process from the plant and tree resin they gather and use to protect the health of their hives, is a very potent natural antibiotic. It essentially contains resins, balsams, essential oils, flavonoids, vitamins, minerals and pollen. The bactericidal qualities of this medicine have been known since the beginning of written history. Propolis has no side effects and has also been shown to fight bacterial strains that have become resistant to synthetic antibiotics. It has been proven effective in treating skin conditions, wounds, burns, and in the treatment of respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis15.
  
• Tea Tree oil
  Tea Tree oil is an effective bactericide killing a broad spectrum of bacteria and a range of stubborn fungi. It kills fungus and bacteria, including those resistant to some antibiotics. A high-quality study16 has shown topical application of 5% tea tree oil is an effective treatment for mild to moderate acne.
• Grapefruit seed extract
  Grapefruit seed-extract is active against great number of gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. It is used for many types of internal and external infections17, including diarrhea, food poisoning, acne.

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