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-   -   doxycycline experiences? (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/doxycycline-experiences-688438/)

mingxa Mar 16th, 2007 12:48 PM

doxycycline experiences?
 
Has anyone experienced side effects from taking this anti-malarial?

mingxa Mar 16th, 2007 12:50 PM

Sorry just realized I posted this in the wrong area...meant for Afrika fodorites...plse. disregard. My apologies.

Barbara Mar 16th, 2007 01:17 PM

My daughter took this for acne and it made her very light-headed/dizzy. Her doctor prescribed an alternative.

escargot Mar 16th, 2007 01:28 PM

just in case you check back -
my son (24) has taken this on 4 separate occasions for trips in certain areas of India, etc and he never had any side effects.

There are however, other options - you should speak with someone at your local travel clinic - I find they are more 'up' on all these meds vs. our family Dr. - he sends us to a travel clinic to help decide which meds we will or will not take/ which shots we will or will not choose/ etc.

Many major hospitals and airports often have travel clinics. good luck and have fun !

mingxa Mar 17th, 2007 12:04 PM

Thanks for your input! There is a travel clinic in the regional health dept. but they are reluctant to give advice.

escargot Mar 17th, 2007 12:28 PM

they may not want to give you advice, but they should be willing to give you all the info so you can make an informed personal health choice.

Malarone, mefloquine, doxycycline, and others - some have been found not to work in certain areas, do in others, etc

you can do internet searches, use the travel.gov.state web site, look under everything, ask this clinic for the pros and cons of each drug - at our travel clinic they have access to computers that show you the area you are traveling, the rate of a diseases/ likelihood/ what drugs work/ etc and then you can make an informed decision.

try calling a larger hospital near you if this one is not helping you make a decision

gail Mar 17th, 2007 03:37 PM

You probably know this medication - it is a variant on tetracycline which many of us have taken for pneumonia and other infections. It is a long-used antibiotic which for most people has no long-term side effects and mild short-term side effects, although as with many antibiotics, stomach distress can be troublesome.

Annam Mar 17th, 2007 05:02 PM

Photosensitivity also a potential side effect. Wear sunscreen.

sandi Mar 18th, 2007 03:59 AM

While this is not specific for malaria (as would be Malarone [nowadays, prefered] or Lariam [more side-effects]) doxy while the least expensive, has its own drawbacks. Sun sensitivity, so sun protection is a must; for women especially, getting Thrush (in other words, discharge); has to be taken longer than any of the two named drugs above.


GoTravel Mar 18th, 2007 10:59 AM

Do not take Larium (melfloquine).

About 25% of patients that take Larium experience side effects from Mild Anxiety to Suicide.

Do a google search on Larium Suicide.


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