Doxycycline

Doxycycline is an antibiotic from the tetracycline family. It is licensed and used for a number of infections, including the treatment of chlamydia, as well as a prophylactic medication for malaria in some countries.

You should take 1 capsule twice a day. It is important to swallow the capsule whole and not open or chew them.
Take them with a glass of water to ensure you have swallowed them completely. You should avoid taking them with products containing milk as this may reduce the absorption of the medication and reduce its effectiveness.
If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember but do not take two doses at the same time.
It is important to finish the course.

We provide doxycycline for the treatment of chlamydial infection in people that have either tested positive or have been in sexual contact with someone with chlamydial infection.

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection affecting men and women. It is common in younger age groups and is thought to infect up to 8% of the 16-24 year old age group.

It is passed on by unprotected sex (oral, vaginal or anal) with someone carrying the infection. It can also be transferred by the sharing of sex toys and genital contact without penetration.

For many people the infection doesn’t cause symptoms, however untreated infection is a leading cause of infertility and ectopic pregnancy in women and can reduce the sperm count in men too.

Symptoms can include, pain passing urine and/or discharge from the vagina, penis or bottom. In men, it can cause pain and swelling of the testicles and in women it can cause pain in the tummy, irregular periods and discomfort and bleeding during sex.

Anyone who's sexually active can catch chlamydia, but you can prevent catching it by using condoms when having sex.

Use a condom every time you have vaginal or anal sex.
Use a condom to cover the penis during oral sex.

Use a dam (a piece of thin, soft plastic or latex) to cover the female genitals during oral sex or when rubbing female genitals together.
Don't share sex toys

You can find further information about testing for chlamydia by visiting the following website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chlamydia/diagnosis/

If you have tested positive for chlamydia or someone you have had sex with has tested positive for chlamydia, then it is important you are screened for other sexually transmitted infections, if you haven’t already been tested.

Contact your local NHS clinic for details of how to obtain confidential screening for sexually transmitted infections. You can find details of your local clinic here: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/sexual-health/find-a-sexual-health-clinic

Most people taking doxycycline do not experience side effects, however, the medication can cause headache as well as gastrointestinal upset, including nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting.
Doxycycline can cause sun sensitivity and avoid prolonged sun exposure whilst taking this medication.
Rashes are an uncommon side effect. If you experience a rash whilst taking this medication, you should stop taking it and consult with your doctor.

It is possible to take other antibiotics for a confirmed chlamydia infection, but the medication we provide is the current recommended one. If you wish to explore other possibilities then speak to your GP or an NHS sexual health clinic at https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/sexual-health/find-a-sexual-health-clinic