Doxycycline Hyclate and dermatologist

Last month, I went to see a dermatologist as a result of being bitten by bugs while staying in a motel. The doctor looked at the bites and one particular bite on my right arm, which he said was a tick bite. For that bite, the doctor prescribed to me a drug called Doxycycline HYC for Lyme Disease that I had to take for 30 days. Number one, I hate taking drugs and I have never taken any medication for that long a period of time, except for the Centrum multi vitamin I take on a daily basis.

I went back to the doctor's office earlier this month showing him more bites on my back and a rash on my right leg, the latter of which he said was an allergic reaction to the drug prescribed. He said Doxycycline HYC was the drug that is used to treat Lyme Disease and that I had to finish the course.

On Wednesday of last week, I had four pills left when I noticed a slight change in my vision. I took the pills Wednesday and Thursday and was done with them on Thursday to finish the course. By Saturday, my vision was very blurry and I only have one eye. I wear safety glasses to protect that eye with no prescription in the lenses.

On Saturday, I walked over to the pharmacy and the pharmacist printed out a report on that drug and there is an indication – along with many other side effects – citing blurry vision. On Sunday, I spoke with the doctor's colleague, who asked me whether I was also having headaches while taking that drug. I told the colleague I was having headaches but that I was taking Tylenol when the headaches occurred. The colleague not only told me I could have been prescribed another drug (which I was surprised to hear but would it have mattered anyhow because I only had four pills left) but he also said that my vision will get better but it will take time. I really wish I knew in what time frame my vision will come back because the colleague also mentioned that I may have to see a neurologist and I am wondering because of that statement if something happened in my brain during the times I was getting the headaches that could have affected my vision.

Then I was talking to a nurse friend yesterday concerning the blurry vision – which is still blurry since Saturday of last week – and she asked me if I have diabetes. I told her I do not have diabetes but she said blurry vision is associated with diabetes and that I could lose my sight.

I cannot believe all that has happened as a result of taking that Doxycycline HYC. I also went to have an eye exam and the eye doctor scheduled an appointment for October 8 to see me again to see if the vision clears up on its own. He said if it does not, I must now start to wear prescription lenses. But I am really skeptical about waiting that long because every day I wake up, my vision seems to be getting blurrier and blurrier. I am blown away about all of this -- all as a result of taking that drug. And I have to sit very close to the computer screen in order to see to type anything.

Because my nurse friend was talking about diabetes being associated with the blurry vision, I also went searching about that yesterday and found this statement:

"The use of antibiotics can affect blood glucose levels, at times contributing to elevations and in some cases a decrease in blood glucose levels, depending on the antibiotic used, as well as individual response. Antibiotics are also used for the treatment of infections, which often contribute to elevations in blood glucose, in and of themselves. In the case of Lyme disease the relapsing cyclic activity of the Borreila spirochete, may also contribute to times of elevations in blood glucose, due to the increased presence of infectious organisms during periods of such activity. It is important to discuss your blood glucose response to treatment with your Doctor, as improved blood glucose control during times of treatment
for any infectious state, helps the body put up a better fight."

I am stuck in my apartment scared to death and very, very, very depressed about this blurry vision. Moreover, I unable to drive to the locations I need to get to for my job because not only is it hazardous for me to drive on a consistent basis, but my bills are coming due and no way of paying them.

Until yesterday, I took 14 days of a 4 week prescription of 100 mg twice a day doxycycline for a tick bite rash. I rarely take any medication. The first week I just had mild side affects. Late in the second week I started to notice that I was becoming increasing anxious for no apparent reason. Even after hard exercise the anxiety seemed to be persistent as if an impending panic attack. Yet, I had no external reason to explain the anxiety.

After two additional days the anxiety seemed to keep ramping up and I began to get very dizzy when I moved suddenly or bent down to pick up items from the floor. The pressure behind my eyes also feel like it was increasing. I was afraid my blood pressure was spiking but in actuality it was probably either cranial pressure or simply an fight or flight anxiety response. I also experience some pretty vivid dreams.

I finally searched online and found no official symptom of anxiety for doxycycline but found people complaining about it unofficially. I spoke with my pharmacist who also said she had no listing of anxiety as a known symptom for the drug. She suggested I stop taking it and see if my symptom subside.

It has been 24 hours since my last dose and the anxiety has reduced substantially but not completely. I feel like I have a hang over today but otherwise I do feel an immediate improvement. I am still a little dizzy but not like yesterday.

Like all drugs, you should be very cognizant of how the drug affects your body - even if a physician tells you otherwise because only you can really tell and everyone has different bio-chemistry which reacts in different ways to different drug compounds.

I just turned 18 years old and was prescribed Doxycycline Hyclate 100mg, BenzaClin (Benzoyl peroxide), and Differin 0.3%. I've been on benzaclin and differin for about 3 years now. About 2 months ago I was prescribed doxycycline for my acne. I specifically told my dermatologist that I wanted a higher dosage of acne medication since the minocycline 5mg wasn't strong enough for me; I had taken it 2 years prior to my visit. But when I would take doxycycline I'd feel a litte bit of nausea coming my way so I decided to drink some water with it. Shortly after I'd get something to eat. I'd feel better soon after. I've been on this medication for almost a month now and I'm not feeling any adverse side effects. My acne has somewhat cleared up but then i breakout again, around the same area. I'm hoping my acne will clear by the time I go for my check up in feb but if it doesn't, i want to be prescribed accutane instead. Also, stop the medication if you're having horrible side effects, obviously there's something wrong. It could also be an allergic reaction, I'm just fine but then again, I'm not allergic to anything and I also avoid a lot of sun exposure.

I am so glad I read about Doxycycline Hyclate first before taking it. My first visit with a Dermatologist and this is the medication she prescribed for my acne problem. After reading into it, it doesn't sound worth taking at all. It sounds like a killer pill! I am going to stick to my Benzoyl Peroxide.

I was prescribed Doxycycline Hyclate by my dermatologist along with Retin A and I felt fine, until In started to notice that every time I take the 100MG pill I feel like something is blocking my throat. Now after three to four weeks of taking it; I have difficulty swallowing and can't seem to understand what I developed from this medication. Please I need a response; I fear that I have developed something serious!

I am so mad at my doctor! i feel like he knew about the mood swings and just opted not to mention it! my entire life my friends and family have joked about how im always laughing and smiling no matter what is going on. i am a VERY happy person....i was just prescribed doxycycline for my acne and have only been on it for a couple weeks. i thought i was possibly having a pms problem but it just continued after i was off my period, i am so easily irritated now i find that i cry over nothing and cant seem to get over anything.this morning i got in a huge fight with my dad and was more livid than i ever have been in my entire life all over nothing!! and when i say nothing i mean NOTHING.i screamed at him and left my house and told him i wasn't coming home and not to call me or talk to me and then i drove around crying angrily and hysterically for 3 hours.my dad is practically my best friend we never ever fight.ive been losing sleep and having depressing thoughts about life and where mine is going.i just started college and im bummed cuz the meds are effecting my grades already(or so i think they are) i feel physically incapable of getting up in the morning and i have a hard time keeping up in the easiest dance class ever.i always have thoughts about how screwed up EVERYTHING is and my mom and i myself noticed that in the last week every time i call her its to complain about something and i get all choked up about whatever im talking about.now after reading about all these other people having issues with the meds im pretty pissed that my doctor didn't give me any options.if u plan on going to the dermatologist for acne i would recommend mentioning what you've read about this drug before they waste your time and money.life is too short for this crap...seriously.

My son was prescribed this medication by his dermatologist to treat moderate acne. What he got was an ulcer of the esophagus. He had unbearable chest pains and had difficulty swallowing. He had to have a CT scan and a GI scope.

Thank you so much for this site and your posts. I am on my 4th day of doxy. and I had a panic attack today and anxiety--I was doing fine until now. I would consider myself a calm person so this caught me out of the blue. I called the pharmacist who thought I was nuts, I'm sure. She said it was not a side effect of the drug!! I also noticed some nerve pain over my body. But my infection is lots better so I don't want to stop, but I don't want to have panic, either or get sicker.

I also get the stomach queasiness when taking a dose and always eat a slice of bread with it. I have noticed a worsening of reflux and I make sure to sit upright for at least an hour after taking the medication.

I have a pretty severe form of cystic acne which I had a 9-month treatment for when i was 16. It went away completely after a course of accutane up until about 5 months ago when i started smoking cigarettes for the first time. within a few days, i had full blown acne again around my mouth. i'm 23 and its been literally six years of perfect skin i didn't even have to think about. i didn't realize it was the smoking until a month and a half ago. so i stopped, and the acne cut down drastically but not completely, so i went to the dermatologist for medication.

i was given doxycycline, 100mg twice a day. ive been taking it for a month and my skin is back to perfect however I feel like i'm forever feverish, i get extremely nauseated if i don't even enough to eat when i take it, and i get insane hot flashes within 30 mins of taking it. i'm basically sweating nonstop all day long everyday. i want to stop taking it but i don't want the acne to return. i cut down to one pill a day and already see some acne returning. i'm so glad i found this site -- none of the side effects ive seen listed include hot flashes or constant sweating. i also have pretty intense lower back pains

I am 21 years old and was prescribed this medication for "mild acne treatment." I have only been on this medication two days and already I am feel some side effects. My Dermatologist did not explain any side effects to me at all when prescribing this medication and gave me no instructions on even taking the medication. All he said was take one pill twice a day 1/2 hr - 1 hr after eating and thats all. I started feeling some symptoms this morning while at work. I got an upset stomach and started feeling extremely nauseous. I came home from work and immediately went to sleep. When I woke up, I felt even worse. I still feel nauseous and have upset stomach, but now I also have a loss of appetite, im tired, I feel weak and have no desire to do anything. I am debating still continuing this medication, since it is only for an acne treatment. I will probably continue for a few more days and if the side effects still persist, I will discontinue use. I had no idea why I all of a sudden felt this way, so decided to research a little. I am very glad I found this website, or else I would probably be wondering what the heck is going on. Thank you for all the posts about your side effects. Now I am aware of why I am feeling the way I am. Much appreciated...

Good grief. No wonder I'm so sick. This is only my third day on this med, and I'm nauseated and having hypoglycemic attacks. My dermatologist told me to take it on an empty stomach twice a day, which is hard for me because I'm hypoglycemic and get really ill when I don't eat.

And now this medication on top of it.

I swear she told me not to eat. I even have literature that she gave me that says "take on empty stomach, either one hour before eating or two hours after eating."

I started taking Doxy 100 mg July 2007 for the first time. At first I didn't link my side effects to the pills but after a break from taking it and started up again I finally out two and two together. First, it upset my stomach BIG time immediately after starting on it. I felt bloated and everything I ate upset my stomach--as the result of this I lost about eight pounds from just not eating anymore. I even went to see a GI doctor about my stomach problems! Who recommended I eat more fiber and get more exercise (I told her about all the meds I was on)! I also got sudden and very severe headaches, but the worst side effect of all is the extreme mood swings I had. I think I was going crazy and this almost ended my marriage...all of a sudden I developed low self esteem, constantly thinking I was worthless, fighting with my husband over the stupidest things and even contemplating suicide during the worst spells. I couldn't figure out why the sudden change- at first I thought it was the tough Chicago winter, since I am originally from a much warmer climate, because by this time I had been on doxy for about five months.
I was prescribed the medication to help clear up moderate acne on my back and my dermatologist gave me the prescription for a year, but never said come see me in a month, two months, etc to see how you;re doing. I am so glad that I stopped taking it in February 2008 --- my moods suddenly got better, I was myself again, I started eating again, my GI problems disappeared...and then...in April I started taking it again because with summer coming up again I wanted my acne to clear up- BIG MISTAKE! Within days of starting again my stomach started being upset all the time regardless of what I ate. After the first month I was feeling depressed again, hating myself and not knowing why--this is when i finally figured it out...and decided to stop...I'd rather have pimples on my back than feel the way this medication make me feel, which is pretty much miserable!

I was on Minocycline (a cousin to Doxycycline Hyclate) for years. I’m not sure how long exactly as I didn’t write down the date that I started, but I believe I have been on it around 3-4+ years. Well I went to a dermatologist and he instantly looked at the outer area of my arms (just above the elbow) and recognized I am suffering from skin discoloration, and prescribed Doxycycline, and told me to stop taking Minocycline right away. I also have this blue-gray skin discoloration on my back near my shoulder blades. I took my Minocycline for the next two weeks till the Doxycycline came in then stopped the minocycline, and started Doxycycline on Sunday. I take a 100mg pill twice daily with a meal, and thus far have had no issues. Keep in mind that I have been on Minocycline for the past 4 years or so and maybe I’ve been suffering similar side effects on that drug, thus I would be unable to see the difference with Minocycline’s cousin Doxycycline. I am pretty sure the first year or two that I was on Minocycline I was depressed (other things in life may have contributed to this depression, but now that I see all of these people saying they have had mood swings, I must state that I have had many more mood swings in recent years then I ever remember before being on these meds). I have also been extremely sleepy the past few years. I used to NEVER be able to fall asleep in public, but (I believe about the same time I started Minocycline) I gained the ability to sleep anywhere. Now I mean, anywhere. I can sleep even after I get anywhere between 6 and 14 hours of sleep. I have had approx 7-9 hours of sleep on average for the past 6 months, yet am always tired. I can’t remember the last time I haven’t been sleepy, and have had many doctor visits to attempt to discover the reason for this, but hadn’t read the side effects of Minocycline. I’ve still been pretty sleepy since Sunday, but I’ll hope that this Doxycycline isn’t as bad. Anyone else have a similar issue, where you used to be awake, but now you are always sleepy (wake up in the mornings a bit dizzy and confused), and have a hard time concentrating on one thing at a time?

I was prescribed Doxycycline 100mg tablets twice a day, for 3 to 4 months, for a skin condition (perioral dermatitis) which causes small sores to form around my mouth. After my experience with this antibiotic, I'd rather have the sores!

I took the Doxycycline twice a day for the first week with no side effects. Antibiotics always cause yeast infection, so I took Diflucan before I started treatment and didn't have that problem. On the tenth day of the Doxycycline, (two days ago) I took a tablet with a little water and went right to bed. As I have read in previous posts on here, BIG MISTAKE! It felt like a giant gas bubble just below my breastbone, in my stomach area. Not too painful, but annoying. Every time I woke up during the night, that feeling was still there. The next day, the pressure was still in that area of my stomach, and it began to feel like heartburn. This feeling persisted all day, no matter what I ate or drank, which is very unusual for me as I don't usually have stomach problems. That's when I searched the web for side effects of Doxycycline, and found this website.

After reading many posts on this site, I decided it was indeed the Doxycycline, so didn't take them yesterday. However, the bloated, burning feeling was still present last night, a full 24 hours after the last capsule had been taken.

I had read someone's post about drinking apple juice, and thought it couldn't hurt...and I'll be darned if within 15 minutes that bloated, burning feeling went away, and hasn't returned. I don't understand WHY that works - unless maybe there is residual medicine sitting in the stomach which can't be digested, and the acid in the apple juice neutralizes it, but it WORKS!

I will NOT take any more Doxycycline, and will just keep the perioral dermatitis! I didn't have the depression or fatigue I see others have had, but since I was only on the meds 10 days, maybe those symptoms didn't have time to develop.

I am 18 years old and just recently started taking Doxycycline Hyclate through recommendation from a dermatologist. I feel very tired ALL the time and can hardly imagine being on this for much longer. I can't concentrate on the things that normally seem mundane and easy to focus on. I feel pretty emotional as well. Sometimes like crying for no reason. The worst part is the pressure I seem to be experiencing in my head. It's like a constant headache in the back of my brain. Not a sharp pain, but more of a air head effect.
Is anyone else experiencing these types of headaches?

EVERYONE PLEASE EMAIL THE FDA ABOUT THIS, NEEDS 2 BE RE CALLED ASAP, I AM 14 HAVE BEEN TAKING THIS FOR 2 MONTHS, HAVE HAD HORRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS, CAN BARELY BREATHE, PERMANENT DAMAGE IN STOMACH, LOTS OF STABBING PAIN, NO ONE SHOULD BE ON THIS, REPORT YOUR SIDE EFFECTS TO THE FDA SO THEY CAN RECALL IT, I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO SUFFER LIKE ME AND ALL THE PREVIOUS COMMENTER'S. THIS DRUG IS DEADLY, BEWARE! DO NOT USE IT!!!!! I AM SERIOUS

I took Doxycyline Hyclate for one week. After the fifith day, I woke up feeling like a golf ball was stuck in my throat. It progressively got worse over the next few days. When I swallowed, I had this sharp pain in my upper back. It got to the point where I could hardly stand the pain. I went to the doctor and they put a scope down my throat after a battery of other tests. The doc said I had signifigant changes in my esophagus due to the severe reflux that was caused from taking the Doxycycline. I am now on meds to help with the esophagitis I now have.

I started taking 20 mg periostat doxycycline hyclate to treat my acne. Prescription cream (retinol A) was not working 100% because acne on my chin kept coming back. I find this med to be very harsh on my stomach, i felt some sort of nausea from time to time. I drank at least 2 cups of water after taking it and also took it with food. After 10 days, I couldn't continue. I don't know if I should have taken it longer, maybe twice a day (instead of once) but my acne is now back. I am going back to see my dermatologist for alternatives. I also noticed that combined with my birth control pill, I had some sort of need to urinate more frequently.

I was on it for about two months and experienced a little of the upset stomach. The worst was the sunburn on my nose, hands, knuckles and tops of my toes. And the tingling sensation on my hands was so weird! My nose and hands have healed, but the tops of my toes are still bad (one month later!!) I'm really scared, but one of my docs say that toes take a really long time to heal because of poor circulation. Anyone have this problem with their toes?? Another doc suspects discoid lupus. yikes!

Like many others, I am so thrilled to have stumbled upon this site. I've been taking Doxycycline for about a month now for rosacea prescribed to me by my dermatologist. A few days ago, I am feeling pain in my throat and chest. I have never had severe heartburn before so I had no idea what I was experiencing - to describe it for you, the sensation was one where every time I ate, I felt that there was something lodged in my throat. The pain is getting worse and worse and then I made the connection with this drug and the possible side-effects. Then I found this web site. You all are right, this drug is EVIL, I'm calling my dr. and dropping this drug immediately. It's not worth it.

My dermatologist put me on Doxycycline for an acne problem. By the first or second day of taking the medication I was overwhelmed with nausea and experienced blurred vision that affected me so much I actually had to pull over when driving (around day three) until I regained my vision. The only way I could dull the nausea was by eating a moderately large meal before taking a pill, but it would still take about an hour to an hour and a half for the feeling to pass. I also had trouble breathing and swallowing for the first few days, and a persistent loss of appetite during the entire period I was on the pills. During the time I was taking Doxycycline, I also experienced a groggy, confused feeling that is uncharacteristic of me. I had trouble focusing, which caused me a great deal of stress at work and in school, and couldn't think clearly at all. I also experienced tingling sensations and my skin burned/itched after hardly 15-20 minutes in the sun. After returning inside the redness gradually went away but tingling in my hands (especially my knuckles and fingers) and lips was persistent. Also, after being off of the pills for a few days I experienced extreme irritability and depression. In my opinion, this pill should NOT be prescribed lightly!!! Be warned!

Geeezz, i dident realize such a WEak drug could do such thing, somone email me back if they agree, i have been taking doxycyline for a while now and they only side offects i have had is mild skin iching , here and there, and thats from the Generic brands, get the DOXYCYLINE brand (Time release capsules), all good, this drug is not a head drug... nausia vomiting as if , i have taken nearly every illegal drug and lots of legal drugs and im telling all you people doxycyline is not a drug that will do all those horible things that your saying, wake up

I have been told by my dermatologist that the extensive brown patches on one cheek and line of patches along the other cheek, along my jaw line and brown mottling around my lips are a reaction to Doxycycline after being in the sun. I was prescribed 100 mg daily about mid-May for six weeks by my family physician as an anti-malarial treatment when I went to South Africa. I took them a few days before, for the two weeks I was there, and about 4 weeks afterward.

This dermatologist had completed a plasma resurfacing on my entire face the last of December. I thought this was the reason for my skin splotching that occurred when I started being in the sun beginning in June. I'm still wondering.

Has ANYONE had the facial reaction I described from Doxycycline when combined with sun exposure?

I have been taking Doxy for a while now for Adult Acne. It clears my face right up.. I stopped taking it for a while to see if maybe I could have outgrown this adult acne (I'm 34) but no such luck.. Anyway, I noticed when I was taking the Doxy that my joints always HURT badly! When I stopped taking it they didnt.. And I started taking it again and yeah, they hurt again!! Does anyone else have Joint pain from Doxy???

I take 100 mg once per day..

My dermatologist prescribed DOXY for my mild acne and it cleared it up PERFECTLY with no COMMON side effects.
I thought this was the best pill in the world. I had such confidence now and I felt really good about it myself. All of a sudden I started experiencing vaginal itching. It was very annoying because I didn't have yeast infection symptoms. Also for the past week my right arm has been numb!
I haven't taken DOXY for 4 days now and it feels like i'm starting to get a little feeling back into it. I don't know what to do. I want to stop taking the medicine but I want my acne TO STAY AWAY!