Doxycycline Hyclate and heart attack

I was about 1 month in to my 3 month cycle of taking doxycycline for blepharitis issues when I started having symptoms. It started on a friday night with extreme indigestion. There was a lot of pain in my chest and also into my arm. I was belching and very uncomfortable. Next day I woke up and only had the pain in my arm, belching and pain in my left abdomen under my rib cage.

I thought it was just really bad indigestion from something I ate so I continued with the medicine. Within a few days time I deteriorated more and more. The pain in my abdomen had spread from just being on the left to being left, center and right. I also got random pains all over my body it seemed. This seemed to come and go throughout the day. My vision would blur, I had extreme anxiety and also depression, my arm remained weak and then my legs got weak as well. The fatigue was overwhelming. I'm usually an insomniac who struggles to fall asleep by 1:30. I began to struggle to stay awake until 11. The lymph node in my neck also enlarged, and I began to experience a loss of appetite. I have currently lost 5 pounds in one week. I also always feel dehydrated and in a fog. I went to an urgent care clinic and the doctor really just thought I was crazy from what I could tell.

I stopped taking doxycycline about 5 days ago and the fatigue is slowly letting go(very slowly). The blurred vision has cleared up a bit but still comes and goes. My mood is still very down and I can't help to still feel anxious and can't stop wondering if I have some deadly disease process going on. The heartburn and abdomen pains are also subsiding slowly(I feel a little better each day).

I'm glad I found this website. It's helped me not freak out as much about my symptoms(although I still have my moments). Since I started feeling bad I've convinced myself that I have heart attack symptoms, pulmonary embolism symptoms, symptoms of AIDS and symptoms of lymphoma. It's still hard to not feel like doomsday is upon me but reading that many of you have had similar feelings and side effects makes me feel a little better.

I just hope this clears up soon because I think as long as I feel pain, tired or anything off I will be anxious about it. I have fear of ending up on Mystery Diagnosis lol.

On May 8th 2009 I had my gallbladder removed. I have lupus, sjogrens disease, pulmonary hypertension, diabetes type II and coeliac disease. I was prescribed doxycycline as an antibiotic for post op infection. Within 2 days I was very ill - thought I was going to have a heart attack. The pain over my heart was alarming. Also, I found it very difficult to breath. I did some reading and found out that Lupus patients should not be given doxycycline. (The hospital and specialists knew my medical history and it should have been an easy thing to check for contraindications of medications - I had never had doxycycline before)A day after I stopped the antibiotic things improved dramatically. At the post op visit to the specialist, I was told that this was 'all in my head' and it was a lot of nonsense. However, I stuck to my story and finally the specialist conceded that even the best doctors do not know everything!!!!???
One really has to be VERY careful to look after one's own health.

I was prescribed Doxycycline for malaria prevention in Tanzania.. After two days I had severe chest pain when breathing (especially deeply) and swallowing water- the full glass with the tablet was hell & then food. I lost my appetite completely, felt nauseous when I forced myself to eat meals and thought I was about to have a heart attack. I've been off the drug for 4 days and have stomach pain, nausea, no appetite, very dry sore skin and insomnia (which is more likely due to jetlag)! My parents both developed a hive-like sore rash all over their bodies after the first day of taking the doxycycline. It is shocking that these 'severe side effects' are so common, especially when finding an ER in central Serengeti is difficult..

I was given the medication to prevent a tooth infection. I tried taking it several times for it but every time I take it I get pain between my shoulder blades and it hurts to swallow. It is worse trying to swallow liquids. I am done. I don't know for sure if it's the med or if I am having a heart attack.
J.

It seems that everyone is having similar symptoms. I have been on Doxy for about 14 days now and I'm feeling worse every day. I am on it because i had been bitten by a tick and contracted Lyme disease. I don't know much about the disease but it has me freaked out. I started taking the antibiotic 2 weeks after being bitten; losing my balance and almost falling to the ground. I also had a couple of dizzy spells after eating. I seemed to feel a little bit better the first week of taking it but started feeling the side effects. It started out with the occasional dizzy spell then came the exhaustion, anxiety, depression, lower back aches, soreness in the back of my eyes, stiff neck, headache in the back of my head, flu like shivers, racing heart, and complete body aches. I also found out the hard way not to go out into the sun while on Doxy. Felt like the tops of my hands were being pricked with a million needles and burning. I wish I could stop taking the drug and be done, but I am already scared about the outcome of the Lyme disease. I hope I can feel normal again soon.

I have NEVER EVER had a history of anxiety attacks. Never even been to the ER. I've been on doxycycline for a week and yesterday, I thought I was having a heart attack and going to die. It was AWFUL! Scariest experience of my life.

me too. I am glad to hear I'm not alone. everyone else thinks i'm nuts. MY anxiety has been through the roof on this stuff ( i almost went to the er last night thinking I was having a heart attack, but decided it was a panic attack) I have been extremely light headed, dizzy and very jittery, my chest hurts. Im done with this crap.

I am so glad I found this!!! I too took this pill before bed without a lot of water and I woke up in the middle of the night thinking I was having a heart attack!!! I cannot eat anything without it burning like there is a ulcer in the esophagus!! I have been off this medicine for 4 days and I still am on the slim fast diet because I cannot eat anything!!! How long does this pain last? Is it permanent? I don't know whats going on I am starting to get really nervous!! If this many people are having the same problem we should file a class action suit this is ridiculous!! I cannot not live like this the rest of my life! I am normally a very healthy person and I'm only 29 so hopefully this did not do any serious damage! So does anybody been off of this and not feel like a flame thrower is in your chest anymore????

February 22nd
2009
My side effects (Charles Clark)
3:00pm

It started with diarrhea after a couple days treatment. Then my hand muscles starting to contract on there own. Then I started having high blood pressure up to 212/118 and high heart rate and anxiety beginning to set in. My wife wanted to take me to the hospital but I refused to go (I wish I had. They might have taken me off Doxy then, but no, I was still taking it). I then started having problems breathing (like something was stopping me. Not like hyperventilating). My wife called the doctor and she said to stop the Doxy and come in. At the visit, she gave me meds for high blood pressure and ordered a heart monitor and stress test as she believed my problem was more likely with my heart. I didn't start the blood pressure medications as I needed to have the tests done in a week and a half. I had a panic attack before the stress test. There was a patient there who stated her granddaughter had developed panic attacks after she had taken Doxy for Lymes disease. What a coincidence. That weekend my blood pressure and anxiety increased and my wife called the doctor. They convinced me to start the blood pressure medicine as all of this might be caused by High Blood Pressure. I returned to the doctor 4 days later and she took more blood work as well as tested for Lymes disease again. Everything was normal and NO lymes disease. So what was causing all of these problems. That night when I came home from the Doctors I started feeling like someone just sprayed me like you spray a wasp/bee. I started to shake and twitch inside like I was dying I could feel my stomach convulsing and getting cold. Now at this point I had been off Doxycycline for a few days. My wife called the doctors emergency line and they called in a prescription for Xanex. I took it and it put be out. I woke up the next day feeling like I was on a bad rollercoaster ride going over the edge and trying to climbing out of my skin. I was unable to even take care of myself at this point. I started getting muscle twitches all over my body. I could not control my thoughts and had a hard time talking; my skin was so hypersensitive to the touch or movement. The only way I could deal with it was just lay down and not move. I felt like was going to die. More symptoms came: my middle finger on my left hand went numb; I was so nauseated I had a hard time eating; depression set in with sever panic attacks/anxiety, ears ringing, slight pain in my chest like I was having a heart attack and was becoming bed ridden and afraid of everything at this point. That next week I returned to the doctor and she noted how it seemed a struggle for me to walk into the office. She felt that I should begin meds to decrease the anxiety that was paralyzing me. She suggested seeing a psychiatrist and stated that if I got worse my wife should take me to the emergency and be admitted to the mental health program. So I began to take Paxil as well (I hate medications, but I was desperate). I was terrified that I might have side affects from these meds and I couldn't be alone and I was afraid to go anywhere, afraid I would have an attack or worse, stop breathing all together. I was terrified and my family was getting very worried about me and unsure what to do. Thanks to my best friend, my wife, and my family for taking care of me. If it were not for them, I would not know what to do. My dear mom even came in from Virginia to help take care of me. I can not express my thanks enough to my family! I have been off the drug now for almost seven weeks now and all my side effects are slowly, very slowly, dissipating. How come the Doctors don't know about this? Thank GOD for this site and the ones that took the time to post there experience with this drug! THANKS EVERYONE GOD BLESS YOU!

P.S. please reply on what you did to get rid of the side effects, how long did it take for them to go away and did your Doctor believe that the Doxycycline caused them. because I can't find a Doctor that thinks the Doxycycline can have these side effects.

Thank God for you all that posted! :) I don't feel all alone. I'm usually a healthy, strong guy that rarely complains. I've been on a 100mg 2x a day dose of doxy. The first week was ok. just minor stomach nausea. Then i noticed chest tightness, mood changes ( and on the norm im a really passive guy, in a good mood) dizziness, very scary panic attacks(mind racing with negative thoughts), headaches.. Its my 2nd day off of it. Still feeling nausea.. sharp abdomen pains, in and out of depression. I truly hope this thing goes away asap. Never again will i take this med. Very scary times.

I started Doxycycline Hyclate several days ago (100 mg 2x daily) as part of 3 week regimen to treat Lyme Disease. I have had some stomach upset, a generally reduced appetite, and cottonmouth... but by far and large the biggest effect has been this overwhelming exhaustion.

Went to bad at 9:30 last night and woke up at 9:00 am this morning but could not drag myself outta bed until almost noon. Its now the middle of the afternoon and I feel like a complete zombie. Spacy and unmotivated, my head might as well be made of wood and can't pull it together to even take a shower yet.

I am a real outdoors guy and keep up a busy routine of work and exercise. Another 2 and a half weeks of this is gonna drive me nuts. I guess it is better than having Lyme, but does it get any easier?

I have been taking doxycycline for 2 weeks (Malaria prophylaxis) now and have noticed some unfortunate side effects this week. I normally work out and feel great. Last Tuesday and today I felt absolutely wretched after my work out - ESPECIALLY today! I felt like I was having a heart attack. It started out with a bit of nausea and dizziness, light-headedness set in and by the time I got home I was so ill and my arms and legs were tingling all over. I lay down for a while and started to feel better. I still don't feel quite like myself. I've also noticed some heartburn. I had been taking zantac and stopped a couple of days ago - so my guess is I hadn't noticed it before because of this.

Very odd - I seem to have chronic bacterial prostatitis (at 25 years old and in very good shape, it's embarassing).

I tried Cipro, but it screwed up my muscles (I work out alot) and then was prescribed Doxy. Doxy seemed to make my symptoms better, but it didn't eradicate the infection - I've been on it almost non-stop for two months.

Side effects WERE minimal - irritated esophagus/throat, some bloating and gas. THEN - just the other night, after counting 30 minutes, I went to bed. Soon after I felt this chest pain, relatively sharp, somewhat burning. My mouth on the inside started to tingle even - I was scared as all hell that it was my heart, but this really seemed like the drug.

Woke up 6 hours later to go to university (basically seven hours after the pill was taken), and after eating a little food, had the same pains again, though not as extreme. I've stopped the drug now and am scared to go back to it.

Anyone have a similar issue?

I've been on Doxycyclene for 2 weeks now. I was trying to get rid of my acne. I've vomited twice. (The likelihood of this increases when there's very little food in the tum)Before I vomited, I'd feel like I was having a heart attack. A sudden tightness in the chest, breathing became difficult, a depression that felt like the end of the world. All eventually leading up to vomiting. My acne hasn't witnessed much improvement either. Either it doesn't suit me or I haven't been taking it properly.

I was on Doxycyline for a rash around my nose. I had taken them for a few days, but only taking one pill instead of 2; mainly because I kept forgetting to take the second one at dinner.
Two nights ago, I took the second one and immediately felt like it was stuck in my esophagus. Two days later, I am still feeling the effects. It was so bad that I didn't eat or drink anything for a day ... even drinking water was painful. It wasn't until today that I realized what the reaction was from, I really thought I was having a heart attack. In addition to the major heart burn I had such a bad head ache. Not to mention I was eating yogurt every day to ward off the possibility of a yest infection; which this medication is also known to cause. I will NEVER take this medication again!

severe chest pain, cold sweat, nausea, vomiting, going on for hours! Went to hospital emergency twice before I realized I was reacting to the doxy (for Lyme). Never really got rid of the Lyme but with the doxy I literally thought I was dying - and I am not a pain-freak. Have a pretty high threshhold but was unable to walk or use the phone to call 911 when I was alone with the attacks. (Yes, it took me a couple of times to realize I was having a reaction, not a heart attack).

BTW, I have looked doxy up online as an antibiotic and these kinds of side effects are typically not even alluded to much less discussed. Shameful!

I began taking Doxy last Sunday after being diagnosed with Lyme. LET Me tell you...I thought, I was having a heart attack. I couldnt breathe, it hurt & I mean HURT to swallow-the indigestion was unbearable-then, I took a pill laying down & a quick drink of water (I had fallen asleep & my husband woke me up to take it). Needless to say, I vomited for the next 4 hours. My fault-Ill never make that mistake again....definitely follow instructions! :}
Upon calling my Dr, he switched medications b/c the side effects arent that bad (so he said) They gave me CEFUROXIME 250 Mg 2x a day. The heartburn is gone-and the 24/7 hurting is gone....but I still literally cannot even swallow water without the sensation of a severe heart attack. Doxy was however, MUCH worse....and there doesnt seem to be any other side effects with this meds.
It worth trying!

I took this for severe acne at about age 15...I took it before I went to bed and I severely burned my esophogaus - do not ever take right before bed! I couldnt swllow ANYTHING for days I had severe chest pains I literally told my mom at the time I thought I was having a heart attack and years later I still recall it as some of the most intense pain of my life - my only cure was a prescrip for heart burn med - at the time it was like $50 bucks a pill...never again!