Doxycycline Hyclate and loss of appetite

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.

I'm at the end of a 10-day cycle of doxycycline (100mg 2xday). Worst side effects: insomnia and restless leg syndrome. I think I'm averaging about 3 hours of sleep a night. Stomach pain, occasional cramps, severe loss of appetite. I've also experienced some of the stranger side effects others have mentioned: mood swings, depression, suicidal thoughts, feeling like I'm in a dream, mental problems (after I write something I realize I've spelled half the words wrong).
Next time my doctor mentions this drug, I'm going to say no way and see if I can get a sulfate based antibiotic or maybe good old amoxicillin.

Known Side Effects of Doxycycline: (source: drugs.com)

•severe headache, dizziness, blurred vision;
•fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
•severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
•urinating less than usual or not at all;
•pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness;
•severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate;
•loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
•easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness.

Less serious side effects may include:
•swollen tongue, trouble swallowing;
•mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach upset;
•white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
•sores or swelling in your rectal or genital area; or
•vaginal itching or discharge.

Comparative Research Results:
SOURCE: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3684731 -- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550

“Results from both monitoring methods consistently indicated at least a 3-fold higher frequency of nausea or vomiting with doxycycline relative to the other antibiotics. Complaints of skin rash also were at least 4 times more frequent with doxycycline, depending on the particular sample.”

More: ******

There are all sorts of verified reported side effects, most of which were on the packing slip that came with my prescription. However, not all side effects are listed on the insert. I’ve come across depression and anxiety listed as side effects on other drug profiles for Doxycycline, so if they are among the symptoms you're experiencing, they very well may be due to the drug. My experience has served as a greaet reminder to research any pharmaceutical I put in my body so that I may make informed decisions.

Like many of you, apart from my current breakout from Doxy, I too experienced stomach upset, and, to a lesser degree, cranial pressure.

Be well. Cheers.

I was prescribed this for Epididymitis (sp?) about 4 weeks ago (100mg 2x a day). After a week or so on the meds, I began to have a striking number of the symptoms that everyone else has listed previously: Chest/Ab cramping, feelings of swelling in random places, loss of appetite, dramatic mood swings, a high level of anxiety, crying for no reason, confusion and panic attacks...I called my GP today for a psych referral, and when he calls me back I'm going to ask to be taken off the Doxy. Thanks to everyone who posted, it helped me for sure!

I'm so glad I found this site. I was prescribed doxy for a rash I got in the Dominican that they thought lead to some sort of infection. The first couple days were fine but one night I took the medication before bed and was up all night with the worst chest pains. I have been nervous ever since that when ever I take the pills I'm going to get the same reaction. I have had chest pains the past couple days and I've been really careful with what I take them with and have been making sure I drink at least two bottles of water with each pill. But today I feel so weak. The last week on the medication I've been so tired I want to take naps when I get home from work which is unusual for me. Today my head feels heavy and my leg feels like it's about to twitch but it doesn't. I've felt some tingling in my left leg and my left arm. I thought this was from whatever infection I had since the rash was on my left ankle, but I think it's from the doxy instead. I've also been feeling a dull pain in my thigh every once in a while. I normally have some anxiety but a couple days after I started the doxy I put myself into a panic and spent the entire day at work researching tropical diseases on the internet because I thought I had one from the rash. I've also had some shortness of breath. I have asthma but it feels nothing like that. Also the doxy made my birth control stop working and I started my period. I thought I just had bad cramps but I'm starting to think they were more stomach aches from the doxy. I've had diarrhea also. And I feel so light headed that I'm going to pass out but I don't. I'm definitely calling my doctor today to get a different antibiotic. Thanks everyone for your posts!

ive only taken doxycycline for one day now for a chest and throat infection, but i noticed pain underneath my ribcage and a loss of appetite right after the first pill. food tastes extremely salty and slightly bitter as well and i have a bit of a problem focusing with my eyes. i will ask the doctor to give me another antibiotic instead.

I finished with a 10 day dose of doxycycline 3 days ago. At about the 7th day, I started having nausea, loss of appetite, headache, sore and dry throat, sensation of burning on my skin (especially my arms), severe muscle pain in my upper back shoulders and neck. After I finished with my 10 day dose, the nausea and loss of appetite mostly went away, but I am still having headaches, sore throat, muscle pain and the sensation of burning on my skin. Does anyone know how long these side effects will last?

Hi, just wanted to give all an update....day 8 off the Doxy, by the end of the 6th day off the doxy, I began to get a clear head again....I would feel great, then all of a sudden a fog would come over me for about 5 minutes with ear ringing, and go away....this happened about 3-5 times...my left arm and left side of my face felt hot, but i did not have a fever....thats when I knew the doxy was leaving my system...day 7 i felt fine, but went into a slump...laid in bed for about 12 hours, I think this was due to still having no appetite and barely eating for 3 weeks, I lost a bunch of weight . I felt mentally clear finally, the bout of depression that the doxy put me in was lifting, but still felt physically weak. Today, I woke up feeling fine, ate a croissant for breakfast, forced 4 sliders down for lunch, and finally was able to eat some dinner. The good part is that another user on this board was kind enough to mail me letting me know that she went through the exact same side effects, and assured me that they would subside with time, especially the loss of appetite and depression/anxiety...takes about 2-3 weeks off the meds for everything to start getting back to normal....She also told me that the doxy has a very long half life...so it does stay in the system awhile....but im starting to feel slight improvements as the days go by...the bad news...i don't think the doxy cured everything. Im considering taking ionic silver instead of any more antibiotics....one other caution...beware of Levaquin...I was on this at first for 5 days along with the doxy, and that drug truly is (in my opinion) dangerous. I read some of the side effects people were having, including myself and was horrified....I thought something was weird when my middle finger on my left hand went numb for a day, left hand was warm, right hand was ICE COLD, sudden and sharp pains in the back, like I pulled a muscle, that left me unable to move for a few days, and severe diarrhea. Anyways, please feel free to mail me if you have any questions....support is the most important thing a person can have because of the fear and anxiety these drugs put you through.

Well, ive been off the doxy for about 5 days now, and im still experiencing the side effects, noticeably, the depression...and weakness....and still don't have a strong appetite. From what im reading, it will take several weeks for these symptoms to go away....I told my doctor about the side effects, and he did not at all seem concerned or surprised, except to say that he would not put me on doxy anymore....i will never take this drug again....thank heavens for this site, because I at least I know what all this is caused by. Just a quick recap of all the side effects I have suffered....Ringing in the ears, loss of appetite, major gas, weight loss, depression, headaches, lethargy, loose stool, chest pains, back pains, and burning eyes.

I was put on 100mg 2x daily for a sinus infection and now I still have the infection plus other problems. I am a heavy eater and have not had a appetite for 3 days. I have some general stress and anxiety but this stuff has made it terrible. I have racing thoughts,panic attacks,confusion and mood swings. I will never take this crap again. I still have 4 days left. This stuff really is the DEVIL. Please do not take this drug its scary! Thank the Lord for this site. God bless. Jerry.

I was prescribed doxycycline by the doctor for a misdiagnosed std, i took the 7 day regiment along with another antibiotic, while taking both antibiotics, i experienced major stomach gas and a complete loss of appetite....after the 7 days was up, i still did not feel quite right, so saw my doctor about 5 days later....he re-prescribed ONLY doxycycline....this time WITHOUT taking the other antibiotic, my gas was much less severe...however i have to FORCE myself to eat due to a complete loss of appetite...i want so bad to have an appetite back the thought of taking even one more of those pills repulses me....though the medication works quite well.....I also find that while taking doxycycline my eyes would burn from time to time....one pill left....and im gonna skip it.

ok so i got sick ( pretty sure i caught it from school ) on a Friday sick as a dead man. lots of sneezing and runny nose ( and i mean machine gun sneezing with waterfalls of snot ) sometime during the night i start coughing out phlem and now wheezing when i breathe n i had a fever , dizziness , well diarrhea comes in play and on Saturday i ate completely nothing.. i was scared after this because i was starving and couldn't even force myself to eat something to stay alive.. well the only thing better about Sunday i was able to manage some cereal for breakfast and a fajita for dinner.. coming Monday i stayed home from school went to see my doctor and he prescribes me "doxycyline" the doctor told me to get tablets.. but i ended up with capsules.. well wen i got back home i took one and immediately felt a kind of high ( like right now ) .. yea so today is Tuesday and i chose to stay home again.. and i just took my 2nd pill... im really starving n i think the only reason why im still typing is because of this pill...yea i have a really bad stomach ache / headache ... loss of appetite kinda wish i was dead feeling... im 18 and should i stay with this med? i don't even know if i can go to school 2morrow i have a doctors pass only for mon and tues.. i cant sleep .. i taste and smell this horrible taste i cant describe .. this is only the 2nd pill....and if i die in a week or two i think its bc of this drug .......

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...

I was prescribed doxycycline 2xday for seven days. On the third day I started to feel very sick. However, it was not until the 5th/6th day that I began to suspect I was having a reaction to the antibiotic. I have never had a negative reaction to any medication ever. My symptoms started with severe nausea that lasted all day, and extreme tiredness. The symptoms continued to get worse....muscle aches, joint pains, elevated blood pressure, back & neck pains, unfocused vision, confusion, dizziness, loss of appetite, muscle tremors that woke me from sleep, depression, and anxiety. When I discussed with my doctor that I suspected it might be the medication I was dismissed and told I was developing a virus. They had prescribed this medication often with no problems. I decided to try to stick with it for two more days. That was the biggest mistake ever. I can't really describe what it did to my head, but all I could think about was that I was dying. I guess severe anxiety and paranoia. So, I finally stopped taking it.

It took three full days with no medication for my nausea and mental confusion to begin to subside. It took a few more days for most of the muscle and back pain to go away. It also took about seven days for the depression and most of the anxiety to quiet down. It is now 11 days with no medication and I still have diarrhea, and minor joint pain. I have also stopped drinking coffee because I an still a bit anxious. I have not really gotten back to my routine yet, and will probably hold off going to the gym until next week.

The most frustrating thing of all is that this medication was given to me as a preventative before a small surgery. All the symptoms I was supposed to be watching for I was having. I am sure this contributed to the anxiety.

At least most of the symptoms have gotten better, and I am hopeful that they will continue to improve. I have researched serum sickness and it says it can take 1-2 weeks for symptoms to subside, and up to several months in some cases.

Good luck to everyone.

Wow, I thought I was crazy and even thought I was pregnan! The symptoms of this stuff will drive anyone nuts. I have the gas, bloating, dizziness, nausea, lower abdominal cramps, EXTREME exhaustion, difficulty breathing, foggy in the head, pressure in the head/mild, constant headache, lack of interest in anything, loss of appetite, feeling sad and depressed, and an over-all feeling of not knowing myself. All this started on the beginning of the 3rd week of treatment. I really want my Acne to be gone because I am 41 and not loving the pizza face, but this stuff iss making me crazy! I'm drinking alot of herbal teas and juices to try and keep something in my stomach at all times because I don't eat much anymore. I hope that by the end of my 1st bottle, the weirdness, pains, and the feeling of having a vice grip on my head, will go away. If not, I'm calling it quits with this drug! Good luck all.

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!

-loss of appetite
-blisters on lower side of thetongue afterbusting a cupsule on my tongue with warm water when i was swawing.
-try mouth

i have just come off Doxy after about 4 days with severe heartburn ("im going to die" kind of bad), nausea, loss of appetite, headache, sore eyes, extreme fatigue and weakness, confusion, constipation and stomach cramps (felt as though i was getting my period..badly..)

When i first started taking them i initially noticed a feeling in my throat, somewhat like when you swallow a large pill without water, that didnt go away but proceeded to "move" down my throat for about three days, making swallowing uncomfortable. I then stopped taking them for unassociated reasons (social commitments involving alcohol-antibiotics and alcohol not a good mix) and felt fine. Once i began taking them again the feeling returned and on the third morning (2am) i awoke with incredible heartburn and it all went downhill from there.

I been on Doxycycline for three days now for cervitis and I have loss of appetite, headaches, muscle pains, and dry mouth. I really thought, and still think sometimes, that I have something more serious because these symptoms could go with anything else. This website actually has done wonders for me these last couple of days..

It's good to know I'm not the only one freaking out about this.

I've had difficulty sleeping, night sweats, extreme loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, depression, confusion, crying, nervousness, itching in legs, extreme paranoia; just to name a few.

I was concerned I had symptoms of HIV because they are very similar to what effects I'm experiencing with doxycycline. I'm only taking 2 doses of 100/day. Crazy stuff and scary.

I began taking this medication at 100mg twice daily for a sinus infection and have experienced negative side effects. I actually experienced side effects and then decided to check the side effect listings for the drug online and they defintly match. I have experienced extreme dehydration, nauseau, headache, disorientation, drowsiness, and stomach pain. I have not experienced vommitting but have felt close to it. I have also experienced a loss of appetite.

I was perscribed this medication for a bacterial infection. I have only been on doxycycline for 3 days (1 dose of 100 mg in the AM and another in the PM) and each morning with or without food I am nausiated until late afternoon. I have also experienced a loss of appetite, headaches, acid reflux, and severe hot flashes. The doc says to keep taking as perscribed unless my side effects get much worse. I can't wait until I am normal again!

I was placed on Doxycylcine for Epididymitis, which is an inflammation or infection of the epididymis, a convoluted duct that lies on the posterior surface of the testicle. I took Doxycycline for one week. 100 mg twice daily. I ate a meal with every pill. I did not experience nausea or vomiting like I see many did. I did however have fatigue, loss of appetite, diarreha, increased anxiety (I have anxiety and panic attacks), depression, agitation, pains shooting down the back of my quadriceps, abdominal pain and some acid reflux type symptoms towards the 4 th day of taking this drug. It has been a little over a week since I finsihed this drug and I am still having pains down my right leg in in different places, when I sit or lay down is when it is most painful. The doctor can only describe it as a possible slipped disc. How? I was bed ridden for a week! The pain in my leg is not severe but very annoying! Like others here my doctor says that he does not see how Doxcycline could cause this. I will never take this drug again! I will from now on request Zithromax. I have had to use Zithromax quite a few times in my life and have had no problems with it.

It was so weird!! I have coughing, loss of appetite, it was really weird on my hands like they were hot but it was like a tingling feeling and now it hurts the upper part of my arms. I have dizziness, and headachnes in the morning but then it goes away by mid afteroon. WHAT THE HECK!!! I HATE THESE STUPID PILLS I rather have acne instead!!!
xoxo
amanda

I started doxycycline 3 days ago for an STD which I'm not even sure I have, but the doctor felt it necessary to give me medication for it any way. I've had severe nausia and vomiting and I have to drink a full bottle of water to keep it down. I have slight chest pain right inbetween my breats, a constant headache, dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite espcially in the morning.

I started doxycycline 3 days ago for and STD which I'm not even sure I have, but the doctor felt it necessary to give me medication for it any way. I've had severe nausia and vomiting and I have to drink a full bottle of water to keep it down. I have slight chest pain right inbetween my breats, a constant headache, dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite espcially in the morning.

I was prescribed Doxycycline in the form of Periostat for a periodontal problem I was having in November '04. (20mg 2xdaily for 3 months) The first few days on this drug I experienced some low level nausea with some loss of appetite. Within the next couple of weeks the nausea declined but my appetite continued to deteriorate and I was starting to lose weight. By the end of the third week I had virtually no appetite at all and found it extremely difficult to eat anything. I found I was also becoming dehydrated. At this point I decided I had better stop taking this drug. But even 2 days after I stopped taking it I began experiencing periods of dizziness, difficulty concentrating, and feeling disoriented. I also started to feel extremely cold at times and even began shaking. My mouth was extremely dry, with cracked lips. I began to notice some depression with crying spells also. It took me 2 weeks to recover from the side effects of this drug and I still don't feel 100% yet. This was absolutely the worst drug I have ever taken. The side effects were horrendous. At such a low dose I had no idea I would ever experience these type of side effects.

Hello everyone,
First of all, let me tell you how happy I am to have found this website.
I have been prescribed Doxy for a Bronchitis and the very next day I started experiencing the temperature swings, the drowsiness, the sleeplessness, the sore throat, the mild nausea, the sound and light sensitivity, the weird pasty feeling in my leggs, the loss of appetite and most of all : the chest pressure right between the lungs that varies in severity, to the point where the doctor thought I was having an anxiety/panic attack !!!
Believe me, I am not prone to anxiety or panic attacks, I have faced very stressfull situations in the past with no such thing, yet it really felt like one.
I took this med for 6 days, the 7th day I stopped it. Almost right away most of the side effects are gone, but the chest pressure, which is persisting.
If anyone experienced this before or knows of it, how long will it take to clear up ? And is there anything to help it go away faster ? as I am getting ready to take finals and it is really distracting.

Thank you for reading and I hope you all feel better soon.

Cheers-

experienced itching and loss of appetite
also, it may have caused me to miss my period, was wondering if this has been a side effect for anyone else so i know thats thats whats caused it.

Upper GI distress-bloating-loss of appetite-chest pains, very likely stomach related, not heart. Esophageal burning, never any heartburn before. Mood swings, definitely not positive mood! Taking for MRSA sinuses, contracted at workplace after having extensive sinus surgery two years ago. Have taken several rounds doxyclycline, infection always comes back after finishing med two weeks prior. Thank you for your interest.

been taking for 8 days now. from the beginning, EXTREME nausea, stomach pain, after 4 days, ringing in ear. nonstop headache from the beginning. also lots of salivating and loss of appetite.

each day, i feel more and more tired, while the infection itself seems to be clearing (based on no more fevers or burning sensation where the infection was).

i hate this drug but fear to stop taking it because the pain of infection and with fever, the infection can spread. I'm going to finish all the way to the 14-day prescription and then take extra care to heal from the antiobiotic. If I wasn't worried about infection spreading - I'd NEVER take this drug.

I've had sore throat and loss of appetite. Also severe pain that has traveled around - rt shoulder - lft hand - left knee - couldn't get out of bed. Now my rt hand hurts and is swollen and inflamed(knuckles). This all started after I started taking doxychcline for the sore throat. I also have been running a low grade fever. I'm 76 - any suggestions?

I have only experienced loss of appetite and upset stomach; nausea

I was precribed doxycycline for 10 days after a tick bite (prophylaxis for Lyme disease). Developed serious nausea on day two, followed by continuous low grade nausea. Complete loss of appetite, and terrible fatigue. Developed low level chest pains and tightening of chest on day 6. Chest pain increased through day 7 and is now approaching acute level. I'm not taking any more of this stuff - calling doctor in the morning.