Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
Should Dairy And Alcoholic Beverages Be Avoided While On Doxycycline?
I was prescribed doxycycline 100mg to fight a bronchial infection. I was told to take 2 tabs a day for one week. I ve read on the web that the usual adult dosage is 200mg first day, and 100mg per day for 7-10 days. My pharmacist also advised not to take any dairy and no alcoholic beverages. Also not to take less than one hour before going to bed. Are all the above true? I don t know who to believe.
Thu, 22 Feb 2018
Hi & Welcome.
I can understand your concerns regarding the safety of Doxycline.
It's better to avoid taking dairy and alcoholic beverages while on Doxycycline.
Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic commonly prescribed to treat susceptible bacterial infections such as pneumonia, chlamydia, and others.
1. Milk or other dairy products (such as milk, chocolate, cheese, yogurt, ice cream) or other antacids which contain calcium, magnesium or aluminium or iron supplements decrease the absorption of Doxycycline due to
the formation of non absorbable complexes.
Hence, milk or other dairy products or antacids should be avoided while on Doxycycline.
2. While one to two drinks of alcohol or alcoholic beverages will not cause adverse effects, if you binge drink or are a chronic alcoholic the effectiveness of Doxycycline can be reduced.
However, I do not recommend my patients to consume alcohol during the course of treatment with Doxycycline.
3. Do not take Doxycycline immediately before going to bed. While you are lying down the pill can reflux back up into the esophagus, where it can irritate or even ulcerate the lining of the esophagus. So, do not lie down immediately after taking medicine.
Take it at least 1 hour before bedtime and complete the course of antibiotic as prescribed by your doctor.
Hope I could answer your queries.
A feed back is appreciated.
I can understand your concerns regarding the safety of Doxycline.
It's better to avoid taking dairy and alcoholic beverages while on Doxycycline.
Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic commonly prescribed to treat susceptible bacterial infections such as pneumonia, chlamydia, and others.
1. Milk or other dairy products (such as milk, chocolate, cheese, yogurt, ice cream) or other antacids which contain calcium, magnesium or aluminium or iron supplements decrease the absorption of Doxycycline due to
the formation of non absorbable complexes.
Hence, milk or other dairy products or antacids should be avoided while on Doxycycline.
2. While one to two drinks of alcohol or alcoholic beverages will not cause adverse effects, if you binge drink or are a chronic alcoholic the effectiveness of Doxycycline can be reduced.
However, I do not recommend my patients to consume alcohol during the course of treatment with Doxycycline.
3. Do not take Doxycycline immediately before going to bed. While you are lying down the pill can reflux back up into the esophagus, where it can irritate or even ulcerate the lining of the esophagus. So, do not lie down immediately after taking medicine.
Take it at least 1 hour before bedtime and complete the course of antibiotic as prescribed by your doctor.
Hope I could answer your queries.
A feed back is appreciated.
I find this answer helpful
1 user finds this helpful
1 Doctor agrees with this answer
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Loading Online Doctors....