Vibramycin

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Vibramycin

Vibramycin

Vibramycin is a brand name of an antibiotic called doxycycline, which is a semisynthetic tetracycline related bacteriostatic antibiotic. Vibramycin (doxycycline) works to treat infections by preventing the growth and spread of bacteria. Vibramycin (doxycycline) works to treat acne by killing the bacteria that infects pores and decreasing a certain natural oily substance that causes acne. Vibramycin (doxycycline) is used for mild-to-moderate infections due to susceptible organisms. Vibramycin (doxycycline), like other tetracyclines, is active against a wide spectrum of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as against several rickettsia, spirochetes, chlamydia and mycoplasma. Unlike tetracycline and oxytetracycline, Vibramycin (doxycycline) has excellent oral availability and wide tissue penetration. Vibramycin (doxycycline) indications include upper respiratory, skin, or soft tissue infections due to susceptible bacteria, gonorrhea and syphilis in penicillin-allergic patients, non-gonococcal urethritis, acute pelvic inflammatory disease, epididymitis, oorchitis, Lyme disease, and as prophylaxis against traveler’s diarrhea. Vibramycin (doxycycline) is also used chronically as treatment of acne. Vibramycin (doxycycline) works to treat rosacea by decreasing the inflammation that causes this condition.

Vibramycin (doxycycline) was approved for use in the United States in 1967 and is still widely used, with more than 11 million prescriptions filled yearly. Vibramycin (doxycycline) is available in multiple generic forms in capsules and tablets ranging from 20 to 100 mg, and as oral suspensions for pediatric use. Typical adult doses are 100 to 200 mg twice daily for 7 to 30 days. Parenteral forms for intravenous or intramuscular administration are also available.

Other trade names for doxycycline include Oracea, Adoxa, Monodox and Doxycin.

Vibramycin (doxycycline) common side effects include headache, dizziness, nausea, gastrointestinal upset, skin and tooth discoloration and rash.

Vibramycin uses

Vibramycin (doxycycline) is used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as acne, urinary tract infections, intestinal infections, eye infections, pneumonia and other respiratory tract infections, gonorrhea, chlamydia, periodontitis (gum disease), and infections of the lymphatic system; and certain other infections that are spread by ticks, lice, mites, infected animals, or contaminated food and water. Vibramycin may also be used to treat Lyme disease or to prevent Lyme disease in certain people who have been bitten by a tick.

Vibramycin (doxycycline) is also used to treat blemishes, bumps, and acne-like lesions caused by rosacea. Vibramycin (doxycycline) will not treat facial redness caused by rosacea.

Vibramycin (doxycycline) is also used to treat or prevent anthrax (a serious infection that may be spread on purpose as part of a bioterror attack), in people who may have been exposed to anthrax in the air, and to treat plague and tuleramia (serious infections that may be spread on purpose as part of a bioterror attack). Doxycycline delayed-release capsules, delayed-release tablets, and tablets is also used to prevent malaria and treat anthrax infection after possible exposure and other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Vibramycin (doxycycline) can also be used in people who cannot be treated with penicillin to treat certain types of food poisoning. Doxycycline (Oracea) is used only to treat pimples and bumps caused by rosacea (a skin disease that causes redness, flushing, and pimples on the face).

Vibramycin may also be used to prevent infection in people who were sexually attacked.

Antibiotics such as Vibramycin (doxycycline) will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.

Vibramycin special precautions

Before taking Vibramycin (doxycycline):

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Vibramycin (doxycycline), minocycline, tetracycline, demeclocycline, any other medications, sulfites, or any of the ingredients in Vibramycin (doxycycline) capsules, extended-release capsules, tablets, extended-release tablets, or suspension. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: acitretin (Soriatane); anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); barbiturates such as butabarbital (Butisol), phenobarbital, and secobarbital (Seconal); bismuth subsalicylate; carbamazepine (Epitol, Tegretol, others); isotretinoin (Absorica, Amnesteem, Clavaris, Myorisan, Zenatane); penicillin; phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); and proton pump inhibitors such as dexlansoprazole (Dexilant), esomeprazole (Nexium, in Vimovo), lansoprazole (Prevacid, in Prevpac), omeprazole (Prilosec, in Yosprala, Zegerid), pantoprazole (Protonix), and rabeprazole (Aciphex). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
be aware that antacids containing magnesium, aluminum, or calcium, calcium supplements, iron products, and laxatives containing magnesium interfere with Vibramycin (doxycycline), making it less effective. Take Vibramycin (doxycycline) 2 hours before or 6 hours after taking antacids, calcium supplements, and laxatives containing magnesium. Take Vibramycin (doxycycline) 2 hours before or 4 hours after iron preparations and vitamin products that contain iron.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had lupus (condition in which the immune system attacks many tissues and organs including the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys), intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri; high pressure in the skull that may cause headaches, blurry or double vision, vision loss, and other symptoms), a yeast infection in your mouth or vagina, surgery on your stomach, asthma, or kidney or liver disease.
you should know that Vibramycin (doxycycline) may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, or injections). Talk to your doctor about using another form of birth control.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking Vibramycin (doxycycline), call your doctor immediately. Vibramycin (doxycycline) can harm the fetus.
plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Vibramycin (doxycycline) may make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Tell your doctor right away if you get a sunburn.
you should know that when you are receiving Vibramycin (doxycycline) for prevention of malaria, you should also use protective measures such as effective insect repellent, mosquito nets, clothing covering the whole body, and staying in well-screened areas, especially from early nighttime until dawn. Taking Vibramycin (doxycycline) does not give you full protection against malaria.
you should know that when Vibramycin (doxycycline) is used during pregnancy or in babies or children up to 8 years of age, it can cause the teeth to become permanently stained. Vibramycin (doxycycline) should not be used in children under 8 years of age except for inhalational anthrax, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or if your doctor decides it is needed.

Pediatric

Doxycycline may cause permanent discoloration of the teeth and slow down the growth of bones. This medicine should not be given to children 8 years of age and younger (except for the treatment of exposure to inhalational anthrax or rickettsia infection), unless directed by the child’s doctor.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of doxycycline in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have kidney, liver, or heart problems which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving doxycycline.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category D: Studies in pregnant women have demonstrated a risk to the fetus. However, the benefits of therapy in a life threatening situation or a serious disease, may outweigh the potential risk.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using (Vibramycin (doxycycline) with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Acitretin

Using (Vibramycin (doxycycline) with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Amoxicillin
Ampicillin
Ascorbic Acid
Bacampicillin
Bexarotene
Cholera Vaccine, Live
Cloxacillin
Dicloxacillin
Etretinate
Isotretinoin
Methicillin
Methotrexate
Methoxyflurane
Nafcillin
Oxacillin
Penicillin G
Penicillin G Benzathine
Penicillin G Procaine
Penicillin V
Piperacillin
Pivampicillin
Sultamicillin
Temocillin
Tretinoin

Using (Vibramycin (doxycycline) with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Aluminum Carbonate, Basic
Aluminum Hydroxide
Aluminum Phosphate
Aminolevulinic Acid
Bismuth Subsalicylate
Calcium
Dihydroxyaluminum Aminoacetate
Dihydroxyaluminum Sodium Carbonate
Iron
Magaldrate
Magnesium Carbonate
Magnesium Hydroxide
Magnesium Oxide
Magnesium Trisilicate
Rifampin
Rifapentine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Vibramycin dosage

The usual dosage and frequency of administration of Vibramycin (doxycycline) differs from that of the other tetracyclines. Exceeding the recommended dosage may result in an increased incidence of side effects.

Adults

The usual dose of oral Vibramycin (doxycycline) is 200 mg on the first day of treatment (administered 100 mg every 12 hours) followed by a maintenance dose of 100 mg/day. In the management of more severe infections (particularly chronic infections of the urinary tract), 100 mg every 12 hours is recommended.

Pediatric patients

For all pediatric patients weighing less than 45 kg with severe or life-threatening infections (e.g., anthrax, Rocky Mountain spotted fever), the recommended dosage is 2.2 mg/kg of body weight administered every 12 hours. Children weighing 45 kg or more should receive the adult dose.

For pediatric patients with less severe disease (greater than 8 years of age and weighing less than 45 kg), the recommended dosage schedule is 4.4 mg/kg of body weight divided into two doses on the first day of treatment, followed by a maintenance dose of 2.2 mg/kg of body weight (given as a single daily dose or divided into twice daily doses). For pediatric patients weighing over 45 kg, the usual adult dose should be used.

The therapeutic antibacterial serum activity will usually persist for 24 hours following recommended dosage.

When used in streptococcal infections, therapy should be continued for 10 days.

Administration of adequate amounts of fluid along with capsule and tablet forms of drugs in the tetracycline class is recommended to wash down the drugs and reduce the risk of esophageal irritation and ulceration.

If gastric irritation occurs, it is recommended that Vibramycin (doxycycline) be given with food or milk. The absorption of Vibramycin (doxycycline) is not markedly influenced by simultaneous ingestion of food or milk.

Studies to date have indicated that administration of Vibramycin (doxycycline) at the usual recommended doses does not lead to excessive accumulation of Vibramycin (doxycycline) in patients with renal impairment.

Uncomplicated gonococcal infections in adults (except anorectal infections in men): 100 mg, by mouth, twice a day for 7 days. As an alternate single visit dose, administer 300 mg stat followed in one hour by a second 300 mg dose. The dose may be administered with food, including milk or carbonated beverage, as required.

Uncomplicated urethral, endocervical, or rectal infection in adults caused by Chlamydia trachomatis: 100 mg, by mouth twice a day for 7 days.

Nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) caused by Chlamydia trachomatis or Ureaplasma urealyticum: 100 mg by mouth, twice a day for 7 days.

Syphilis – early: Patients who are allergic to penicillin should be treated with Vibramycin (doxycycline) 100 mg, by mouth, twice a day for 2 weeks.

Syphilis of more than one year’s duration: Patients who are allergic to penicillin should be treated with Vibramycin (doxycycline) 100 mg, by mouth, twice a day for 4 weeks.

Acute epididymo-orchitis caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae: 100 mg, by mouth, twice a day for at least 10 days.

Acute epididymo-orchitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis: 100 mg, by mouth, twice a day for at least 10 days.

For prophylaxis of malaria: For adults, the recommended dose is 100 mg daily. For children over 8 years of age, the recommended dose is 2 mg/kg given once daily up to the adult dose. Prophylaxis should begin 1–2 days before travel to the malarious area. Prophylaxis should be continued daily during travel in the malarious area and for 4 weeks after the traveler leaves the malarious area.

Inhalational anthrax (post-exposure):

Adults: 100 mg of Vibramycin (doxycycline), by mouth, twice a day for 60 days.
Children: weighing less than 45 kg; 2.2 mg/kg of body weight by mouth, twice a day for 60 days. Children weighing 45 kg or more should receive the adult dose.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Vibramycin side effects

Vibramycin (doxycycline) may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
loss of appetite
itching of the rectum or vagina
sore or irritated throat
swollen tongue
dry mouth
anxiety
back pain
changes in color of skin, scars, nails, eyes, or mouth

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

headache
blurred vision, seeing double, or loss of vision
rash that may occur with fever or swollen glands
hives
skin redness, peeling or blistering
difficulty breathing or swallowing
swelling of the eyes, face, throat, tongue, or lips
unusual bleeding or bruising
watery or bloody stools, stomach cramps, or fever during treatment or for up to two or more months after stopping treatment
a return of fever, sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection
joint pain
chest pain
discoloration of permanent (adult) teeth

Vibramycin (doxycycline) may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking Vibramycin (doxycycline).