doxycycline questions (marjorie?)

[Guest guest]

Doxycycline has fewer GI symptoms than many other antibiotics, but

some people are very sensitive. Try taking it every 12 hours with a

meal and a full glass of water. But avoid anything with calcium

(dairy products and antacids) or other minerals (like vitamin pills).

Acidophilus supplements may help prevent yeast infections; when I'm

on doxy I eat a cup of yogurt with active cultures in the middle of

the day.

I've also not heard that antibiotics impact on flushing.

I don't know about tapering, one way or the other. In this context,

I'm only familiar with tapering when one has repeatedly failed

initial therapy and so determining the lowest dose of antibiotics

long term to prevent an exacerbation.

About 50% of people remain in remission 6 months after stopping oral

antibiotics, more so if topical antibiotics are started before

discontinuing the oral antibiotic. I don't believe that figure would

be higher if the antibiotic was tapered.

Photosensivity does not persist after treatment, but protect yourself

for at least three days after the last dose, if not longer.

Hope that helps.

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD

> I was hoping Marjorie could address this -- today my derm

prescribed

> doxycycline (low-medium dosage) as well as sulfacet-R. I have never

> tolerated antibiotics well, as i have lots of indigestion problems

as

> it is,especially for someone of such a young age. last august i had

> to take antibiotics after getting my wisdom teeth pulled out for

> about 2 or 3 weeks..and towards the end i could barely swallow the

> pill and felt really nauseous during those few minutes. im thinking

> of taking acidophilus supplements to combat any possible stomach

> problems , ive heard this can also help in preventing yeast

problems

> due to the antibiotics?

>

> also,while searching thru archives on the group about doxy, some

> mentioned that they had increased bumps which is kind of strange as

i

> thought it was supposed to combat acne. when i told my derm that

> metrocream wasnt doing anything and that i had a LOT more flushing

> (especially spontaneous flushing besides the obvious trigger-

induced

> ones) and more " staying " pinkness than our appointment 6 weeks

> before, as well as a few minor pimples but no major cyst-like

papules

> or anything..he said doxy should help with the flushing , redness

and

> pimples,and even blepharitis ,but from what i've read on the boards

> as well as in Dr. Nase's book, doxy isnt supposed to have an effect

> on the flushing component? im confused. has anyone foudn relief

from

> flushing due to this? right now i take zyrtec/allegra sometimes but

> im nots ure if i notice a real difference.

>

> as far as rebound effects,if i wean myself off them properly after

my

> derm thinks its ok, should i still expect a major outbreak like

> several others on this board have had? im assuming if i went off

> antibiotics its very likely for my minor acne to come back, but is

> there also a possibility that it will come back worse than before?

> too bad i didnt think of all these questions during my appointment!

>

> also, as far as photosensitivity goes,should that end after im off

> doxy ?

>

> thanks!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Doxycycline has fewer GI symptoms than many other antibiotics, but

some people are very sensitive. Try taking it every 12 hours with a

meal and a full glass of water. But avoid anything with calcium

(dairy products and antacids) or other minerals (like vitamin pills).

Acidophilus supplements may help prevent yeast infections; when I'm

on doxy I eat a cup of yogurt with active cultures in the middle of

the day.

I've also not heard that antibiotics impact on flushing.

I don't know about tapering, one way or the other. In this context,

I'm only familiar with tapering when one has repeatedly failed

initial therapy and so determining the lowest dose of antibiotics

long term to prevent an exacerbation.

About 50% of people remain in remission 6 months after stopping oral

antibiotics, more so if topical antibiotics are started before

discontinuing the oral antibiotic. I don't believe that figure would

be higher if the antibiotic was tapered.

Photosensivity does not persist after treatment, but protect yourself

for at least three days after the last dose, if not longer.

Hope that helps.

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD

> I was hoping Marjorie could address this -- today my derm

prescribed

> doxycycline (low-medium dosage) as well as sulfacet-R. I have never

> tolerated antibiotics well, as i have lots of indigestion problems

as

> it is,especially for someone of such a young age. last august i had

> to take antibiotics after getting my wisdom teeth pulled out for

> about 2 or 3 weeks..and towards the end i could barely swallow the

> pill and felt really nauseous during those few minutes. im thinking

> of taking acidophilus supplements to combat any possible stomach

> problems , ive heard this can also help in preventing yeast

problems

> due to the antibiotics?

>

> also,while searching thru archives on the group about doxy, some

> mentioned that they had increased bumps which is kind of strange as

i

> thought it was supposed to combat acne. when i told my derm that

> metrocream wasnt doing anything and that i had a LOT more flushing

> (especially spontaneous flushing besides the obvious trigger-

induced

> ones) and more " staying " pinkness than our appointment 6 weeks

> before, as well as a few minor pimples but no major cyst-like

papules

> or anything..he said doxy should help with the flushing , redness

and

> pimples,and even blepharitis ,but from what i've read on the boards

> as well as in Dr. Nase's book, doxy isnt supposed to have an effect

> on the flushing component? im confused. has anyone foudn relief

from

> flushing due to this? right now i take zyrtec/allegra sometimes but

> im nots ure if i notice a real difference.

>

> as far as rebound effects,if i wean myself off them properly after

my

> derm thinks its ok, should i still expect a major outbreak like

> several others on this board have had? im assuming if i went off

> antibiotics its very likely for my minor acne to come back, but is

> there also a possibility that it will come back worse than before?

> too bad i didnt think of all these questions during my appointment!

>

> also, as far as photosensitivity goes,should that end after im off

> doxy ?

>

> thanks!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Doxycycline has fewer GI symptoms than many other antibiotics, but

some people are very sensitive. Try taking it every 12 hours with a

meal and a full glass of water. But avoid anything with calcium

(dairy products and antacids) or other minerals (like vitamin pills).

Acidophilus supplements may help prevent yeast infections; when I'm

on doxy I eat a cup of yogurt with active cultures in the middle of

the day.

I've also not heard that antibiotics impact on flushing.

I don't know about tapering, one way or the other. In this context,

I'm only familiar with tapering when one has repeatedly failed

initial therapy and so determining the lowest dose of antibiotics

long term to prevent an exacerbation.

About 50% of people remain in remission 6 months after stopping oral

antibiotics, more so if topical antibiotics are started before

discontinuing the oral antibiotic. I don't believe that figure would

be higher if the antibiotic was tapered.

Photosensivity does not persist after treatment, but protect yourself

for at least three days after the last dose, if not longer.

Hope that helps.

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD

> I was hoping Marjorie could address this -- today my derm

prescribed

> doxycycline (low-medium dosage) as well as sulfacet-R. I have never

> tolerated antibiotics well, as i have lots of indigestion problems

as

> it is,especially for someone of such a young age. last august i had

> to take antibiotics after getting my wisdom teeth pulled out for

> about 2 or 3 weeks..and towards the end i could barely swallow the

> pill and felt really nauseous during those few minutes. im thinking

> of taking acidophilus supplements to combat any possible stomach

> problems , ive heard this can also help in preventing yeast

problems

> due to the antibiotics?

>

> also,while searching thru archives on the group about doxy, some

> mentioned that they had increased bumps which is kind of strange as

i

> thought it was supposed to combat acne. when i told my derm that

> metrocream wasnt doing anything and that i had a LOT more flushing

> (especially spontaneous flushing besides the obvious trigger-

induced

> ones) and more " staying " pinkness than our appointment 6 weeks

> before, as well as a few minor pimples but no major cyst-like

papules

> or anything..he said doxy should help with the flushing , redness

and

> pimples,and even blepharitis ,but from what i've read on the boards

> as well as in Dr. Nase's book, doxy isnt supposed to have an effect

> on the flushing component? im confused. has anyone foudn relief

from

> flushing due to this? right now i take zyrtec/allegra sometimes but

> im nots ure if i notice a real difference.

>

> as far as rebound effects,if i wean myself off them properly after

my

> derm thinks its ok, should i still expect a major outbreak like

> several others on this board have had? im assuming if i went off

> antibiotics its very likely for my minor acne to come back, but is

> there also a possibility that it will come back worse than before?

> too bad i didnt think of all these questions during my appointment!

>

> also, as far as photosensitivity goes,should that end after im off

> doxy ?

>

> thanks!

>

>

[Guest guest]

This was clearly meant for public consumption, from mschmidt:

-=-=-==-==

Hi! I too found this information helpful, and

doxycycline has been great for me, I certainly hope it

helps you too ! I have a couple of other

questions though:

How long should you be on doxy (ideally--realizing

everyone is different)? Does this time differ if you

were taking tetracycline previously?

Also, when you go off, it is best to taper off, as in

1 tablet daily, then working down to every other day

for some specified time? Any advice is appreciated!

And Marjorie, I'm glad you're here! Thanks to

EVERYONE in this group--really for the suggestions on

what works (& didn't work) for them. I've learned

lots from this group. And I continue say a little

prayer daily for all us battling the big R! Regards -

Michele

-=-=-==-

Michele, typically antibiotics (any type or combination) are taken

for 6-12 weeks, sometimes longer.

As I recently said, I just don't know if tapering is required. I

wouldn't think it's necessary unless one suspects the person will not

be able to discontinue oral antibiotics entirely without an

exacerbation, but I don't know.

Thanks for the kind words.

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD