Antibiotics are drugs taken to treat infections cost by bacterial strands. These strands are generally harmless, but a few can multiply uncontrollably to cause an infection. Antibiotics form part of a genre of meds called anti-infectives. As the signs of bacterial infections are quite similar to a fungal or viral infection, it often takes a qualified caregiver to diagnose a bacterial condition. Doxycycline is one of the widely prescribed tetracycline antibiotics. In this realm, does doxycycline treat UTI? It is helpful to know more about this.
Antibiotics are known to either kill or block the growth of bacteria. These meds can treat multiple types of infections like an itchy skin, strep throat, infections in the ear – to name a few. No antibiotic meds can treat all forms of bacterial infections. Antibiotics that kill bacteria are known as bactericidal meds and those stopping growth of germs are bacteriostatic drugs.
What is doxycycline?
Doxycycline is one of the popular tetracycline anti biotic meds. It is known for its capabilities to arrest the progression of bacteria-triggered infections. Research shows that this med has anti-inflammatory properties as well. Owing to this, doxycycline is prescribed for treating oral infections like gum diseases, skin infections like rosacea and acne, ocular conditions, etc. As an extended use, this med is known to prevent onset of infections triggered by lice, mites as well as malarial infections.
Doxycycline
It is widely available in two distinct forms namely doxycycline monohydrate and doxycycline hyclate. The key difference between these two salts of doxycycline is their solubility in water. Hyclate is soluble while monohydrate is mildly soluble in liquids like water. Doxycycline can be bought at strengths ranging from 60-100 mg. It is sold as pills, capsules, as a suspended liquid form and also as an injectable version.
Does doxycycline treat UTI?
This drug is not a first-line choice to treat UTI. This is mainly due to its limited permeability / penetration into your urinary bladder – as compared with other forms of antibiotics.
However, this med has the needful approval for treating urethritis – inflammation of urethra, the tube connecting your bladder and kidneys. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) does not recommend doxycycline for UTI; this is because of the availability of other effective alternatives.
More importantly, doxycycline is never administered to younger patients – those less than 9 years – this is chiefly due to risks of permanent discoloration of teeth. Efficacy of doxycycline for UTI also varies based on the extent of severity of your condition. Your caregiver is likely to order a panel of tests to determine type of infections, and understand the strand causing it. In general, Bactrim is a top-most preference for standard types of UTIs.
Safety precautions for taking doxycycline
Typical dosage plan spans 8 to 9 days. But duration can change depending on how severe is your urinary infection. Doxycycline is known for its faster action; however, you need to wait for ~36 hours to see some relief.
This drug may cause few counterproductive effects. These include hypersensitivity to sun’s rays, abdominal conditions like nausea, dyspepsia & pain in the upper abdomen. In some remote cases, users have experienced renal problems, dysfunction of liver including inflammation and / or cirrhosis.
Doxycycline may interact adversely with a few supplements of iron, magnesium and calcium as well as with antacids. You are also advised to stop taking dairy-products like cheese, milk, etc. Such milk-based foods reduce efficacy of doxycycline. Users who experience rashes or inflammation of facial parts must seek assistance immediately. In the US, you can reach out to helplines of the FDA.
Use of doxycycline for UTI is not a widely followed practice because of the presence of other more- efficient medications. Users wanting to know more on does doxycycline treat UTI must meet a certified caregiver.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.
Education: Master’s in Epidemiology from Harvard University. Experience: 10 years of writing experience, including articles on infectious diseases and public health for leading health publications and research blogs.
