Doxycycline (Malaria Prevention) 100mg Capsules

Doxycycline Online For Malaria Prevention

You can request to buy Doxycycline online for malaria prevention online from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service. Complete an online assessment and our UK registered doctors will check to see if doxycycline is appropriate for your malaria prevention. If approved your order will be delivered quickly with the Royal Mail service.

What is Doxycycline?

Doxycycline is an antibiotic used to treat and prevent a number of conditions, one of which is Malaria. If Malaria is present in an area you are travelling to, it is essential that you ensure you are taking the correct prophylactic medication to minimise the chances of a malarial infection.

Malaria infections occur as a result of a mosquito bite from a mosquito carrying a parasite known as a Plasmodium. When the mosquito feeds the parasite moves into the body resulting in malaria infection. The symptoms of malaria can be severe and include intense fevers, pain, nausea/ vomiting, confusion, fast heart rate and diarrhoea. Without treatment or prevention therapy, an infection can be fatal.

How does Doxycycline work?

Doxycycline capsules work for malaria prevention by killing the malarial parasite at the blood stage of its lifecycle before the infection becomes serious. Doxycycline is also effective against Chloroquine (another popular anti-malaria tablet) resistant malaria infections.

How to take Doxycycline (Malaria Prevention)

For malaria prevention, doxycycline 100mg capsules must be started 1-2 days before travelling to a malaria-affected area and for at least 28 days after returning.

Swallow whole ONE capsule each day with or after food starting ONE to TWO days before entering malaria-affected areas and continue for at least 28 days after leaving the affected area.

If you are unable to eat before a dose, have your doxycycline with a large glass of water. Always try to take your dose with water and sit up for at least 30 minutes after taking the medicine. This helps to ensure the medicine does not cause throat irritation if it does not get washed down properly. Try to take your dose around the same time each day.

Doxycycline summary

Alternatives

There are a number of anti-malarial options available on prescription in the UK. The most popular are Malarone, Lariam and Chloroquine. Each may have different suitability for different regions, you can find out more on the FitForTravel website.

The alternative options may also be more suitable if you are particularly sensitive to the side effects of doxycycline.

In addition to using an anti-malarial medicine, it is important that you practice mosquito bite prevention while in malaria-affected regions. This includes:

• Using high-quality insect repellent
• Using a mosquito net and/ or closing windows while you sleep
• Wearing protective clothing to cover exposed skin
• Avoid accommodation in areas more likely to expose you to mosquitos

Doxycycline side effects

As with all medicines, there is a chance that doxycycline can cause side effects in some people who take it but not everyone will experience them. If you do experience any side effects you find particularly severe or concerning, consult a doctor.

Some common side effects that will occur in between 1-10% of people who take the medicare are sensitivity to sunlight, nausea/ vomiting, headaches, shortness of breath and rashes.

Always use sun protection while using doxycycline to avoid sunburn due to additional sensitivity to sunlight. Take the medicine with food or a large glass of water and avoid taking it on an empty stomach to avoid gastric/ stomach upset and nausea.

Much less common but more severe side effects can include an allergic reaction, severe rash, difficulty breathing, stomach ulceration and severe diarrhoea. If you experience any severe side effects, seek medical attention immediately.

For a full list of potential side effects, read the patient information leaflet.

Author

	Name	Tyson Wilkman
	Role	Clinical Pharmacist
	Qual.	Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
	About	Tyson started with Simple Online Pharmacy in 2021. He's responsible for helping review and author accurate site content. He works with our GPs to make sure all aspects of the medicines are covered.

How effective is doxycycline for preventing malaria?

No anti-malarial treatment is 100% effective. The effectiveness will depend on the antibiotic resistance of the malarial parasites in the area you plan to visit. For more information visit FitForTravel.

Can you take Doxycycline in hot countries?

It is important to note that a common side effect of Doxycycline is increasing the sensitivity of your skin to the sun. This means that Doxycycline can cause your skin to burn more easily than when not taking it. This is very important to note if you are planning to take Doxycycline as Malaria prophylaxis in a country where there is a lot of sun. 

Keeping your skin and head covered with long-sleeved clothing and a hat will help protect against this, but it is often advised to take an alternative medication to Doxycycline if available if you cannot protect yourself adequately from the sun.

Can you buy doxycycline over the counter?

No, like all antibiotics doxycycline remains prescription only in the UK. This is to ensure antibiotics are used appropriately and resistance remains low. You can gain a prescription for doxycycline through an online consultation with a UK registered online doctor and pharmacy service such as Simple Online Pharmacy.

Can I drink alcohol while taking doxycycline?

While it is generally recommended to avoid alcohol while on antibiotics, when doxycycline is being used for malaria prophylaxis, you may consume alcohol responsibly as the two do not have any severe or immediate interactions. Please note that this may result in worsening stomach upset or gastric side effects. If you experience this, avoid alcohol.

Can I take doxycycline without food?

It is strongly recommended to take doxycycline with food as it can be harsh on an empty stomach. If you cannot take it with food, take it with a large glass of water.

Before using any treatment, it is important that you read the patient information leaflet for the full details on the medicine.

• Doxycycline PIL

Warnings & Precautions

Doxycycline may be unsuitable for those who are regularly exposed to strong sunlight or UV light such as from a sunbed. If you are unable to suitably protect yourself from sunlight with clothing or sunscreen, consult your doctor for more suitable anti-malarial options.

Some medicines such as blood thinners, immune suppressants and some medicines for epilepsy may be affected by doxycycline, reducing the effect of doxycycline or your current medicines. It is very important you inform our doctor or your treating doctor of your current medicines so they can ensure doxycycline is right for your malaria prevention.

Doxycycline in pregnancy and breastfeeding

Doxycycline is not suitable for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you plan on travelling to a malaria-affected area while pregnant consult your doctor for suitable options.

It is generally recommended to avoid doxycycline in breastfeeding if possible. Always consult your doctor for the most appropriate alternative when breastfeeding.