Uracil Side Effects

Generic name: doxycycline

Note: This document contains side effect information about doxycycline. Some of the dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Uracil.

Some side effects of Uracil may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

For the Consumer

Applies to doxycycline: for suspension oral, oral and topical kit, oral capsule, oral delayed release capsule, oral delayed release tablet, oral kit, oral powder for reconstitution, oral syrup, oral tablet

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction while taking doxycycline (the active ingredient contained in Uracil) hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• severe headache, dizziness, blurred vision;

• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, swollen glands, rash or itching, joint pain, or general ill feeling;

• urinating less than usual or not at all;

• diarrhea that is watery or bloody

• pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness;

• severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate;

• loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

• severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Less serious side effects of doxycycline may include:

• mild nausea, mild diarrhea;

• upset stomach;

• mild skin rash or itching; or

• vaginal itching or discharge.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to doxycycline: injectable powder for injection, oral capsule, oral delayed release capsule, oral delayed release tablet, oral kit, oral powder for reconstitution, oral syrup, oral tablet, oral and topical kit

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included nausea, esophageal irritation, ulceration, epigastric burning, diarrhea, upper abdominal pain, abdominal distention, abdominal pain, stomach discomfort, dry mouth, and black, hairy tongue. At least one case of adult tooth staining has been reported. Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, glossitis, dysphagia, enterocolitis, and inflammatory lesions with monilial overgrowth in the anogenital region have been reported with tetracyclines. Rare cases of esophagitis and esophageal ulcerations have been reported in patients receiving capsule and tablet forms of drugs in the tetracycline class.

Numerous cases of esophageal ulceration have been reported. In most of the cases the patients had taken their medication at bedtime, usually without enough liquid. Patients often present with severe retrosternal pain and difficulty swallowing. Ulcerations generally resolve within a week after discontinuation of the medication. One case report describes severe hiccups of 4-day duration associated with esophagitis following the first dose of doxycycline.

Case reports of doxycycline causing Clostridium difficile have also been described.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included nail discoloration, phototoxicity, photoallergic reaction, and photo-onycholysis. Photosensitivity, maculopapular and erythematous rashes, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and exfoliative dermatitis have been reported with tetracyclines.

In a double-blinded study, doxycycline was found to be more phototoxic than minocycline and demeclocycline. Paresthesias of the body areas exposed to sunlight may be early signs of sunburn reactions.

A case report of a possible photoallergic reaction describes scaly erythema and vesicles on the face and neck associated with doxycycline administration. Upon rechallenge, a flare with erythema, itching and burning occurred in the same area.

Another case report was documented in Australian troops treated with doxycycline 100 mg daily for malaria prophylaxis while on deployment in East Timor, a group of islands within the Malaysian archipelago located close to the equator. Of the 135 troops, 22 exhibited phototoxic reactions to low dosages of doxycycline that resembled severe sunburn with erythematous plaques on the sun-exposed areas. The troops used a sunscreen containing oxybenzone.

An 11-year-old boy treated with doxycycline for brucellosis was evaluated for painless brown nail discoloration. Doxycycline was initiated for brucellosis but stopped when the boy developed photosensitivity, but 15 days after the initiation of therapy brown nail discoloration developed. Other than the brown discoloration, the boy's physical condition was normal and the discoloration disappeared within one month.

Nervous system

Benign intracranial hypertension resulting in significant loss of vision has been reported.

A 70-year-old female patient with no significant medical history suddenly developed a severe headache followed by vomiting about 15 minutes after the initial dose of doxycycline (the active ingredient contained in Uracil) The patient also experienced memory dysfunction; she could not remember the events of the afternoon prior to the doxycycline dose and could not retain the information after she was reminded. The incident lasted about 30 minutes and she was transported to the hospital for further evaluation. No further cause, such as intoxication or trauma, could be elicited. Once at the hospital, the patient was able to remember the events of the afternoon and could retain new information, but amnesia regarding the events of the 30 minutes following the onset of the headache persisted. The patient's laboratory results, CT scan, MRI scan, cerebrospinal fluid, and EEG showed no pathology. When the patient was discharged 2 days later, the amnesia for the 30 minutes continued. After elimination of other symptomatic causes, the amnesia was concluded to be due to the doxycycline because of the close relation of the doxycycline dose and the onset of symptoms.

Nervous system side effects have included phrenic nerve paralysis after sclerotherapy, and benign intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri). Headache, sinus headache, dizziness, drowsiness, amnesia, and paresthesias of body areas exposed to sunlight have been reported.

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects have included increased aspartate aminotransferase. Individual reports of acute hepatocellular injury and cholestatic reactions have been associated with low-dose oral doxycycline (the active ingredient contained in Uracil) Hepatotoxicity has been reported rarely with tetracyclines.

Metabolic

Metabolic side effects have included increased blood lactate dehydrogenase and increased blood glucose. Hypoglycemia in a nondiabetic patient has been reported.

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects have included vaginal candidiasis and vaginal itch.

Other

Other side effects have included fungal infection, influenza, pain, and back pain. The long-term use of tetracyclines has been associated with microscopic brown-black discoloration of the thyroid gland but abnormal thyroid function has not been reported.

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have included hypertension and increased blood pressure.

Ocular

Ocular side effects have included diplopia, papilledema, and loss of vision associated with doxycycline-induced benign intracranial hypertension.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects associated with tetracyclines have included urticaria, angioneurotic edema, anaphylaxis, anaphylactoid purpura, serum sickness, pericarditis, exfoliative dermatitis, and exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects associated with tetracyclines have included hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and eosinophilia.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects have included nasopharyngitis, pharyngolaryngeal pain, sinusitis, and nasal congestion.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects have included anxiety.

Renal

Renal side effects associated with tetracyclines have included a dose-related rise in BUN.

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