User Reviews for Doxycycline
Also known as: Vibramycin, Monodox, Oracea, Doryx, Mondoxyne NL, Doxy 100, Adoxa, Uracil, Doryx MPC, Acticlate, Morgidox, Avidoxy, Targadox, Doxy-D, Oraxyl, Doxy-Caps, Alodox, Adoxa Pak, Adoxa TT, Adoxa CK, LymePak Okebo Doxy 200 …show all brand names
Doxycycline has an average rating of 6.5 out of 10 from a total of 1,545 ratings on Drugs.com. 51% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 26% reported a negative experience.
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling, or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published.
For Acne: “I have been taking doxycycline for about a month and a half now and finally see improvement in my acne. I have been taking pictures every week and the first month was horrific. My acne got way worse and I started to get a little depressed. I still have acne and white heads but I can see a difference in my skin, although I have acne scares all over my cheeks. I will update next month.”
For Bacterial Infection: “I was terrified of taking this medication due to the reviews here which are so scary but had to take the medication for chronic sinusitis that was the worst for me. DO NOT let these reviews deter you as I had no side effects only that I had to eat before taking the meds..just a cracker will do even, to stop nausea. I was feeling so much better in just two days but kept taking my 14 day course to complete. I am allergic to penicillin and usually get many side effects listed on medications BUT NONE FROM THIS. I had headache anyhow from the sinusitis so just took a paracetamol as well as the doxy which is allowed and this sorted me right out. Should you be prescribed doxycycline then take it and do not worry about all the bad reviews just get better.”
For Urinary Tract Infection: “I was prescribed this medicine for UTI. So far (day 3) my UTI pain has gone down a lot. If you’re like me and you research every detail of a medicine before you take it, please listen to me. I have extremely bad anxiety and I’ll think I have tons of symptoms after I take my medicine but it’s just my anxiety. Take a deep breath. Take some probiotics, eat (if it is with food) and then take your antibiotics and you’ll be fine. Get some rest and drink water. This medicine gave me no symptoms. Stop researching! Everyone’s different, just because someone had a bad experience doesn’t mean you do!”
For Acne: “I started doxycycline in late July 2019 for acne. At the end of the 1st week my acne looked as if it dried up (meaning there wasn’t any pimples only acne scars). If you never use to wear sunscreen well you would need to especially during the first months, your skin is soooo sensitive. Waxing is a no no and exfoliating is a big no (learned the hard way lol). It also causes nausea, it is very important to take it whilst eating or right after a meal to not get nausea. The scaring eventually go away in 2 months or so after use (my experience), for quicker results my Dr. prescribed a skin lightening cream for spot treatment. After 6 months I was off Doxycycline and I just use Retin A and Deriva C alternatively. I don’t have any “active” acne well except the occasional 1 or 2 pimples that appear during menstruation.”
For Urinary Tract Infection: “The two side effects that always got me while taking doxy were the feeling of nausea and having diarrhea shortly after taking the medicine. For the nausea, I would just eat and it would pretty much immediately go away. Anyways... I did a 10 day course because I noticed burning in my urethra while peeing and the need to go to the restroom very often, and after about the 3rd or 4th day, the burning was gone but it took until about the 7th or 8th day for the urgency to pee to go away. I’m an adult male 6’1, 230lbish, and I took a 100mg dose twice a day, usually 12 hours apart. Hope this helps!”
For Chlamydia Infection: “I got tested positive for Chlamydia and was prescribed Doxycyline for a week and Ciprofloxiane for 10 days (for some reason) by my doctor. All symptoms have seemed to go within time but the penile discharge hasn't gone away. It's been about 5 days since I stopped doxycycline and a couple of days since I stopped the other one. Is it normal to still be discharging?!”
Frequently asked questions
- How long after stopping doxycycline can I drink alcohol?
- What is the best antibiotic to treat a sinus infection?
- What are the best antibiotics for pneumonia?
- What is doxycycline hyclate used for?
For Acne: “I used this drug for annoying moderate acne. It started off weird. After 2-3 weeks my skin looked like it was starting to clear up. It stayed like that for about a month. Then at the end of the 2nd month my skin was the worst it’s ever been. Now, I thing that was the purging stage because I stuck to taking it everyday, twice and now I’m in the middle of my third and last month taking it. My skin looks amazing and it’s the best it’s ever been. I would recommend this drug, but make sure u ride with it and trust it because it does take a while to see results.”
For Acne: “So I'm almost 29. Ive had acne for nearly 5 years. I thought I could cure my acne by just trying new creams, washes, scrubs but finally gave up and went to the doctor. She recommended doxycyline (3 months) and adapalene gel after telling me it looked like severe acne. I was a bit hesitant to take medication as I was afraid it'd come back. She told me the only the option was to see a dermatologist which was about $200-$300. I finally decided to take the meds and use the gel and honestly that was the best decision ever! I started to see a difference on the first day. 2 months in and I feel so confident with my skin. She said if I wanted to repeat it I could. But I'll try and attempt to get off it after my 3rd month. My scarring is still a work in progress but there is a considerable improvement”
For Acne: “This stuff is a gift. After struggling with acne for years without response to topical medications. I was prescribed this by my dermatologist. At first I was a little hesitant because of the reviews (people talking about the purging phase, side effects, etc) but after being on it for about 2 weeks, my skin is almost completely cleared up. Better yet, I haven’t had any of the side effects and I didn’t experience a purging period. The reviews are worrying but don’t knock it till you try it, seriously.”
For Acne: “I have always had acne but it got significantly worse in the past 6 months and I felt like I needed to see a derm finally (I am 23). At the point of this review, I have been on doxy for only about two weeks, but already I am seeing a huge improvement in my skin. I haven't really gotten any new acne except a few small pimples that are nothing compared to what I have been getting. I am also using adapalene gel in the morning and tretinoin at night. I will say personally I MUST take the doxy with food - when I dont, it makes me severely nauseous even to the point where I throw up. The nausea would normally subside in ~45 minutes. But when I eat it with a full meal it is totally fine, just have to remember to do that. Will try to provide an update once I am done with the full 2 month treatment!”
For Urinary Tract Infection: “I had a severe urinary tract infection and walking pneumonia and doxycycline saved my life. I had 8 seizures back to back due to the serious infections and they tried keflex 1st but it did not work. Doxycycline is awesome and I'm alive today because of it!”
For Bacterial Infection: “No side effects at all. I am not sure what all the negative reviews are about. If you're having an allergic reaction that is different. Allergic reactions are not the drugs fault, the reaction of your body to the doxycycline, but you should definitely stop if you are showing signs of allergy. It worked great for me. Started to feel better in a couple of days and was completely better in about 4 days. I took the full course as directed.”
For Bacterial Infection: “This is the only medicine that helps get rid of my sinus infections and it looks like that goes for a lot of other people too. This is the only antibiotic that I can take because I am allergic to so many others.”
For Acne: “I posted my review on my 8th week of doxycycline a while back ago under Bigdawg- December 20, 2019. YOUR ACNE WILL GET BAD!!!! February 2nd will be my 3 month mark and so far my acne is clearing up. Just be patient all these side effects are normal. You're not going to magically wake up and have clear skin or any side effects so bring your self to reality. YOUR DR SAID 3 MONTHS for a reason not no 1 month or 2 months. Stick to it and be patient it works!”
For Bacterial Infection: “I suffer from severe health anxiety and a medication phobia. When I'm prescribed a drug, I come onto these sites and scour the reviews, usually terrified from all the negative ones I see. I'm not sure why people leave these extremely negative reviews. I guess they just want to share their experience. But what happens is those experiences frighten people like me who don't really have a choice in taking a prescribed drug. Let me now tell you my experience. I took this drug for 10 days and had no side effects except a little sleepiness. I am extremely thankful we have antibiotics like this in today's times.”
For Acne: “I had horrible mixed acne. I had cystic acne all along my jaw line and then white heads in the hollows of my cheeks. It was AWFUL! My acne was awful and was caused by the IUD I had. After removing the IUD the acne didn’t go away. Keep in mind I’m nearly 30 and never really had acne before this. I was put on 100mg Doxy with a topical Bianca treatment 2-3 times a week cleared my skin up completely. The Bianca is still working away at the scarring but it has improved my skin tone and scarring by about 80%. Cerave face wash morning and night with a light mosturizer after, as well as the Bianca 2-3 times a week is my skin routine and it’s perfect for me. I highly recommend Cerave. It really helps restore the skin barrier. Damaged skin barrier = acne for sure! Luckily I had zero side effects. Just make sure to avoid dairy with the doxycycline and take on a full stomach!”
More FAQ
- How long does doxycycline stay in your body after you finish your prescribed amount?
- Can I take doxycycline hyclate for strep throat?
- Can I take doxycycline if I am allergic to penicillin?
- Can taking doxycycline for acne worsen my skin?
For Chlamydia Infection: “DON’T let these reviews scare you! I was terrified to take these meds after testing positive for Chlamydia because these reviews are so scary. I have a massive phobia of vomit/vomiting and had a huge panic attack before taking my first dose. I awaited the inevitable side effects. 1 week later and I can say that I have had ZERO side effects from this drug. No nausea, no bowl issues, no heart burn. After day 4 all symptoms of Chlamydia were gone and I was feeling very healthy. Here’s hoping my retest comes back negative and I’ll be very happy with the experience and result. All I can say is, don’t worry, Remember that everyone experiences side effects differently and most of these reviews are horror stories. I had a full glass of water with every dose and then another full glass over the next 10-20 minutes after taking it. Hope this helps someone out there! Good luck.”
For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection: “Had a chesty, wheezy cough for nearly 4 weeks and during that time brought up a lot of green/yellow mucus. Snotty nose. No other symptoms like muscle aches and thought I'd soldier on. After 6 weeks decided to visit Dr. who said my right lung was crackly, and prescribed amoxicillin. Taken for 1 week, only started to feel better on last day of course. Mucus reduced, cough still niggly. Cough became really wet and mucus restarted. Felt like a cup full every time I expelled some. So 10 days later and back to Dr. and it Doxycycline prescribed this time twice a day on day 1, then 1 a day til blister pack completed. Snotty nose disappeared 1st night and on day 3 wheeze disappeared and I still have 4 days of meds to take. No side effects as taken with food and a pint of water at ingestion. If I have anything like this again, I'll press for immediate prescribing of doxy.”
For Acne: “Been on this medication doxycycline for almost 4 months. Side effects were pretty brutal at the beginning (nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity) but now my body has adjusted to the medication. I have seen major improvement in my skin. I'm not getting any breakouts or big pimples like I use to get before I started this medication. I'm taking this medication along with clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide, this combination has been great. Right now I only have a few bumps on my forehead. I recommend eating before taking this medication tho :P”
For Bacterial Infection: “Had extreemly painful sinusitis. Had been given 2 lots of Amoxcillin which didn’t work . Given a 7 day course of Doxy .2 capsules to take on the first day ,then one a day This worked and I did not suffer any side effects at all . Would definitely take this again .”
For Urinary Tract Infection: “I took doxycycline with food and a large glass of water both morning and night. I had no side effects whatsoever- no nausea, vomiting, headache, etc. I felt symptom relief after just 1 day. While I’m sure others may have had different experiences- don’t let that deter you from trying!”
For Urinary Tract Infection: “I noticed my urine had a very strong, pungent odor to it, was a little darker than normal, but, no pain or problems urinating. I googled "why does my urine smell so pungent". The response was possible UTI (Urinary Tract Infection). I purchased AZO urinary tract infection home self testing Test Strips at my local pharmacy and the results were positive. My doctor prescribed Doxycycline Hyclate 100mg. Within 3 days, the color and odor of my urine returned to normal. I continued to take my RX as prescribed for the next 7 days, took another AZO self test, and the results were negative. This drug worked for me; no side effects.”
For Acne: “I am doctor and took doxycycline 100mg for acne on face and back. It works and clears up skin in about two weeks. However, major complaint is that it causes skin darkening/hyperpigmentation. I have brown complexion and spend less than 5 minutes a day in sun but still turned several shades darker after just three weeks of taking it.”
For Lyme Disease: “I woke up 4 weeks ago with a red blotchy rash and immediately went to see my doctor. I was diagnosed with Lyme and started taking doxycycline prescribed for 21 days. I had the symptoms of extreme fatigue and what I thought were flu symptoms. I did the research on the doxy before I took it, I am not a fan of taking any medication. I read that it should be taken with a lot of water. I would drink 8 ounces of water before the pill and the same after and the only time I got sick was when I drank less than 8 ounces, it was an awful experience. I am on my last day of the meds, In my opinion, drinking almost 40 ounces of water a day has helped this process. It prevents you from getting sick and it flushes the toxins out of your body, your stomach will reward you and you are helping your body detox. I am excited as today is my last day on doxy and looking forward to positive lab results in a few weeks. Wishing everyone that reads this a healthy and complete recovery!”
This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge and judgement of healthcare professionals.
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For Acne: “I was prescribed doxycycline 100mg x 1 a day for three months which was for my acne. Please persevere!! After two months my skin had made no improvement at all, I was getting new spots everyday and these were now causing scarring. I felt so down at the fact that it had done absolutely nothing for me! I started exploring other options and considered coming off this antibiotic but thought I’d stick it out for the final month. I’m so glad I did, as I’m now on my final week of the third month and my skin is practically clear! The only thing I now worry is whether my acne will come back after finishing the course... but we will see.”