Doxycycline and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Mr ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "Have been taking doxycycline for a week now, and the side effects are really killing me, such that I am feeling I have a serious infection. The reason I was prescribed it was for the risk of STIs - though the doctor didn't know the infection exactly. Just made assumptions when I explained how I was feeling after having unprotected sex. I feel headache, muscle pain, nausea, back pains, too much chest pain, joint pains, insomnia, and feeling generally sick. Now wondering should I continue taking or stop immediately?"

• Old...
• March 2, 2017

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "I had an upper respiratory infection. It worked in clearing things up, but I experienced many side effects, which included nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, pressure in the head, and vomiting every time I took my prescription. I took my prescriptions with food and water and followed directions by the book. It seems to have many benefits, but some of the side effects are not fun to say the least."

• May...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2018

For Bacterial Infection "My doctor prescribed this medication after an HSG test (a test used to evaluate female fertility). It was prescribed for 7 days, I'm on day 6 and getting worse every day. All my muscles and body ache, I can't even stand still for a long time, real bad headaches, tachycardia, sore throat, nasal congestion, fever, loss of appetite. I think I will stop using it because I'm feeling worse every day."

• Bra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2020

For Acne "Awful, do not take this drug for acne. I previously took lymecycline for about a year and a half, and it worked great, had no side effects, but it stopped working, so I was put on doxycycline, and I only took 6 days' worth of pills and developed a persistent headache, dizziness, blurred vision, ringing in my ears that still persisted over a week after I stopped taking these pills. Take a different antibiotic if you can."

• del...
• September 28, 2014

For Acne "I'm 27, and I just started taking doxycycline 2x a day, 100 mg. I saw my skin clearing up, or at least no new pimples since day 1! I also use tretinoin cream at night and Benzaclin/clindamycin in the morning. I had an upset stomach so far, only for one day, but the past two days, I've been dealing with a bad headache. I'm hoping it'll go away soon. Other than that, this medicine works great for me!"

• bad...
• April 17, 2012

For Bronchitis "Have been prescribed doxycycline for bronchitis, also have asthma and have been on Prednisone steroids alongside the antibiotics. Side effects experienced: increased urination, slow urine flow, severe kidney pain, headaches, stomach pain, yeast infection (male). Out of all the antibiotics ever in my system, these have the worst side effects. The chest infection has passed in 5 days."

• Jes...
• January 11, 2017

For Bacterial Infection "I have been taking 100 mg every 12 hrs for a few days, and at first, it was just headaches and nausea, but now I'm throwing up with the feeling of the flu and the worst aches and pains, not to mention the heartburn! Will not be taking it anymore!"

• Pai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 7, 2013

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed 100 mg/2x a day for 7 days to treat pelvic pain/UTI. It worked, but a couple of days later, the UTI returned. The doctor prescribed a second week of 100 mg/2x a day for an additional week. During that week, I experienced fever, chills, severe headache, confusion, major nausea, and vomited twice. I went to Urgent Care tonight because it feels like a pill has been stuck burning my throat for 3 days. The Urgent Care doctor acknowledged swollen glands and raw, bright red throat and tested for mono and strep-both tests came back negative. So now I'm home, still in pain, without any answers, just a large medical bill. If you must take doxy, be aware of the possible side effects."

• Con...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2015

For Bacterial Infection "I was prescribed 100's, and for 14 days, I was to take two, with food, not lying down for 30 minutes afterward, and then continue once a day for the next 62 days. I find it provokes nausea, headaches, and indigestion, but is clearing up the skin irritation that was the reason she put me on a strong dose. I suspected bacteria because of other symptoms. My face is just about clear, and sinus situations I have had for a long time have lessened, leading to confirm what I have always suspected: that allergies are caused by a poor immune system. I had not heard until reading these testimonies that you were not to take vitamins, which I have continued to take and may be causing stomach irritation."

• Tim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2020

For Bacterial Infection "My doctor prescribed me doxycycline hyclate 100 mg capsules, 10 days for twice a day for an ear infection. The pharmacy gave me blue pills mfg by West-Ward. So far, I have taken the medicine for five days, and I have had a severe headache, sinus pains, sensitivity to light, black and blue circles under my eyes, stomach upset, and severe acid reflux. My ear infection doesn't seem to be improved very much, but I feel like the medicine gave me a sinus infection. I am going to try and contact my doctor and see if I can get something different."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2018

For Bacterial Infection "I'm reading some of these reviews and am shocked that so many people kept taking this medication after getting sick. I'm not! This is the scariest medication I have ever taken, and I only took 1 pill about 3 hours ago. Right now, I have a pounding headache, my tongue is sore and kind of yellow, and I'm starting to get nauseous. I was given this med by my dentist for a gum infection because I'm allergic to penicillin. I'm not taking any more of this. I'm calling my doctor in the AM to get something else... If I don't have to go to the ER in the middle of the night. Kind of afraid to go to sleep like this."

• Sad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2017

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "I am unsure how effective this medication is because I could only tolerate it for 2 days before I told my doctor I was pulling myself off. Taking it on an empty stomach, as prescribed, had me vomiting within an hour and created an instant MASSIVE headache. The kind that has you pressing on part of your head to make sure your brain is still in there. I had to eat a small meal before any doses. It killed my appetite and also made me feel depressed, lethargic, and apathetic. I tried to sleep through the evening doses but would wake up with a terrible headache that would take hours to kick."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2018

For Bacterial Infection "I was given Doxy for a sinus infection, and I immediately felt terrible. I had horrible watery diarrhea, headaches, and neck pain. I couldn’t sleep and was dizzy, lightheaded, and the worst was I was incredibly irritable and had a short fuse. I wouldn’t recommend this medicine to anyone."

• Sha...
• January 2, 2017

For Bacterial Infection "10-15 minutes after taking this, I got a really bad stomach ache that caused a hot flash like I was gonna pass out. I got nauseous, then threw up for 5 minutes and dry heaved for another 5. For the rest of the day, I had a headache and felt sick to my stomach. I will never take this drug again!"

• Lou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "Starting to wonder if just fighting the infection with the natural immune system would be the better course to take instead of taking this medication. Headache, stiff neck, dizziness, tiredness, heartburn, racing heart, etc. What are doctors trying to pull with this stuff? Seems like patients on chemotherapy feel better than people taking this poison. Can't believe I paid money for this."

• Jes...
• October 3, 2013

For Acne "I have been on this medication for one month, and my cystic acne is completely gone as a result, but it didn't clear up completely until week 3. I give this a 10 for the results. However, there is a long list of bad side effects for this medication, and I suffered many of them. I had severe stomach pains. The pain wouldn't last long, but it came on quick and strong before stopping. I also had some digestive issues, and an upset, gurgling stomach non-stop for the first week or two. I also got bad headaches and had no appetite for two weeks. It also made me nauseated at first. After week two, the side effects stopped, but it was a rough start."

• CPT...
• April 25, 2020

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "On day 2 of doxycycline. Congestion, vomiting, headache is cleared up. Taking 100 mg every 12 hours for 10 days for upper respiratory infection. Haven’t started my prednisone yet. My sinuses quit bleeding as well."

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2020

For Pneumonia "I had pneumonia and just finished the 7-day course of doxycycline two days ago. 48 hrs. The side effects using this with antibiotics and prednisone are still affecting me. Increased heart rate, palpitations, shortness of breath, anxiety attacks randomly (I don’t have anxiety), depression bouts where I feel sad, pressure in my head, and bloating and burping. The three combined were awful with side effects. Pretty sure the pneumonia is gone... gotta deal with these side effects until the medications are out of my system. Do not take doxy if you fear side effects."

• kly...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2023

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "Absolutely not. Never again. This antibiotic made me feel like I was flirting with death. I could not eat, I could barely drink, my head hurt so bad I was sobbing, I couldn't breathe without panting, I got a fever of 101. I felt delirious and overemotional. It barely helped the problem, kind of worked against me because my body was having to fight not only the infection but the medicine as well. I put this on my allergy list. Also, if you have idiopathic intracranial hypertension, it increases pressure in the head. Please talk to your doctor if you suspect you have this condition before taking tetracyclines. I did not know this beforehand."

• Amb...
• April 7, 2013

Doxycycline for Acne "Day 3 of Monodox: my acne is starting to clear up. I'm on 75 mg 1x a day. Sinus stuffiness/drainage, diarrhea, muscle weakness, and a headache when I run too hard. I've read really good things about this medicine, that's why I opted to fill my prescription. SUPER EXPENSIVE without insurance and a discount card my Dr. gave me. Hope the side effects subside."

• Sah...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2018

For Bacterial Infection "Do not recommend taking! Had horrible body aches and swollen lymph node. Dr prescribed me it for 14 days, 2 times a day. I’m one week in and feel worse than I did before taking this medicine. My neck and head hurt so much I have been in and out of the ER and they can’t find anything wrong."

• Lit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2022

For Bacterial Infection "I was absolutely terrified to take this after reading all the negative reviews and really scary possible side effects. But I had to for a ureaplasma bacteria infection in my bladder that no other antibiotic can treat. I was experiencing extremely uncomfortable bladder symptoms, and after hesitating for a week, I finally took the first dose. Doxycycline is really hard on the stomach, and I learned really quickly to always eat something at least 15 minutes before taking a dose (even just a piece of toast), unless I wanted horrible stomach cramps and vomiting. Otherwise, I had barely any side effects. Just a small headache and dizziness the first couple of days. I felt really encouraged by the positive reviews on here and wanted to add one to hopefully ease some minds! Side effects are rare but can happen, and every person's body reacts differently, so if this is one you absolutely have to take, stay calm, take deep breaths, listen to your body, and take a probiotic!"

• mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "This was my second time on the med. The first time, I had no issues at all. Prescribed 100 mg twice a day. This time, I had nausea, dizziness, severe headaches, and worst of all, non-stop panic attacks. I do have anxiety issues but rarely ever have panic attacks, so this scared me big time. My doctor pulled me off after Day 3 and said my infection was likely gone since the side effects went away, and a week later, I have an infection again."

• mik...
• December 18, 2022

For Bacterial Infection "Felt like I got rolled over by a freight train. I took both doses, and I felt like I was gonna die. It made my chest hurt, and my head felt like it was gonna explode. Oh, did I mention excruciating jaw pain? Then anxiety. Wow, this is a bad med, gonna stop this now."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2021

For Bacterial Infection "I was prescribed doxycycline for a sinus infection. I took it for 3 days and had to stop. It has raised my blood pressure to stroke level, caused severe pressure in my head, severely dry sinuses, constant ringing in my ears, and a headache that wouldn't go away! It's been 47 hours since I took the last dose, and the only side effect that is starting to get a little better is the dry sinuses. My blood pressure is still extremely high. I have an appointment with a different doctor tomorrow. I hope he can help me with getting rid of some of these side effects that don't want to go away."