Product Information
Doxycycline [Generic Equivalent to Doxycycline] Tablets
/ Capsules
Doxycycline Medication
Doxycycline medication is an antibiotic medicine belonging to the class called
"tetracyclines." Doxycycline medication is used to treat bacterial
infections in many different parts of the body. Generic Doxycycline does not
treat viral infections, such as the common cold. Doxycycline Medication is approved
by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat and protect people who have
been exposed to anthrax spores.
Antibiotics: Information
The ideal antibacterial or antimicrobial compound displays a selective toxicity.
This means that it is harmful to the microbe (the bacteria, fungi or virus)
without being harmful to the host (you). In reality, many antimicrobials have
a relative toxicity. Antimicrobial is a broader category that includes antifungal,
antiviral, antiprotozoal or antibacterial compounds. Antibacterials specfically
act against bacterial cells.
The actual mechanism of antibacterial compounds is not always known. In general
terms, most of these drugs act by altering or inhibiting one of the following
cellular structures/processes:
- cell wall synthesis
- permeability of the cell membrane
- protein synthesis
- nucleic acid synthesis
Classes of Antibacterials
Penicillins: The penicillin class of antibiotics is a diverse,
yet highly essential class of antibiotics. The penicillin class includes penicillin
G, penicillin V, amoxicillin, ampicillin, nafcillin, ticarcillin (combined with
clavulanic acid = Timentin), Augmentin (amoxicillin and clavulanic acid), Zosyn,
and many, many others. Penicillins work by damaging the cell wall of the bacteria.
Penicillin and all of its derivatives come from a mold, Penicillium
notatum, which is toxic bluish-green mold often found on old bread. The mold
must be carefully processed to produce the penicillin. This compound was discovered
by Alexander Fleming in 1929 and was made famous during World War II. These
antibiotics are used to treat a variety of infections including strep throat,
upper respiratory infections, salmonella (food poisoning), gonorrhea, chlamydia,
and many other infections.
Cephalosporins: Cephalosporins are another widely used class of antibiotics.
They are similar to penicillins in structure, but in general, can treat a broader
range of infections. For example, these antibiotics are used to treat strep
throat, cellulitis, E. coli infections, pneumonia, upper respiratory infections,
sinus infections, and gonorrhea. Cephalosporins act by disrupting the bacterial
cell wall.
A few of the medications in this class include:
- cephalexin (Keflex)
- cefazolin (Ancef or Kefzol)
- cefaclor (Ceclor)
- loracarbef (Lorabid)
- ceftriaxone (Rocephin)
- cefotaxime (Claforan)
Sulfa Drugs: Sulfa drugs are the oldest antibiotics available and are also
among the best. Sulfa drug was first used in 1930's. Sulfa drugs include sulfamethoxazole,
a component of Bactrim, sulfasoxazole, and many others. Sulfa drugs are used
to treat a variety of infections including urinary tract infections, upper respiratory
infections, and pneumonia. Sulfa compounds work by inhibiting nucleic acid (DNA,
RNA) synthesis.
Tetracyclines: Tetracyclines belong to family of antibiotics often used to
treat penicillin-resistant infections. Tetracyclines are often used to treat
gonorrhea, chlamydia, lyme disease, rocky mountain spotted fever, and pneumonia.
Tetracyline an antibiotics include Doxycycline , tetracycline,
and minocycline. These compounds are antimicrobial because of their inhibition
of bacterial protein synthesis. They bind to the cellular organelles called
ribosomes, and interfere with the assembly of bacterial amino acids into proteins.
It is important to take tetracyclines at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after
taking an antacid, drinking milk, or taking iron. Antacids, milk (due to its
calcium content), and iron decrease the absorption of tetracyclines.
Tetracyclines can cause bone deformities in children, and should not be given
to anyone under the age of 8 and below. Some common side effects of tetracyclines
include diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and sore mouth. Tetracyclines
may increase sensitivity to the sun, so avoid prolonged exposure and wear sunscreen
when taking such compounds.
Macrolides durg : Macrolides are a class of drugs that are entirely different
from penicillin, but are often used to treat many of the same diseases. Penicillins
works by damaging the cell wall of the bacteria. In contrast, macrolides inhibit
protein synthesis but by a different mechanism than tetracycline. The structural
differences in macrolides also make them ideal alternatives to penicillin in
patients who have penicillin allergies.
Macrolides are often used to treat pneumonia, whooping cough, diphtheria, upper
respiratory infections, bronchitis, sinus infections, and many other diseases.
Examples of macrolides include:
- erythromycin
- clarithromycin (Biaxin)
- azithromycin (Azithromycin or Z-pak)
Some common side effects with Macrolides include: stomach upset, diarrhea,
loss of appetite, and nausea and vomiting.
Fluoroquinolones: Fluoroquinolones are broad-spectrum anti-infectives. Fluoroquinolones
are used to treat a variety of infections, including strep throat, pneumonia,
severe upper-respiratory infections, several of the STDs, and some of the severe
hospital-acquired infections. Examples of some of the fluoroquinolones are ciprofloxacin
(Cipro) and levofloxacin (Levaquin). Ciprofloxacin has been used to treat persons
exposed to anthrax in recent bioterrorism events in the US.
Some common side effects with Fluoroquinolones include: diarrhea, difficulty
sleeping, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, and nausea. To help reduce the side
effects, try to take these medications 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking
an antacid or drinking milk.
Intravenous (IV) Antibiotics
Aminoglycosides: Aminoglycosides is a class of antibiotics only available as
IV infusions because they are not well absorbed orally. However, they can also
be given as a injection into the muscle (such as bicep or thigh).
Aminoglycosides are used to treat a variety of infections, including endocarditis,
cellulitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, meningitis, pyelonephritis, severe urinary
tract infections, and many other infections. Aminoglycosides drugs work by inhibiting
bacterial protein synthesis. Examples of aminoglycosides include gentamicin,
tobramycin, and amikacin.
Although these drugs are important agents and often are "life-saving"
they must be closely monitored due to the potential for serious toxicity. It
is important to inform your doctor immediately if any of the following symptoms
are noticed while taking an aminoglycoside: difficulty hearing, dizziness, increased
thirst, loss of balance, muscle weakness, nausea, pain or difficulty passing
urine, or ringing in the ears. In particular, these compounds can be toxic to
components of the nervous system, kidneys and ears.
Glycopeptides: Currently, vancomycin is only one drug in this
class of antibacterials: vancomycin (Vancocin). Intravenous vancomycin is used
to treat a variety of severe infections, such as penicillin-resistant pneumonia,
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-a serious bacterial infection that
is extremely difficult to treat, and other serious infections.
Vancomycin (Vancocin) is also available orally, but the oral form of the drug
is not absorbed well. Because it remains largely in the gut, vancomycin is one
of two antibiotics used to treat pseudomembranous colitis, an inflammation of
the large and small intestine caused by the effects of other antibiotics.
The most common side effects of oral vancomycin are nausea and vomiting.
Intravenous vancomycin is given primarily under the direct supervision of a
healthcare provider. Common side effects from the IV include nausea, vomiting,
and pain at the injection site.
Streptogrammins: Streptogrammins is the newest class of antibiotics
on the market. Currently, there is only one drug in this class of antibacterials:
the combination drug Quinupristin/Dalfopristin (Synercid).
Synercid was specifically designed to treat infections that vancomycin is unable
to treat. For example, Synercid was designed to treat vancomycin-resistant enterococcus
(VRE), a life-threatening, hospital-acquired infection. Synercid is currently
reserved for severe infections, and is available only as an IV.
Microbes: Information
Microbes are the oldest form of life on Earth. Some types have existed for
billions of years. These single-cell organisms are invisible to the eye, but
they can be seen with microscopes. Microbes live in the water you drink, the
food you eat, and the air you breathe. Most microbes are helpful and some even
essential, like the billions of microbes swimming in your intestines to help
digest food and create the essential vitamins our bodies need. Billions more
live naturally in our skin, mouth, nose, teeth, throat, and urethra. In fact,
95% of all microbes are not harmful.
Humans, microbes, and other living creatures all share the environment and
interact in ways that allows them to coexist. Microbes' mission in life is to
reproduce and do whatever it takes to survive. They have the ability to evolve
rapidly and can adapt to changing conditions, but where any particular microbe
can live depends on its biological requirements. Some, like the hantavirus microbe,
are limited to the habitat of the animals that carry them for part of their
life cycle. Some have evolved to exist in more than one habitat: different flu
viruses can survive in humans, birds, and other animals, and can even withstand
drying out on an exposed surface. Others are far more specialized and can survive
in only one type of environment. Deadly and widespread as it is, HIV cannot
exist for long outside the human body, for example.
Some disease-causing microbes enter the human body and stay there for part
or all of their life cycle. When pathogenic microbes spend part of their lives
in insects or other animals before they move to the human body, they are called
vector-borne agents. Some microbes that live in water are harmful if swallowed,
or if they penetrate the skin. Soil microbes can enter the human body through
a break in the skin or can be inhaled as dust.
There are five types of microbes: bacteria, viruses, protozoans, fungi, and helminths (worms).
1). Bacteria : E. coli (causes food poisoning), Strepococcus pyrogenes (causes strep throat), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (causes tuberculosis)
The most abundant organisms on Earth, bacteria live almost everywhere: in the
soil and water, in plants and animals. Whether they take the form of spheres,
rods or spirals, bacteria consist of a single cell. Unlike the cells of animals
and plants, bacterial cells lack a nucleus, but they can carry out all necessary
life functions. Most bacteria are parasites, although a few manufacture their
own food. Some of these parasites are very helpful -- they aid in many bodily
functions including digestion, and help with other processes, such as decomposition
of soil and changing of milk into cheese. Disease results, however, when bacteria
multiply rapidly (each cell simply divides into two identical cells) and damage
or kill human tissue, as in pneumonia and tuberculosis. Diseases can also produce
toxins that damage or kill human tissue, as in food poisoning or cholera. Sometimes
bacteria in the body are helpful for a while, and then something in the body
or the bacteria changes, causing destruction in the host.
2). Viruses : Adenovirus (causes the common cold), Influenza
A (causes the flu), and Hepadnavirus (causes hepatitis B)
By far the smallest microbes, viruses can appear as spirals, 20-sided figures
or even more complicated forms. They consist mainly of genetic material--DNA
or RNA. They are not cells, however, and cannot carry out life functions on
their own. Living inside the cells of other species, viruses use the host cells
to grow and produce new viral particles. As they take over genetic material
to reproduce themselves, the host cells often die. Found in all groups of living
things, from bacteria and fungi to plants and animals, hundreds of the known
viruses can cause many kinds of infections, chickenpox, measles, flu, colds,
polio, and AIDS. Viruses cannot move by themselves and must be carried to cells
by air currents and then by body fluids to the cells. Some viruses may lay dormant
for years before becoming active, as with AIDS. Most diseases come from other
species, for example: smallpox from dogs or cattle, hemorrhagic fevers from
rodents and monkeys, tuberculosis from cattle and birds, common cold from horses,
and AIDS from African monkeys.
3). Protozoa : Giardia intestinalis (causes diarrhea), Trypanosoma brucei (causes sleeping sickness), Plasmodium gametocyte (causes malaria)
Protozoa consist of a single cell that includes a nucleus. The cell also contains
structures that carry out specific processes needed for life functions. A diverse
and complex group, protozoa range through many shapes and sizes. They can be
parasitic, needing to live within another organism, or free-living in moist
habitats. The similarity of inner structures of protozoan and human cells makes
it difficult to treat infections caused by protozoa. Drugs that may destroy
the protozoan may also destroy human cells. Protozoan infections include amebic
dysentery, malaria, and African sleeping sickness.
4). Helminths : Ascaris lumbricoides (an intestinal roundworm), Schistosoma mansoni (a parasitic worm that lives in contaminated water and causes schistosomiasis or bilharzia)
Other microorganisms break down body tissues or absorb digested food. They
can cause anything from skin infections to internal disorders that can lead
to death. The group called helminths includes flukes, roundworms, and tapeworms;
these are many-celled animals with developed organs. Among the numerous types,
some are parasites--organisms that live in or on another species, usually harming
the host species in the process. Because of their size, parasitic worms grow
outside of cells and can reach an astronomical size of 30 feet in length.
5. Fungi
Helminths: Histoplasma capsulatum (causes histoplasmosis, a lung infection), Penicillium notatum (produces the drug penicillin)
Fungi include yeasts (one-celled), and mushrooms and molds (multi-celled).
Unlike plants, fungi do not make their own food. Some species of fungi get their
nutrition by breaking down remains of dead plants or animals. Others are parasites.
Examples of fungal infections include athlete's foot and ringworm.
Side effects of Antibiotics
Side effects of Antibiotics range from slight headache to a major allergic
reaction. One of the more common side effects is diarrhea, which results from
the antibiotic disrupting the balance of intestinal flora, the "good bacteria"
that dwell inside the human digestive system. Other side effects can result
from interaction between the antibiotic and other drugs, such as elevated risk
of tendon damage from administration of a quinolone antibiotic with a systemic
corticosteroid.
Rare, but more serious side effects, include the formation of kidney stones
with the sulphonamides, abnormal blood clotting with some of the cephalosporins,
increased sensitivity to the sun with the tetracyclines, blood disorders with
trimethoprim, and deafness with erythromycin and the aminoglycosides.
Sometimes, particularly in older people, antibiotic treatment can cause a type
of colitis (inflamed bowel) leading to severe diarrhea. Penicillins, cephalosporins
and erythromycin can all cause this problem but it is most common with clindamycin,
an antibiotic usually reserved for serious infections. If you develop diarrhea
while taking an antibiotic, immediately contact your doctor.
Some people are allergic to antibiotics, particularly penicillins, and can
develop side effects such as a rash, swelling of the face and tongue, and difficulty
breathing when they take them. Always tell your doctor or pharmacist if you
have had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic; sometimes the reaction can be
serious or even fatal. This is called an anaphylactic reaction.
