Alodox

• OCuSOFT, Inc.

Alodox is part of the drug class:

• TETRACYCLINES

Oral/Injectable:

Serious side effects have been reported with doxycycline including:

• Hypersensitivity reaction:  An allergic reaction is possible with doxycycline.  Tell your doctor if you are allergic to doxycycline (Doryx and Oracea), minocycline (Solodyn), or other tetracycline antibiotics.  Tell your doctor if you are allergic to sulfites and will be taking the syrup form of doxycycline.  Symptoms of an allergic reaction include:
  • hives
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • rash
  • itching
  • fatigue
  • confusion
• Photosensitivity/Phototoxicity:  Doxycycline may increase your sensitivity to sunlight, ultraviolet light from tanning beds, and sunburns. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and wear protective clothing.
• Tooth discoloration during childhood development:  Tetracycline antibiotics including doxycycline can discolor the tooth enamel of children under the age of 8 and of fetuses in the last half of pregnancy.
• Decreased effectiveness of oral contraceptives (birth control): Talk to your doctor about methods to prevent pregnancy while taking doxycycline.
• Overgrowth of bacteria resistant to doxycycline. This can lead to severe infections if not identified and addressed upon occurrence. 

If you are taking doxycycline to prevent malaria, you should know:

• that no present-day antimalarial agent, including doxycycline, guarantees protection against malaria.
• to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by using personal protective measures that help avoid contact with mosquitoes, especially from dusk to dawn (e.g., staying in well-screened areas, using mosquito nets, covering the body with clothing, and using an effective insect repellent).
• taking doxycycline to prevent malaria:
  •  should begin 1 to 2 days before travel to the malarious area.
  •  should be continued daily while in the malarious area and after leaving the malarious area.
  •  should be continued for 4 further weeks to avoid development of malaria after returning from an endemic area.
  •  should not exceed 4 months.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Other drugs may interact with doxycycline, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

After oral administration, doxycycline hyclate is rapidly and nearly completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Doxycycline is eliminated with a half-life of approximately 18 hours by renal and fecal excretion of unchanged drug.

THE USE OF DRUGS OF THE TETRACYCLINE CLASS DURING TOOTH
DEVELOPMENT (LAST HALF OF PREGNANCY, INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD TO
THE AGE OF 8 YEARS) MAY CAUSE PERMANENT DISCOLORATION OF THE
TEETH (YELLOW-GRAY-BROWN). This adverse reaction is more common during
long-term use of the drugs but has been observed following repeated short term
courses. Enamel hypoplasia has also been reported. TETRACYCLINE DRUGS,
THEREFORE, SHOULD NOT BE USED IN THIS AGE GROUP AND IN
PREGNANT OR NURSING MOTHERS UNLESS THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS
MAY BE ACCEPTABLE DESPITE THE POTENTIAL RISKS

All tetracyclines form a stable calcium complex in any bone forming tissue. A
decrease in fibula growth rate has been observed in premature infants given oral
tetracyclines in doses of 25 mg/kg every 6 hours. This reaction was shown to be
reversible when the drug was discontinued.

Doxycycline can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Results
of animal studies indicate that tetracyclines cross the placenta, are found in fetal
tissues, and can have toxic effects on the developing fetus (often related to
retardation of skeletal development). Evidence of embryotoxicity has also been
noted in animals treated early in pregnancy. If any tetracyclines are used during
pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient
should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus.

The catabolic action of the tetracyclines may cause an increase in BUN. Previous
studies have not observed an increase in BUN with the use of doxycycline in
patients with impaired renal function.

Photosensitivity manifested by an exaggerated sunburn reaction has been observed
in some individuals taking tetracyclines. Patients apt to be exposed to direct sunlight
or ultraviolet light should be advised that this reaction can occur with tetracycline
drugs, and treatment should be discontinued at the first evidence of skin erythema.

Because tetracyclines have been shown to depress plasma
prothrombin activity, patients who are on anticoagulant therapy may require
downward adjustment of their anticoagulant dosage.

Since bacterial antibiotics, such as the tetracycline class of antibiotics, may interfere
with the bactericidal action of members of the ‚-lactam (e.g., penicillin) class of
antibiotics, it is not advisable to administer these antibiotics concomitantly.

Absorption of tetracyclines is impaired by antacids containing aluminum, calcium, or
magnesium, and iron-containing preparations, and by bismuth subsalicylate.

Barbiturates, carbamazepine, and phenytoin decrease the half-life of doxycycline.

The concurrent use of tetracycline and methoxyflurane has been reported to result
in fatal renal toxicity.

Concurrent use of tetracyclines may render oral contraceptives less effective.

Pediatric Use: The use of doxycycline hyclate tablets in infancy and childhood is contraindicated. (See WARNINGS Section).

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Notes

Missed Dose

Consult your pharmacist.

Storage

Consult your pharmacist.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Information last revised July 2016. Copyright(c) 2016 First Databank, Inc.