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Precautions
Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) containing estrogen may not work properly if you take them while you are taking doxycycline. Unplanned pregnancies may occur. You should use a different or additional means of birth control while you are taking doxycycline. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
You should contact your doctor right away if you experience stomach cramps, high fever, and bloody diarrhea. These could be symptoms of pseudomembranous colitis, a serious condition where the colon is severely inflamed.
Doxycycline may cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause a skin rash, itching, redness or other discoloration of the skin, or a severe sunburn. When you begin taking this medicine:
- Stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., if possible.
- Wear protective clothing, including a hat. Also, wear sunglasses.
- Apply a sunblock product that has a skin protection factor (SPF) number of at least 15. Some patients may require a product with a higher SPF number, especially if they have a fair complexion. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
- Apply a sunblock lipstick that has an SPF of at least 15 to protect your lips.
- Do not use a sun lamp or tanning bed or booth.
Contact your doctor immediately if fever, rash, joint pain, or tiredness occurs. These could be symptoms of an autoimmune syndrome where the body attacks itself.
You should not take antacids that contain aluminum, calcium or magnesium, or any product that contains iron such as vitamin or mineral supplements.
