Key takeaways:
Doxycycline (Vibramycin, Doryx) is a prescription antibiotic that comes as a tablet, capsule, and oral suspension. It’s an effective option for treating lung infections, skin infections, and more.
Your doxycycline dosage depends on many factors. This includes your age, body weight, and the type of infection you have.
Adults are commonly prescribed a doxycycline dosage of 1 capsule (100 mg) twice daily. Children’s doxycycline dosages are based on body weight.
Doxycycline hyclate and doxycycline monohydrate are both available as lower-cost generics. GoodRx can help you save over 90% off the average retail price at certain pharmacies.
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Doxycycline (Vibramycin, Doryx) is a prescription antibiotic that belongs to a class of medications called tetracyclines. This multi-focused medication can treat bacterial infections in your lungs and skin in addition to conditions like tick-borne diseases, acne, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A different brand of doxycycline, called Oracea, can also treat a skin-reddening condition called rosacea.
No matter the use, doxycycline works by stopping bacteria from making proteins that are necessary for their growth and survival. It can do this in the form of a tablet, capsule, or oral suspension (liquid) if it’s hard for you to swallow pills.
As with other antibiotics, you should take doxycycline exactly as prescribed — even if you start to feel better. This includes taking your doxycycline dosage at the right dose and for the right length of time. Here, we’ll review common doxycycline dosages for adults and children.
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What’s the typical doxycycline dosage for adults?
The typical adult doxycycline dosage depends on what it’s being used to treat. What’s more, when you first start taking doxycycline, your dose may be divided into a starting dose and a maintenance dose. The starting dose is the dose you take on the first day, and the maintenance dose is the dose you take thereafter.
For example, the typical starting dose of doxycycline for acne is 200 mg on the first day, which is usually split up into two 100 mg doses. The maintenance dose is 100 mg, which is taken as a single dose or can be split up into two 50 mg doses.
Specific doxycycline dosages for different types of infections are described below.
Skin conditions, lung infections, and tick-borne illnesses
You can take doxycycline for a variety of reasons. It’s an effective treatment for infections and other health conditions affecting different parts of the body.
| Infection type | Dosage | Treatment duration |
|---|---|---|
| Acne | 100 mg twice daily on day 1 followed by a maintenance dose of 100 mg per day | 3-4 months |
| Cellulitis (skin infection) | 100 mg twice daily | At least 5 days |
| Pneumonia | 100 mg twice daily | 5-7 days |
| Rocky mountain spotted fever | 100 mg twice daily | At least 5-7 days |
| Rosacea | Take 40 mg once daily in the morning (at least 1 hour prior to or 2 hours after meals) | Variable, up to 4-9 months |
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
There are many different causes of STIs, like bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Doxycycline is an antibiotic that can treat STIs caused by bacteria. Top examples are described below.
| Infection type | Dosage | Treatment duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | 100 mg twice daily | At least 7 days |
| Syphilis | 150 mg twice daily | At least 10 days |
| Uncomplicated gonorrhea | 100 mg twice daily | 7 days |
| Uncomplicated gonorrhea (alternative option) | 300 mg given twice separated by one hour | 1 day |
| Epididymo-orchitis (testes infection) | 100 mg twice daily | At least 10 days |
| Nongonococcal urethritis (urethral infection) | 100 mg twice daily | At least 7 days |
What’s the typical doxycycline dosage for children?
If your child has an infection and needs a course of doxycycline, their dose will be personalized to their body weight if they weigh less than 45 kg (99 lbs). Their age and infection also play a role.
For kids weighing less than 45 kg, the typical starting doxycycline dose is 2.2 mg per kg of body weight twice daily. The maintenance dose is generally 2.2 mg per kg once daily (can be given in one or two doses throughout the day). For example, if your child weighs 30 kg (66 lbs), their healthcare provider may have prescribed a maintenance dose of 66 mg per day.
If your child weighs 45 kg or more, they’ll receive the full adult doxycycline dosage.
Can young kids take doxycycline?
Historically, doxycycline was avoided in children younger than 8 years old due to concerns of the medication causing teeth staining. This is because medications in the same class, such as tetracycline, have been linked to this problem in this age group.
However, this is much less likely to happen with doxycycline. Organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics state that doxycycline is not thought to cause tooth staining. Doxycycline is commonly used in children younger than 8 years old.
Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions?
In most cases, no. If you’re taking doxycycline and have other health conditions, you likely won’t need a dosage adjustment.
This is even true for impaired kidney health. A portion of doxycycline is removed from your body in urine, but no dosage adjustments are necessary if you have kidney problems. Studies show that if you have kidney issues, large amounts of doxycycline don’t build up in your body.
According to manufacturer labeling, you also won’t need any dosage adjustments if you have liver issues.
What happens if you miss a dose of doxycycline?
It's common to forget to take a dose of medication from time to time, especially if it’s for a short-term medication like doxycycline that you’re not used to taking.
If you miss a dose of doxycycline, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it's almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose altogether. Don't take two doses to make up for the missed one. Taking two or more doses of doxycycline at the same time increases the risk of side effects like upset stomach and sensitive skin.
What should you do if you take too much doxycycline?
If you think you may have taken too much doxycycline, don't panic. There aren’t any published reports of large doxycycline doses causing toxic effects in humans.
Still, you should contact your healthcare provider for guidance on what to do next. They can advise you on whether any action is needed based on your specific situation. In most cases, they’ll recommend supportive care measures aimed at calming any symptoms you may be experiencing. There isn’t an antidote for doxycycline.
You can also contact Poison Control for advice. You can reach Poison Control by calling 1-800-222-1222 or by visiting them online.
However, if you are experiencing severe symptoms, you should go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
How to save on doxycycline
Doxycycline hyclate and doxycycline monohydrate are both available as lower-cost generics. GoodRx can help you save over 90% off the average retail price of the generic version of doxycycline hyclate and doxycycline monohydrate.
Generic doxycycline hyclate’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $9.10 with a free GoodRx discount. Generic doxycycline monohydrate’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $11.52 with a free GoodRx discount.
The bottom line
Doxycycline is a prescription antibiotic that treats bacterial infections and other health conditions. It can be taken in the form of tablets, capsules, or an oral suspension. For adults, a common doxycycline dosage is 100 mg twice daily. However, doxycycline dosages vary depending on a number of factors, including age, weight, and type and severity of your condition.
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References
Bryant Ranch Prepack. (2022). Doxycycline [package insert].
Catalent. (2022). Oracea [package insert].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Diagnosis and management of tickborne Rickettsial diseases: Rocky mountain spotted Fever and other spotted fever group rickettsioses, ehrlichioses, and anaplasmosis — United States. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Meissner, H. C. (2020). When can doxycycline be used in young children?American Academy of Pediatrics.
Metlay, J., et al. (2019). Diagnosis and treatment of adults with community-acquired Pneumonia. An official clinical practice guideline of the American Thoracic Society and Infectious Diseases Society of America. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
National Capital Poison Center. (n.d.). What is doxycycline?
National Capital Poison Center. (2022). Get poison control help.
Stevens, D. L., et al. (2014). Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections: 2014 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Zaenglein, A., et al. (2016). Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
