Doxycycline

Doxycycline is an antibiotic that’s used to treat a range of infections, and can prevent you from developing malaria when you’re travelling in areas where transmission is common. It works effectively against multiple bacterias and microorganisms, and offers protection in all malarious regions of the world.

Malaria is a severe, often fatal disease that is spread by infected mosquitoes. One bite can be enough to spread it,^[1] so it’s important you’re taking every measure to keep yourself safe.

Doxycycline should be started 2 days before entering a country with a risk of malaria, taken daily for the duration of the trip and continued for 4 weeks after return. This extended course means you’ll remain protected if you’ve been bitten and are carrying any malaria parasites without knowing it.

Doxycycline works by protecting you against the onset of malaria in the event of being bitten by an infected mosquito while travelling. Tetracycline antibiotics offer prophylaxis, meaning they’re a preventative medication that can stop a disease from developing. Prophylactic antibiotics destroy the harmful bacteria that can make you ill by breaking down the proteins within them.

Starting your course of antibiotics two days before you arrive in a place with a high malaria risk means the drugs are already working in your system. Unlike other malaria prevention, Doxycycline is continued for four weeks after you return. This is because if you do get bitten by an infected mosquito, there is an incubation period before symptoms appear than can last anywhere between 7 and 18 days (or in some cases even longer).^[2]

Doxycycline is available as 100mg capsules, taken once a day. That’s the standard dose for malaria prevention, and should be enough to keep you protected for the duration of your travels.

You’ll need to take this daily dose for the duration of your stay, and for 4 weeks once you return.

Anyone who is travelling to a part of the world that poses a malaria risk will need to take preventative measures – in the form of both medication and other practical solutions to avoiding mosquito bites. Creams and sprays can be used as deterrents, as can mosquito nets, long sleeve clothing and full length trousers.

Being a once-a-day antibiotic, Doxycycline is easy to take and convenient if you’ve got a busy day ahead. The capsules should be swallowed with plenty of water, and work best when taken at the same time each day. With that in mind, it might be a good idea to keep to a schedule for taking it – you could take your Doxycycline first thing in the morning, or set an alarm each day while you’re away.

You should take doxycycline in the sitting or standing position and remain upright for at least an hour after taking it. This will reduce the risk of stomach irritation and indigestion. Avoid taking this medication just before lying down.

Tetracyclines enter your bloodstream quickly once you start them, but to feel the full effects of antibiotics, they will need a couple of days. That’s why a course of Doxycycline begins before you enter a malarious region – by the time you’re there, the medication will have built up enough to keep you protected.

For the same reason, you’ll carry on taking your antibiotics after your trip in case you get bitten by an infected mosquito without knowing it. Doxycycline covers you before, during and after your trip.

If you forget to take a capsule at your usual time, make sure you try and take it as soon as you can. You’ll be taking one a day, so there’s no need to try and double up if you miss a dose completely. Just carry on with your usual routine and Doxycycline will do its job.

It’s important to finish your full prescription, even if you feel fine. This will make sure you’re completely protected from malaria.