Patient was educated on the side effects of using Doxycycline as follows:
- Central nervous system findings
- Doxycycline use can sometimes result in severe dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, tremors, and seizures.
- Renal damage
- Long term Doxycycline intake can lead to renal damage, thus compromising kidney function.
- Renal injury and altered kidney function can result in increased creatinine levels in the body, accumulation of other wastes resulting in altered levels of consciousness, abrupt weight gain, and reduced urine formation.
- Nausea and vomiting
- This is the most common side effect of Doxycycline.
- Taking the antibiotic with some food and water can minimize the effects of nausea and vomiting.
- Opportunistic fungal infections
- The friendly normal flora residing in the human body help prevent growth of opportunistic infections.
- Doxycycline by destroying the normal flora, tips the balance in favor of opportunistic infections.
- So, long term use of Doxycycline carries a risk of opportunistic fungal infections, such as, thrush and yeast infections.
