Patient was educated on the side effects of using Doxycycline as follows:
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Doxycycline can precipitate irregular heartbeats, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in individuals with history of cardiac arrhythmias. Individuals with history of chronic disturbance in serum magnesium and potassium ions are also at increased risk for arrhythmias with Doxycycline.
- Also, individuals taking Lasix are at increased risk for losing potassium, thus setting the ground for life-threatening arrhythmias, upon taking Doxycycline.
- Vision disturbances
- Doxycycline intake can precipitate an uncommon, but a very serious side effect of elevated intracranial pressure.
- This elevated pressure in the cranium can result in intense headaches and in severe cases, can cause seizures.
- Also, the elevated intracranial pressure can exert influence on the optic nerve, resulting in altered vision and double vision.
- The reaction can occasionally be very severe and can lead to progressive loss of vision.
- Hepatic damage
- Long term Doxycycline intake can lead to hepatic injury, thus compromising liver function.
- Hepatic injury and altered liver function can result in increased bilirubin levels in the body, resulting in itching, jaundice with yellowing of skin and sclera, dark urine, altered metabolism with nausea and vomiting, pain in the right upper abdominal quadrant, and fatigue.
- Photosensitivity
- Long term Doxycycline intake can result in photosensitivity and skin rash.
