doxycycline cause depression

 

  My  21 year old has been on doxycycline for about 2 months and we have noticed  some sliding into  depression....trouble focusing, becoming negative, losing joy of living....anyone else experience this?

doxycycline can be used for more than just antibiotics. it's also used for SIADH, high ammonia levels, etc. what is your 21 year old on this for???

my listed side effects in my PDR are: anoxrexia, trouble swallowing, stomach/GI distress, rashes, sensitivity to light, hives,

is your 21 year old on anyother meds/herbs? those can also interfere. doxycycline can interfere with antacids, antiseizure meds, iron, contraceptives, penicillins, alcohol.

you may want to call the doctor and explain this s/e. it's always a  good idea to talk to the doc when an unexpected side effect occurs. maybe this is just unrelated effect that just seems to be occuring. in any case, it's a great idea to call your doc/NP and talk about this. depression needs to be treated, i'm sure you know that. i don't know what your child is on the doxy for, so it's a bit difficult to give more info. i am a nurse though but i will try to help any way i can.

in that case, i would def call the derm and tell her. tetracycline is not such a great drug for that condition, but it's a first line only because it's very cheap.

please call and tell her derm and have her get on something else. she may also be experiencing depression related to something else??? its always possible.

i do wish you the best and if you have any other questions, please ask. i hope you're dd gets better soon.

I have heard the quinilone class of antibiotics can cause severe depression in some people but I have not ever heard of doxycycline causing it, but I would talk to your doctor about it.

Hi id like to respond to the doxyline (sp?) that you are on I have had a very similar problem with me Iv been on zithromax mostly for sinus infect. and it I feel caused some of my depression Im ususally on it for dental work and sinus pretty often I know being on certain antib. is not good but in my low immune system etc. I have to be and I noticed everytime Im on it I get agitated etc. sorta irritating you should talk to you doc about it now Im already on antidep. but did notice depressions seems to get worse while on the antibiotic. 

Jonny

I don't know about doxycycline in particular but I took the antibiotic Avelox (moxifloxacin HCL) once and it took me into a deep, dark place I never want to go again! It actually lists depression as a possible side effect so I know at least some antibiotics can cause depression. Fortunately, I felt much better within just a couple days of stopping it.

I work in Health Care,
and I was talking with a co- worker..

she shared with me about a young boy who was put on a drug for acne



after 1 month he committed suicide..

he was NEVER a sad boy

never trouble..

it was the medication

the family has sued the company

and won...

and thats here in CANADA ! wow

but it doesn't bring this young man 'life back...



my advice as a friend



feeling depressed / low / dark mood & you are not one to be that way...



I'd take him off it & then go to doctor...

drinking lots of water to get it out of your system



Years ago I was put on a med a Quinn type( spelling)

Plaquinel

i think it was called



I had murderous thoughts, gruesome thoughts.... after 3 weeks I knew if it continued I would have done something horrible to my children



I stopped th drug 7 those thoughts ceased immediately...

Post Edited By Moderator (ShynSassy) : 10/31/2007 5:44:22 AM (GMT-6)

Depression is not a documented side effect of doxycycline but it really should be. Here is my experience with it.

I suffer from depression but have had it under control for years. I am in my 40's not a teenager. I recognize when I am having an "episode" and can usually identify the cause and take steps. about 6 weeks ago the doctor put me on doxycycline for a skin condition. Almost immediately I started the worst episode of depression that I have felt in a very long while. I didn't connect it to doxycycline because it wasn't listed as a side effect. I stopped taking the antibiotic, not because I thought it was the cause but because it was upsetting my stomach (I wasn't taking it with food). Within a day or two I noticed I felt much better. That's when I starting wondering if there was any information on the doxycycline causing depression.

I checked online and found several people complaining of this side effect but I couldn't find it on any of the drug indication sites. Next, I called my sister, who is a dermatologist, and asked her. She had never heard of depression being a side effect of this drug. She prescribes it all of the time. With that in mind, I started back on my antidepressant medicine and began the 6 weeks of the antibiotic. Now, I this point you might be questioning my judgment, but I figured I knew what to expect and I thought I could handle it.

After 3 weeks I called the doctor to ask if I could switch to a different antibiotic because the depression was so bad. The doctor (not a very good doctor) left a message suggesting I just stop taking it. Well I have always been taught that if you don't finish a course of antibiotics your body gets resistant to them. What with MSRA cases cropping up I decided to try and finish the last 3 weeks. After 5 weeks I was having increasing thoughts of slitting my wrists to watch the blood. Although I suffer from chronic depression I have NEVER been suicidal. I took the medicine for 2 more days and figure that will have to be close enough to the 6 weeks!

Today is my first day of NOT taking the drug. I'll let you know how I feel tomorrow! :)


If your teenager is feeling depressed after taking this medicine, DO NOT rely on the doctor to know this side effect but insist on a different medicine.

It has been about 5 days since i stopped the doxy. The really bad thoughts and depression are gone. I am dealing with my "normal" depression which I think it triggered. At least I know how to take care of that.

Thanks Shy but I'm not taking the doxycycline anymore. I'm feeling much better now. If I needed the doxycycline for a long term or repeated use I would certainly contact a doctor about using a different medicine. From the medical sources I have looked into, the medical community does not recognize depression as a side effect for doxy but the patient evidence certainly says otherwise!

Hi meda my mom has been on doxy. before she really was only on it for a month but she did kind of seem depressed but not really it was mostly grupy but my mom has lyme so I dont know if it has the same effects.

Hello Love,

I just wanted to welcome you to Healing Well.  I hope that you can get some responses here that will help you.

Have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Karen

Hi Jonny,

It sounds like a side effect to me. If your on a 2 week course of Doxycycline and you only have a few more days to go, I would presevere with it (Unless there are other serious side effects with it). My guess is that after you finish the doxycycline, things will calm down and go back to normal after a couple of days/a week. Do you / have you suffer(ed) depressive symptoms before?

Darren