Biocap-50 Capsule

Tetracycline antibiotic for:

• Chest infections, atypical pneumonia, sinusitis
• Acne and rosacea
• Chlamydia, non-gonococcal urethritis, syphilis (penicillin allergy), pelvic inflammatory disease (with other drugs)
• Rickettsial infections (scrub typhus, typhus), leptospirosis, Lyme disease, brucellosis (with other drugs)
• Cholera
• Malaria prevention (travellers) and treatment (with quinine)
• Anthrax, plague

Adults: 200 mg on day 1, then 100 mg daily (severe infections 100 mg twice daily).

• Acne: 50–100 mg daily for 6–12 weeks or longer.
• Chlamydia: 100 mg twice daily for 7 days.
• Scrub typhus / rickettsial infections: 100 mg twice daily for 7 days.
• Cholera: 300 mg single dose.
• Malaria prevention: 100 mg daily, starting 1–2 days before travel, until 4 weeks after leaving.

Children over 8 years (or over 12 in some guidelines): 2–4 mg/kg/day; short courses may be used at any age for serious rickettsial infections, as prescribed.

• Take with a full glass of water, sitting or standing, and do not lie down for 30 minutes (to avoid oesophageal ulcers); can be taken with food (not with milk/antacids).

• Allergy to tetracyclines
• Children under 8 years (tooth staining) except for severe infections
• Pregnancy (after the first trimester) and breastfeeding (prolonged use)
• Systemic lupus

Common: nausea, indigestion, heartburn, sensitivity to sunlight (sunburn), headache.

Less common: vomiting, diarrhoea, thrush, rash.

Rare but serious: oesophageal irritation/ulcer, raised brain pressure (severe headache, visual problems), liver problems, severe allergy and skin reactions, C. difficile colitis, permanent tooth discolouration in young children.

• Avoid strong sun and sunbeds; use sunscreen.
• Stop if severe headache with vision changes occurs.
• Separate from iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, antacids and milk by 2–3 hours.
• May reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives during diarrhoea.

Avoid in pregnancy (affects the baby's teeth and bones) and during prolonged breastfeeding; short courses during breastfeeding may be acceptable on advice.

• Antacids, iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, bismuth, dairy (reduce absorption)
• Warfarin (bleeding risk)
• Isotretinoin, other retinoids (raised brain pressure)
• Carbamazepine, phenytoin, barbiturates, rifampicin (reduce doxycycline levels)
• Methotrexate (toxicity)

Nausea, vomiting; liver injury rarely. Supportive care.

Store below 30°C, protected from light and moisture.