Doxycycline - ideation, weepiness, anxiety

[Anonymous]

I've been taking oral doxycycline for over a week for a dermatological issue. Two days ago DH and I had a blowout argument. I still think he was really rude and insensitive to me, but I now clearly recognize that my reaction was severely over the top. I couldn't take it and screamed at the top of my lungs, and threatened to do things to myself.

The next day, at work, I realized I was feeling weepy for no reason, and thought something is not right. I Googled the antibiotics I have been taking for over a week, and I see that a rare side effect is mood swings, anxiety, depression, and ideation. But these are not listed in the initial results for side effects; I only saw this once I Googled "Doxycycline and mental health." I wrote to my doctor that I'm stopping taking that.

Today, 24 hours since I stopped taking it, I feel almost close to normal, although maybe a little more anxious/ tired, like I didn't sleep well.

I had NO IDEA antibiotics could do this. Lesson to myself: do your research before taking anything. And, I know now, I may have some low level of anxiety already, so I'm going to be cautious about anything that says it has these kinds of side effects, even if rare.

PSA for anyone who needs to hear this.

[Anonymous]

Same OP although it took me over a month to realize what the f was happening. Also I was not warned by dermo about this which is also disturbing in so many ways. Caused stomach issues as well.

[Anonymous]

I also took it for a week for a staph infection in a mole excision site.

It gave me a headache and I tried to stay out of the sun but I’m a teacher so that was hard and my skin got all rashy from it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same OP although it took me over a month to realize what the f was happening. Also I was not warned by dermo about this which is also disturbing in so many ways. Caused stomach issues as well.

OP here.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Same - the derm never warned about this. And her response to my message in which I wrote I would stop taking it due to increased anxiety, was, "That's fine, you could also reduce the dose until the issue is all cleared up. But you do whatever you're comfortable with," which comes across as pretty flippant.

Thank goodness I have a DH and neighbors who are understanding (neighbor had texted me to check if we were okay, obviously having heard our argument), and I had the realization after under 2 weeks that something was seriously wrong.

It's a bit shocking to me this isn't more widely known. *Big pharma, I guess!*

[Anonymous]

My teenager is taking this at the moment, so I appreciate your sharing. I had no idea!

[Anonymous]

Took it for about 8 months for acne and experienced no side effects that I noticed. Unfortunately, it stopped working for the acne so I discontinued taking it.

[Anonymous]

It can cause brain swelling and blindness.

[Anonymous]

It looks like antibiotics triggered depression in my kid. Now I am trying to figure out how to help. First antibiotic was needed. Then prescribed two other antibiotics when not needed. People need to know that they can do that.

[Anonymous]

Doctors don't routinely warn about all rare side effects because... they don't affect most people. And many people would refuse to take meds they need and will likely tolerate well if they read through every single possible side effect that could occur, no matter how rare.

I'm sorry you had that experience, but your experience is not the norm, and serves more to fearmonger than it does to help.

[Anonymous]

Doxy causes stomach upset and sometimes a rash from the sun. There are other rare side effects, someone will get them, but they are very uncommon. Powerful drugs have more side effects, and doxy is a powerful drug that has amazing benefits for many people.

[Anonymous]

I got the super rare side effect of small fiber neuropathy. It's been almost 2 years and it is barely under control with meds.

Doxycycline is a very powerful drug, and definitely not good for all of us.

[Anonymous]

PP again.

Op, I'm sorry that you experienced that! It must have been really scary.

Didn't mean to just pop in with my story, above.

[Anonymous]

Do you mean "suicidal ideation?" Ideation alone is just the formation of any ideas.

[Anonymous]

It made my brain feel like it was pushing on my skull. Really weird feeling. I had to switch to another (Ceftin).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It made my brain feel like it was pushing on my skull. Really weird feeling. I had to switch to another (Ceftin).

Resurrecting this thread to ask if anyone else had massive headaches on doxycycline? My derm didn't warn me either and I stopped it and contacted her after 8 doses that cause nausea and massive headaches. I am ready to call a neurologist but it the New Year and so many clinics are shut this week/were shut last week. So it may be ER if it gets worse.