Doxycycline+ambroxol
About
Doxycycline+ambroxol is a respiratory combination medication primarily used to treat cough associated with respiratory disorders like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Asthma is a breathing problem in which airways narrow, swell, and produce extra mucus, leading to difficulty breathing. COPD is a group of lung diseases with emphysema (shortness of breath) and chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes). Coughing occurs as a reflex action in the throat when mucus or any other foreign irritant is in it.
Doxycycline+ambroxol contains Doxycycline (antibiotic) and Ambroxol (dilutes viscous cough). Doxycycline comes into the category of antibiotic medicines that stop bacterial growth by inhibiting the protein synthesis process required for bacterial cell growth. As a result, bacterial cells are not able to reproduce and grow. It is a bacteriostatic antibiotic, i.e. it stops bacteria's growth but does not necessarily kill them. On the other hand, Ambroxol is an 'expectorant' (promotes the secretion of sputum/cough) and a 'mucolytic agent' (makes sputum less viscous) to make breathing easier in asthma and COPD patients who have difficulty in breathing.
Take Doxycycline+ambroxol preferably with food to avoid stomach upset and swallow whole with a glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or break it. Your doctor will recommend how often you take Doxycycline+ambroxol based on your medical condition. Some people may experience nausea, taste change, stomach pain, photosensitivity, and numbness in the mouth, tongue, and throat. Most of these side effects of Doxycycline+ambroxol do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Before using Doxycycline+ambroxol tell your doctor if you ever had an allergy to Doxycycline+ambroxol have kidney problems, liver problems, swollen food pipe (oesophagitis), lupus disease (an autoimmune disease), muscle disease (myasthenia gravis). Please do not drink alcohol with Doxycycline+ambroxol as it may increase unpleasant side effects like drowsiness and dizziness. Doxycycline+ambroxol is pregnancy category D (high risk) medicines, so its use in pregnant and nursing mothers is not recommended. Use of Doxycycline+ambroxol during tooth development (last half of pregnancy, infancy, and childhood to the age of 8 years) may cause permanent staining of teeth (yellow-grey-brown). Its use should be avoided by pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children below 8 years of age. Do not consume alcohol as it may cause excessive drowsiness when taken along with Doxycycline+ambroxol.
Uses of Doxycycline+ambroxol
Medicinal Benefits
Doxycycline+ambroxol consists of Doxycycline (antibiotic) and Ambroxol (dilutes viscous cough). Doxycycline comes into the category of antibiotic medicines that stop bacterial growth by inhibiting the protein synthesis process required for bacterial cell growth. As a result, bacterial cells are not able to reproduce and grow. It is a bacteriostatic antibiotic i.e. it stops the growth of bacteria but necessarily does not kill them. On the other hand, Ambroxol is an 'expectorant' (promotes the secretion of sputum/cough) and a 'mucolytic agent' (makes sputum less viscous) to make breathing easier in asthma and COPD patients who have difficulty in breathing.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Doxycycline+ambroxol
- Nausea
- Taste change
- Stomach pain
- Photosensitivity
- Numbness in the mouth, tongue, and throat
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Let your doctor know if you have any allergic reactions to medicines. Please inform your doctor if you have any history of heart, liver and kidney diseases. Also, tell your doctor if you have a stomach ulcer, seizure (fits), high blood pressure, and diabetes before taking Doxycycline+ambroxol. Doxycycline+ambroxol causes hypokalaemia (low potassium levels in the blood), therefore should be used with caution in patients with bronchospasm. Special precautions should be taken in patients with hyperthyroidism and epilepsy. Doxycycline+ambroxol can cause a rise in blood glucose levels. Hence monitor your blood glucose levels if you have diabetes and inform your doctor so that the dose can be adjusted accordingly. Let your doctor know if you plan to become pregnant or are already pregnant and a lactating mother. If you unexpectedly go into early labour or premature labour (before 9 months) or threatened abortion, do not use Doxycycline+ambroxol and consult a doctor.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Doxycycline+ambroxol may interact with indigestion remedies (antacids), supplements which contain aluminium, bismuth, calcium, magnesium or zinc, stomach ulcer medicines that contain bismuth, iron supplements, other antibiotics (rifampicin), acne medicines which contain vitamin A, such as isotretinoin, a blood thinner called warfarin, medicines for epilepsy, such as phenytoin or carbamazepine, and ciclosporin, a medicine to damp down your immune system.
Drug-Food Interactions: Limit alcohol intake since it may cause a rise in blood pressure leading to heart diseases. Avoid fatty foods and control your cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Brief your doctor if you have a medical history of allergic reactions to medicines, diabetes, bronchospasm, stomach ulcer, seizure (fits), high blood pressure (hypertension), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), epilepsy, heart, liver, kidney diseases, and myasthenia gravis (an illness that causes severe muscle wasting) before taking Doxycycline+ambroxol.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consuming alcohol while taking Doxycycline+ambroxol as it can worsen your condition, causing sleep disturbances (sleep apnoea).
Pregnancy
unsafeDoxycycline+ambroxol is a pregnancy D drug restricted in pregnant women as it can pass through the placenta barrier and affect the unborn baby. Therefore, consult with your doctor before taking Doxycycline+ambroxol.
Breast Feeding
cautionThere is limited data on how Doxycycline+ambroxol affects breastfeeding. Please consult your doctor before starting Doxycycline+ambroxol.
Driving
cautionDo not drive or operate machinery if you experience drowsiness, increased/uneven heart rate and shakiness while using Doxycycline+ambroxol. This may affect your ability to drive. Seek medical attention if the symptoms persist longer.
Liver
cautionDoxycycline+ambroxol should be used with caution in patients with liver diseases. Let your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases. Your doctor may adjust the dose of Doxycycline+ambroxol if required based on your condition.
Kidney
cautionDoxycycline+ambroxol should be used with caution in patients with kidney diseases. Let your doctor know if you have any history of kidney diseases. Your doctor may adjust the dose of Doxycycline+ambroxol if required based on your condition.
Children
cautionDoxycycline+ambroxol is not recommended for children less than 4 years of age. However, it can be given to children above 4 years of age if prescribed by the doctor.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Take Doxycycline+ambroxol as directed by the doctor and at regular intervals. Do not use other over the counter medications, herbal or vitamin supplements without informing your pharmacist or doctor when you take Doxycycline+ambroxol.
- Know your triggers like allergens, such as pollen, dust, and food items that make your asthma severe.
- Quit smoking and avoid passive smoking. Smoking also reduces the effectiveness of the medicine.
- Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to strengthen your breathing muscles and boost your immune system.
- Learning breathing exercises will help you move more air in and out of your lungs.
- Drink warm fluids while you take Doxycycline+ambroxol to help loosen congestion and lubricate the throat.
Special Advise
Certain diagnostic test like spirometry is performed to check the amount and speed of the air a person blows out.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Asthma: It is a breathing problem in which airways narrow, swell, and produce extra mucus (cough), leading to difficulty breathing.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): It is a group of lung diseases with emphysema (shortness of breath) and chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes).
FAQs
It is advised to tell your doctor if you are using contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, as Doxycycline+ambroxol may make contraceptives less effective.
Take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
Doxycycline+ambroxol should not be taken with any medication used for seizures or fits, as it might worsen your condition.
Do not take Doxycycline+ambroxol and let your doctor know before using Doxycycline+ambroxol if you have any diseases affecting the heart or blood vessels, any infection in your lungs, overactivity of the thyroid gland, low levels of potassium in your blood, diabetes or hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption. Taking Doxycycline+ambroxol in these conditions can worsen your health, even hospitalization.
Doxycycline+ambroxol is a pregnancy D drug restricted in pregnant women as it can pass through the placenta barrier and affect the unborn baby. Therefore it is best to consult with your doctor before taking Doxycycline+ambroxol.
Do not stop taking Doxycycline+ambroxol even if you feel better, as it may worsen your condition. For the best advice, consult your doctor and do as recommended.
Doxycycline+ambroxol can cause a rise in blood glucose levels. Hence, monitor your blood glucose levels if you have diabetes and inform your doctor so that the dose can be adjusted accordingly.
