Does doxycycline make you tired?

In this article:

• Does doxycycline make you tired?
• Doxycycline side effects
• Doxycycline interactions
• What to do if doxycycline makes you tired
• The bottom line: Doxycycline doesn’t cause drowsiness

In this article

• Does doxycycline make you tired?
• Doxycycline side effects
• Doxycycline interactions
• What to do if doxycycline makes you tired
• The bottom line: Doxycycline doesn’t cause drowsiness

Doxycycline is a powerful tetracycline antibiotic that can treat a wide range of bacterial infections. Also sold under the brand names Vibramycin and Doryx, it’s prescribed for sexually transmitted diseases (like chlamydia), severe acne or rosacea, respiratory infections, and Lyme disease. It can even prevent life-threatening medical conditions such as anthrax. If you’re taking this antibiotic, you may feel tired. Drowsiness is not a side effect of this medication. It may be a symptom of the infection that doxycycline is prescribed to treat. Here’s what you need to know about doxycycline-related fatigue, plus what you can do to feel better.

Does doxycycline make you tired?

Drowsiness is not a typical doxycycline side effect, according to Robert Glatter, MD, a board-certified emergency medicine physician and assistant professor of emergency medicine at Northwell Health in New York. However, some individuals may experience increased fatigue while on doxycycline as part of the body’s natural response to a bacterial infection.

“Drowsiness or fatigue is typically from the infection itself—not from taking the antibiotic,” Dr. Glatter says. The most common symptoms of bacterial infections are fever, chills, headache, and fatigue. In other words, while you may experience low energy levels from the illness this antibiotic is prescribed to treat, doxycycline doesn’t cause fatigue.

Although doxycycline is unlikely to make you tired, it does increase sun sensitivity, making it more likely for you to get a severe sunburn. Sunburns, especially in severe cases, may cause fatigue.

Gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and vomiting are also common with doxycycline. You may feel more tired If you become dehydrated due to these symptoms. 

RELATED: What happens if you don’t finish antibiotics?

Doxycycline side effects

The common side effects of doxycycline include:

• Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite
• Stomach cramps
• Diarrhea
• Itching of the rectum
• Vaginal discharge, redness, burning, irritation, itching, or swelling
• Pain or difficulty when urinating
• Nasal congestion
• Sore nose or throat
• Headache
• Swollen tongue or dry mouth
• Back or muscle pain
• Anxiety
• Yeast infections
• Inflammation of the lining of the heart
• Sensitivity to sunlight
• Skin discoloration
• Kidney dysfunction

Most of these side effects are short-term and end with discontinuation of the medication. However, in children or breastfed infants, doxycycline can cause permanent tooth discoloration.

Although rare, more serious side effects may occur, such as:

• Blurred vision, double vision, or loss of vision
• Rash with fever or swollen glands
• Hives or skin reactions, such as peeling or blistering
• Signs of an allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing or swallowing or swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, eyes, or face
• Unusual bruising or bleeding
• Watery or bloody stools, stomach cramps, or fever that lasts after completing treatment
• Signs of infection, such as a fever, sore throat, or chills
• Joint pain
• Blood disorders
• Liver dysfunction
• Pancreatitis (inflammation or infection of the pancreas)
• Esophagitis (inflammation of the lining of the esophagus) or esophageal ulcer
• Intracranial hypertension (high skull pressure)
• Clostridium difficile infection
• Autoimmune reactions

The following individuals should seek medical advice from a healthcare professional before taking doxycycline, as it may be dangerous in these groups:

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Children younger than 12
• Individuals with liver disease
• Those with a recent case of colitis caused by antibiotic use
• People with kidney disease 
• Individuals with a history of lupus
• Patients with porphyria (a blood disease)
• Myasthenia gravis (an autoimmune disease causing involuntary muscle contractions)

Doxycycline interactions

Doxycycline should not be combined with:

• Warfarin
• Penicillin
• Amoxicillin
• Isotretinoin

Potential drug interactions may occur. Doxycycline may decrease the effectiveness of certain oral contraceptives. Avoid taking bismuth subsalicylate, antacids, or supplements containing ​magnesium, aluminum, calcium, or iron within one to two hours of doxycycline.

What to do if doxycycline makes you tired

Though fatigue isn’t caused by doxycycline, you may be feeling more tired than usual when you have a bacterial infection. The following tips can help you manage fatigue while your body recovers from an illness:

• Get plenty of rest: Resting and getting extra sleep are good ways to help your body recover from a bacterial infection and restore your energy, says Sazan Sylejmani, Pharm.D., owner and pharmacy manager at Westmont Pharmacy in Illinois. 
• Take the medication with food: “Taking it with food and a full glass of water will prevent stomach upset,” says Dr. Glatter. This can help you avoid side effects that could cause dehydration-related fatigue.
• Stay hydrated:  Drinking plenty of fluids can help mitigate some side effects and help your immune system work to fight the infection.
• Wear protective clothing and sunscreen: If you need to be outside while taking doxycycline, these measures can prevent sunburn and the associated tiredness.
• Eat a healthy diet: Eating a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can support overall energy levels.
• Get some light exercise: Gentle activity, like walking, can boost energy levels. But listen to your body—only exercise if you’re feeling up to it.
• Avoid alcohol: Alcohol worsens side effects, decreases immune system function, and lowers your energy levels.
• Take probiotics: It’s important to take probiotics when you’re on antibiotics to replenish the gut microbiome, which plays an essential role in immune system function.
• Consult your healthcare provider: If your fatigue persists or is severe, consult with your prescribing provider. They may prescribe a different medication or dosage.

Any drowsiness you experience typically subsides once the course of antibiotics is completed (usually a week or two). Why? Because that’s about the time you’ll be fully recovered from the infection—and any sunburns or gastrointestinal upset.

The bottom line: Doxycycline doesn’t cause drowsiness

Fatigue isn’t caused by doxycycline but rather the underlying infection it’s treating. Tiredness could also be due to other side effects, such as sunburn from photosensitivity or dehydration from nausea and vomiting. You should see your healthcare provider if your fatigue is severe, persistent, or accompanied by other worrying symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, or severe dizziness, which may indicate a drug reaction, says Dr. Sylejmani.