DOXYCYCLINE

72/100 · Elevated

Manufactured by Chartwell RX, LLC

Doxycycline Adverse Events: High Serious Reaction Rate

181,718 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About DOXYCYCLINE

DOXYCYCLINE is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Chartwell RX, LLC. Based on analysis of 181,718 FDA adverse event reports, DOXYCYCLINE has a safety score of 72 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for DOXYCYCLINE include DRUG INEFFECTIVE, NAUSEA, OFF LABEL USE, FATIGUE, RASH. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for DOXYCYCLINE.

AI Safety Analysis

Doxycycline has a safety concern score of 72 out of 100, placing it in the elevated concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 181,718 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Chartwell Rx, Llc.

The most commonly reported adverse events include Drug Ineffective, Nausea, Off Label Use. Of classified reports, 72.4% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Nausea and rash are the most common adverse reactions.

Serious reactions, including kidney and respiratory issues, are prevalent. Drug ineffectiveness and off-label use are reported.

Patients taking Doxycycline should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Doxycycline can interact with antacids and iron supplements, reducing its absorption. It may also exacerbate photosensitivity and should be used with caution in patients with pre-existing liver or kidney conditions. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 72/100

Doxycycline received a safety concern score of 72/100 (elevated concern). This is based on a 72.4% serious event ratio across 64,453 classified reports. The score accounts for 181,718 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This elevated score indicates a notable proportion of serious adverse events and warrants careful monitoring.

Top Adverse Reactions

DRUG INEFFECTIVE5,031 reports
NAUSEA4,770 reports
OFF LABEL USE4,436 reports
FATIGUE4,419 reports
RASH3,945 reports
DIARRHOEA3,844 reports
PAIN3,837 reports
DYSPNOEA3,799 reports
HEADACHE3,771 reports
VOMITING3,670 reports
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY3,635 reports
MALAISE2,832 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED2,798 reports
DIZZINESS2,784 reports
PRURITUS2,761 reports
ARTHRALGIA2,670 reports
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE2,623 reports
PNEUMONIA2,589 reports
PYREXIA2,584 reports
ANXIETY2,500 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY2,348 reports
INFECTION2,222 reports
HYPERTENSION2,060 reports
ASTHENIA2,039 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY2,038 reports
SINUSITIS1,974 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT1,966 reports
DECREASED APPETITE1,900 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA1,819 reports
RENAL FAILURE1,813 reports
CHEST PAIN1,757 reports
JOINT SWELLING1,756 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION1,741 reports
INSOMNIA1,736 reports
URTICARIA1,735 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY1,689 reports
DEPRESSION1,673 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN1,670 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER1,662 reports
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS1,652 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING1,637 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED1,629 reports
WHEEZING1,618 reports
COUGH1,617 reports
ALOPECIA1,603 reports
ASTHMA1,595 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS1,592 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE1,543 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED1,543 reports
DRUG INTOLERANCE1,510 reports
INJURY1,496 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION1,453 reports
SWELLING1,446 reports
HEPATIC ENZYME INCREASED1,429 reports
DEATH1,427 reports
TREATMENT FAILURE1,385 reports
BLISTER1,380 reports
MOBILITY DECREASED1,350 reports
INFUSION RELATED REACTION1,343 reports
MUSCULOSKELETAL STIFFNESS1,331 reports
ANAEMIA1,279 reports
CONTUSION1,265 reports
FIBROMYALGIA1,240 reports
GLOSSODYNIA1,231 reports
WOUND1,224 reports
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDER1,220 reports
SYNOVITIS1,209 reports
IMPAIRED HEALING1,207 reports
TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS1,205 reports
STOMATITIS1,200 reports
SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS1,199 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS1,197 reports
HAEMORRHAGE1,184 reports
ARTHROPATHY1,173 reports
HAND DEFORMITY1,164 reports
FALL1,158 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE1,158 reports
HELICOBACTER INFECTION1,157 reports
PSORIATIC ARTHROPATHY1,153 reports
LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION1,138 reports
BACK PAIN1,125 reports
RHEUMATOID FACTOR POSITIVE1,113 reports
DUODENAL ULCER PERFORATION1,104 reports
DRY MOUTH1,100 reports
FOLLICULITIS1,100 reports
BLOOD CHOLESTEROL INCREASED1,087 reports
OEDEMA PERIPHERAL1,086 reports
ERYTHEMA1,081 reports
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME1,072 reports
DISCOMFORT1,064 reports
INTENTIONAL PRODUCT USE ISSUE1,064 reports
ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT1,058 reports
PRODUCT USE ISSUE1,056 reports
OEDEMA1,048 reports
PARAESTHESIA1,038 reports
GASTROOESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE1,033 reports
RHEUMATIC FEVER1,016 reports
OSTEOARTHRITIS1,015 reports
SLEEP DISORDER1,015 reports
SCIATICA1,007 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • High incidence of serious reactions (72.4%)
  • Multiple gastrointestinal and skin reactions
  • Reports of chronic kidney disease and pneumonia

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 37,099, Male: 21,470, Unknown: 142. The most frequently reported age groups are age 44 (1,373 reports), age 43 (1,136 reports), age 59 (966 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 64,453 classified reports for DOXYCYCLINE:

  • Serious: 46,685 reports (72.4%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 17,768 reports (27.6%)
Serious 72.4%Non-Serious 27.6%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female37,099 (63.2%)
Male21,470 (36.6%)
Unknown142 (0.2%)

Reports by Age

Age 441,373 reports
Age 431,136 reports
Age 59966 reports
Age 63935 reports
Age 64932 reports
Age 68930 reports
Age 61913 reports
Age 72896 reports
Age 62893 reports
Age 71886 reports
Age 65885 reports
Age 69874 reports
Age 67868 reports
Age 60845 reports
Age 66825 reports
Age 70808 reports
Age 73800 reports
Age 50788 reports
Age 58788 reports
Age 76783 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Doxycycline can interact with antacids and iron supplements, reducing its absorption. It may also exacerbate photosensitivity and should be used with caution in patients with pre-existing liver or kidney conditions.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Doxycycline, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include drug ineffective, nausea, off label use, fatigue, rash. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Follow prescribed dosage and duration of treatment to minimize side effects. Inform healthcare providers about any existing health conditions or medications to avoid potential interactions. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA closely monitors doxycycline safety, and any serious adverse events should be reported to healthcare providers immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Doxycycline?

The FDA has received approximately 181,718 adverse event reports associated with Doxycycline. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Doxycycline?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Doxycycline include Drug Ineffective, Nausea, Off Label Use, Fatigue, Rash. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Drug Ineffective (5,031 reports), Nausea (4,770 reports), Off Label Use (4,436 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Doxycycline.

What percentage of Doxycycline adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 64,453 classified reports, 46,685 (72.4%) were classified as serious and 17,768 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Doxycycline (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Doxycycline break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 37,099, Male: 21,470, Unknown: 142. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Doxycycline?

The most frequently reported age groups for Doxycycline adverse events are: age 44: 1,373 reports, age 43: 1,136 reports, age 59: 966 reports, age 63: 935 reports, age 64: 932 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Doxycycline?

The primary manufacturer associated with Doxycycline adverse event reports is Chartwell Rx, Llc. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Doxycycline?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Doxycycline include: Diarrhoea, Pain, Dyspnoea, Headache, Vomiting. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Doxycycline?

You can report adverse events from Doxycycline to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Doxycycline's safety score and what does it mean?

Doxycycline has a safety concern score of 72 out of 100 (elevated concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Nausea and rash are the most common adverse reactions.

What are the key safety signals for Doxycycline?

Key safety signals identified in Doxycycline's adverse event data include: High incidence of serious reactions (72.4%). Multiple gastrointestinal and skin reactions. Reports of chronic kidney disease and pneumonia. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Doxycycline interact with other drugs?

Doxycycline can interact with antacids and iron supplements, reducing its absorption. It may also exacerbate photosensitivity and should be used with caution in patients with pre-existing liver or kidney conditions. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Doxycycline.

What should patients know before taking Doxycycline?

Follow prescribed dosage and duration of treatment to minimize side effects. Inform healthcare providers about any existing health conditions or medications to avoid potential interactions.

Are Doxycycline side effects well-documented?

Doxycycline has 181,718 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. Serious reactions, including kidney and respiratory issues, are prevalent. The volume of reports for Doxycycline reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Doxycycline?

The FDA closely monitors doxycycline safety, and any serious adverse events should be reported to healthcare providers immediately. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to DOXYCYCLINE based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

AmoxicillinMetronidazoleIbuprofen
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.