Doxycycline is a prescription-only antibiotic that can be used to help prevent malaria in travellers. Whether it is suitable depends on your destination, exact itinerary, medical history, age and any other medicines or supplements you take.
Adults can request doxycycline online from Medicina Pharmacy after completing a confidential travel-health assessment. A UK-registered prescriber will review the information and decide whether treatment is suitable. Completing the assessment does not guarantee a prescription.
No anti-malaria medicine is 100% effective. Continue to use mosquito-bite prevention and check current, destination-specific travel advice before ordering.
The quantity required depends on when you enter and leave the malaria-risk area. Your prescriber will confirm whether doxycycline and the selected quantity are appropriate.
| Time in malaria-risk area | Pack quantity | Total price |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | 37 capsules | £12.00 |
| 14 days | 44 capsules | £16.00 |
Prices and availability can change. Follow the quantity and directions approved by the prescriber.
Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic that is also used as an anti-malaria medicine. It should only be used when it is recommended for the destination and considered suitable for the individual traveller.
Doxycycline does not replace mosquito-bite precautions. Use insect repellent, cover exposed skin where practical and follow current travel-health advice for every country and region on your itinerary.
For adults, the usual malaria-prevention dose is 100 mg once daily. It is usually started 1-2 days before entering a malaria-risk area, taken every day while in the area and continued for 4 weeks after leaving.
Doxycycline can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. These can include nausea, stomach upset, headache and increased sensitivity to sunlight. It can also irritate the food pipe, particularly if taken without enough water or immediately before lying down.
Use effective sun protection and avoid prolonged exposure to strong sunlight. Read the patient information leaflet for the full list of side effects and instructions about when to seek medical help.
Doxycycline may not be suitable for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, children under 12, people with an allergy to doxycycline or another tetracycline, or people with certain medical conditions or medicine interactions. A prescriber must assess suitability.
It is best not to drink alcohol while taking doxycycline because alcohol can stop the medicine working properly. Tell the prescriber if you drink regularly or heavily.
Antacids and products containing aluminium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc or bismuth can reduce the absorption of doxycycline. Include all medicines, vitamins and supplements in the consultation and follow the timing advice supplied by the prescriber or pharmacist.
Doxycycline and Malarone can both be used for malaria prevention in some destinations, but neither option is best for everyone. Doxycycline is usually continued for 4 weeks after leaving the risk area, while Malarone is usually continued for 7 days. They have different cautions, interactions and side-effect profiles.
Compare the anti-malaria treatment options and complete the medical assessment. The appropriate choice depends on the destination, itinerary and individual clinical history.
Fill in our online questionnaire so our medical team can assess whether doxycycline for malaria prevention may be suitable for you.
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