Does Doxycycline Interact With Celexa? (+3 Adverse Effects)

By Ivan Kahwa

Page last updated: 02/01/2024 | Next review date: 02/01/2026

Author bio

Mr Ivan Kahwa is a chemist and phytopharmaceutical scientist with expertise in chemistry, pharmacology, phytochemistry, and Nanobiotechnology. He writes and reviews content on these topics.

Mr Ivan Kahwa’s Highlights:

Guest Researcher at the University of Leipzig, Senior Research Fellow/Scientist, and Lecturer at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

Professional Experience:

Mr Ivan joined PHARMBIOTRAC as a research fellow/scientist during his master of science tenure. He contributed to the development of most of the phytopharmaceutical products in the project. Furthermore, he participated in carrying out the pharmacological activities of the developed products in laboratory animals such as mice and rats in order to develop proper doses hence leading to pre-clinical studies.

With the above relevant research experience, Ivan started to work with the University of Leipzig on collaborative projects with Mbarara University to develop the chemistry of Ugandan Medicinal plants and their pharmacological activities. This was coupled with several consultative positions by different German NGOs. Mr. Kahwa is also a supporting in the teaching and learning at the Departments of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

With the increase in antimicrobial resistance globally, Ivan retooled his thinking towards developing new naturally derived antibiotic regimens from Ugandan propolis with the assistance of nanotechnology to improve their delivery to microbial cells. Kahwa has also published over 28 articles in peer-reviewed journals and he is currently reviewing for many journals.

Education:

2023-2027: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (ongoing) with a focus on Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Nanobiology at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

2022: 2Msc. in Pharmacognosy and Natural Medicine Science at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

2018: Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

Publications:

▪ Iqbal, S., Jabeen, F., Kahwa, I., & Omara, T. 2023. Suberosin Alleviates Thiazolidinedione-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Diabetic Rats by Inhibiting Ferroptosis via Modulation of ACSL4-LPCAT3 and PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathways. Cardiovascular Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-023-09804-7

▪ Gupta, A. K., Yadav, R., Sharma, S., Sawale, J., & Kahwa, I. 2023. Anti-ageing Activity and Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Extracts of Leaves and Flowers of Salvia officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis. Journal of Young Pharmacists, 15(3), 448–455. https://doi.org/10.5530/jyp.2023.15.60

▪ Tolo, C.U., Kahwa, I., Nuwagira, U., Weisheit, A. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Medicinal plants used in treatment of various diseases in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 25, pp.1-16.

https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/4683

▪ Kahwa, I., Ajayi, C.O., Yadav, R., Chauhan, N.S., Shah, K., Abdelgadir, A.A., Shegena, E.A., Daniel, S., Omara, T., Asiimwe, J.B. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies as an invaluable approach for correct identification of medicinal plants: The case of Artemisia vulgaris L. substituted for Artemisia annua L. in Western Uganda. TMR Integr Med, 7, p.e23004.

https://doi.org/10.53388/TMRIM202307004

▪ Nalimu, F., Oloro, J., Kahwa, I. and Ogwang, P.E., 2021. Review on the phytochemistry and toxicological profiles of Aloe vera and Aloe ferox. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 7, pp.1-21.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-021-00296-2

▪ Elamin, O.H.S., Ali, M.A., Elgezuli, I.A.A., Bashir, M.A. and Kahwa, I., 2021. Diagnosis of pre-and post-treatment of echinococcus granulosus with counter current immune electrophoresis and bacterial co-agglutination. Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 11(02), pp.88-94.

https://doi.org/10.5799/jmid.951600

Published book Chapter

▪ Kahwa, I., Ayesiga, I., Nakalema, S., Alinaiswe, R., Mbabazi, R. and Iqbal, S., 2023. Natural products in the management of onchocerciasis. In Natural Products in Vector-Borne Disease Management (pp. 63-80). Academic Press. Book Chapter.

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91942-5.00012-4

Submitted manuscripts Under Review:

▪ Comparison of the Wound Healing Activity of the Leaf and Leaf Ash Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina in Rats. Journal name: Clinical Phytoscience

▪ Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal plants used in the management of cancer in Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Herbal Medicine

▪ Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemical screening of medicinal plants used in treatment of epilepsy by PROMETRA-Uganda Traditional Health Practitioners in Mpigi District, Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Submitted book chapters under review

1.Book title: Algae as a Natural Solution for Water-Food-Energy Nexus, Section 4: Microalgae and cyanobacteria for food applications, Chapter 4.6: Safety, toxicological and allergenic aspects of using algae for food. Authors: Christine Kyarimpa, Tom Omute, Caroline K. Nakiguli, Alice V. Khanakwa4, Christopher Angiro, Ivan Kahwa, Fortunate Ahumuza, Timothy Omara*. Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore.

2.Book title: Nutraceuticals Inspiring the Contemporary Therapy for Lifestyle Diseases. Chapter: Nutraceutical applications of Seaweeds and their Phytocompounds in Nutrition and Treatment of Diseases. Authors: Ivan Kahwa, Timothy Omara , Innocent Ayesiga , Gael Noel Neh Neba Ambe , Zehbanaz Javidbhai Panwala , Rachel Mbabazi , Shabnoor Iqbal , Christine Kyarimpa , Christine Betty Nagawa , Kamal Shah ,Nagendra Singh Chauhan* Publisher: CRC Press

You can view my works on the following professional sites:

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ivan-Kahwa

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tOwrvqoAAAAJ&hl=en

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6440-3437

Linkedin: https://de.linkedin.com/in/ivan-kahwa-865450159

Ivan Kahwa

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This article will discuss: “Does Doxycycline interact with Celexa?” We will also explore the possible interactions between Doxycycline and Celexa and provide precautions for safely using Doxycycline with Celexa.

Does Doxycycline interact with Celexa?

No, Doxycycline does not interact with Celexa. Doxycycline is a tetracycline antimicrobial used to treat several bacterial infections, such as rickettsial infections, sexually transmitted infections, and respiratory infections (1).

Celexa (Citalopram) is an SSRI antidepressant. It is used in treating major depressive disorder in adults (2).

No interactions have been reported while using Doxycycline and Celexa together. However, this does not mean no interaction exists between these two medications. Celexa and Doxycycline both have a few common adverse effects.

Using them together can increase the risk of these adverse effects. Therefore, consult your healthcare provider before taking Doxycycline and Celexa together.

Potential interactions between Doxycycline and Celexa

There are a few adverse effects that are common with the use of both Doxycycline and Celexa. The possible interaction between Doxycycline and Celexa might be due to the potentiation of these adverse effects. Some of these common adverse effects are listed below (3,4):

Nausea.
Vomiting.
Diarrhea.
Loss of appetite.
Dry mouth.
Rash.
Headaches.
Unusual bleeding or bruising.
Photosensitivity.

Not every individual taking Doxycline and Celexa together needs to experience these adverse effects. Some people may experience these adverse effects, while others will not.

Therefore, it is recommended to be cautious while taking Doxycycline and Celexa together. If you experience any of these adverse effects, it is advised to contact your healthcare provider immediately.

What does research suggest?

It has been observed that non-antibiotics such as Celexa and other SSRIs have synergistic antimicrobial activity when combined with antibiotics. However, it was found through antimicrobial studies that Celexa increases the activity of antibiotics in a concentration-dependent manner (5).

In addition to Celexa, the other SSRIs that have shown in vitro antimicrobial activity include Fluoxetine, Sertraline, and Paroxetine. Celexa showed moderate antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria in an intrinsic antimicrobial study (5).

On the other hand, Doxycycline is active against several microorganisms, including gram-negative, gram-positive, and anaerobic bacteria (6). It is therefore suggested that using Doxycycline with Celexa may increase the antimicrobial activity of Doxycycline.

However, it is strongly recommended to use Doxycycline and Celexa together only with the consent of your healthcare provider.

How to safely take Doxycycline with Celexa?

The following precautions will allow you to use Doxycycline with Celexa safely:

It is recommended to avoid direct sunlight or artificial UV light when taking Doxycycline and Celexa together, as both medications can cause photosensitivity.
Maintain adequate fluid intake and avoid foods that can cause heartburn while using Doxycycline and Celexa, as both drugs are associated with heartburn.
Do not take Doxycycline with food or dairy products, as they can alter the absorption of Doxycycline and other tetracyclines, reducing drug efficacy (6).
If you experience diarrhea while using Doxycycline and Celexa together, it is recommended to stay hydrated and consider using an electrolyte replacement solution to prevent hyponatremia, which can be associated with Celexa.

Antibiotics that are not safe to use with Celexa

Some antibiotics are not safe to use with Celexa because they are associated with QT prolongation. Concurrent use of these antibiotics with Celexa can increase the risk of QT prolongation in susceptible individuals (7).

These antibiotics include (2,7):

Azithromycin.
Ciprofloxacin.
Clarithromycin.
Moxifloxacin

Celexa-induced QT prolongation is dose-dependent, typically occurring at doses of 30-80mg. The other risk factors for QT prolongation associated with Celexa include age (>60 years) and the presence of an underlying renal or cardiac disease (8).

It is not recommended to prescribe Celexa with antibiotics that prolong QT interval, especially in patients with long QT syndrome, bradycardia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and myocardial infarction (2).

However, continuous cardiac monitoring and measuring baseline potassium and magnesium levels are necessary when concurrent use of Celexa and QT-prolonging drugs cannot be avoided.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed “Does Doxycycline interact with Celexa?” We have also explored the possible interactions between Doxycycline and Celexa and provided precautions for safely using Doxycycline with Celexa.

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References

1.-

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. DORYX (doxycycline hyclate) Delayed-Release Tablets, 75 mg, 100 mg, and 150 mg for Oral use. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2008/050795s005lbl.pdf

2.-

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. CELEXA (citalopram) tablets, for oral use. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/020822s041lbl.pdf

3.-

Doxycycline: MedlinePlus Drug Information. (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682063.html

4.-

Citalopram: MedlinePlus Drug Information. (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a699001.html

5.-

Ayaz M, Subhan F, Ahmed J, Khan AU, Ullah F, Sadiq A, Syed NI, Ullah I, Hussain S. Citalopram and venlafaxine differentially augments antimicrobial properties of antibiotics. Acta Polon Pharm Drug Res. 2015 Nov 1;72(6):1269-78. https://www.ptfarm.pl/pub/File/Acta_Poloniae/2015/6/1269.pdf

6.-

DailyMed – DOXYCYCLINE capsule. (n.d.). https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=712965e2-c089-46c3-9a86-d3f61673b25d

7.-

P. (n.d.). Citalopram. PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/2771#section=Drug-Drug-Interactions

8.-

McClelland J, Mathys M. Evaluation of QTc prolongation and dosage effect with citalopram. Ment Health Clin. 2016 Jun 29;6(4):165-170. doi: 10.9740/mhc.2016.07.165. PMID: 29955465; PMCID: PMC6007721. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6007721/

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Does Doxycycline interact with Celexa? (+3 adverse effects)