Does Doxycycline treat diverticulitis?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Does Doxycycline treat diverticulitis?
Doxycycline does treat diverticulitis, but only 7% of the population takes Doxycycline for this condition. There are plenty of other antibiotics that are considered more effective as the first line of treatment.
However, some people may not be able to take the first line of antibiotics and Doxycycline treats diverticulitis successfully in such patients. Make sure you reach out to your healthcare provider if you think you have diverticulitis.
It’s not recommended to start taking antibiotics without consulting your doctor first. If your doctor has prescribed Doxycycline, it will definitely work to make you feel better. Just make sure you properly take your antibiotic and for as long as your doctor has advised.
What does research suggest?
There are a number of research studies indicating the effects of Doxycycline for diverticulitis among other antibiotics. A 1999 survey indicated that Doxycycline is prescribed to 6% of outgoing patients for the management of diverticulitis symptoms (1).
It’s common for people who can’t do well on more commonly prescribed antibiotics. Another 2009 study indicated that Doxycycline monotherapy is considered effective for the treatment of diverticulitis (2). However, there are other antibiotics that are often preferred over Doxycycline.
How to ensure effective treatment of diverticulitis with Doxycycline?
The best way to ensure the safety and efficacy of your diverticulitis treatment is to take your antibiotic properly. It is also recommended to take OTC painkillers like Paracetamol to help with pain caused by this condition.
You should feel better within 2-4 days, depending on how severe your diverticulitis is. Effective treatment can be achieved by taking your antibiotic on time while maintaining the recommended gap between your doses.
Missing your antibiotic doses in between can delay the recovery process and may cause antibiotic resistance. This is why you need to complete the [prescribed antibiotic course. You can also take medications like Gas X for symptomatic relief.
Important precautions and considerations when taking Doxycycline for diverticulitis
Doxycycline can be used successfully for diverticulitis, but not in every case. Here are some important precautions and considerations before taking Doxycycline for diverticulitis (3):
- It is not advisable for people with known Tetracycline allergies to take Doxycycline, as it’s a member of this antibiotic family.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid taking Doxycycline, as it can harm the developing fetus or the breastfed infant.
- Avoid sun exposure after taking Doxycycline, as this antibiotic can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight and increase the risk of sunburn.
- Doxycycline may interact with some of your prescription and OTC medications, and supplements as well. Examples of medications that may interact with Doxycycline include antacids, blood thinners, and birth control pills. Make sure you inform your doctor about all the meds you are currently taking before starting Doxycycline.
- Patients should take Doxycycline exactly as prescribed by their healthcare provider, even if they start to feel better before the course of treatment is complete.
What to do if diverticulitis does not get better while taking Doxycycline?
If you fail to see a positive change in your symptoms associated with diverticulitis, report to your healthcare provider. There are other antibiotics which are more commonly prescribed for diverticulitis as compared to Doxycycline.
Second-generation Cephalosporins are most commonly prescribed, and other antibiotics include Ampicillin, Ciprofloxacin, Amoxicillin, Metronidazole, etc.
If Doxycycline fails to work, your doctor will switch you to another antibiotic. Just don’t make any changes in your treatment regimen without consulting your doctor first.
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References
1.-
Schechter S, Mulvey J, Eisenstat TE. Management of uncomplicated acute diverticulitis: results of a survey. Dis Colon Rectum. 1999 Apr;42(4):470-5; discussion 475-6. doi: 10.1007/BF02234169. PMID: 10215046. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10215046/
2.-
Beckham H, Whitlow CB. The medical and nonoperative treatment of diverticulitis. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2009 Aug;22(3):156-60. doi: 10.1055/s-0029-1236159. PMID: 20676258; PMCID: PMC2780265. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2780265/
3.-
Doxycycline: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated 2022 Dec 15; cited 2023 Jan 25]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682063.html
