Safety of long-term doxycycline administration: a retrospective study

Abstract

Background: There are concerns over the side effects and the development of resistance after long-term intake of doxycycline. Objectives: To evaluate the safety of long-term intake of doxycycline in Korean patients. Methods: In patients who were taking doxycycline, demographic and clinical data were analysed retrospectively. Results: Among the total of 569, low therapeutic effect was claimed in 6.3% and true adverse effects were seen in 6.5%. The rate of cessation due to a true adverse event was 2.0%. Conclusions: Since the occurrence of side effects was low and the majority of the side effects were well-tolerated, doxycycline is a fairly safe medication.

背景：人們對長期服用多西環素，有著副作用和耐藥性產生的擔憂。目的：評估韓國患者長期服用多西環素的安全性。方法：回顧性分析被處方多西環素的患者之人口統計學及臨床數據。結果：569例中，6.3%患者認為療效低，真實不良反應個案亦佔6.5%。由於真正不良反應而導致停藥的比率只有2.0%。結論：由於出現副作用的比率低，而且病人對當中大多數副作用的耐受性都不錯，因此多西環素還是相當安全的藥物。