Key takeaways
- Doxycycline is a generic drug that comes in several forms, including oral tablets, capsules, and delayed-release oral tablets.
- It’s approved for several conditions in adults and some children. In general, the dosage of doxycycline depends on a person’s age and the condition they’re taking doxycycline to treat.
- Doxycycline is typically taken once or twice per day. Doctors usually prescribe a higher “loading dose” before switching to a lower maintenance dose.
Doxycycline belongs to a drug class called tetracycline antibiotics. Doxycycline is a generic medication. Brand-name versions of doxycycline include Avidoxy, Vibramycin, and Oracea.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of doxycycline, including its strengths and how to take the medication. For a comprehensive look, at doxycycline, see this other article about doxycycline.
Note: This article describes typical dosages of doxycycline provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking doxycycline, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
Read below for recommended dosages of doxycycline oral tablet and oral capsule.
Forms and strengths
Doxycycline oral tablet and oral capsule are available as immediate-release (IR) and delayed-release (DR) formulas. DR means the drug is released into your body slowly over time. IR means the drug is released into your body right away. IR forms are usually referred to simply as tablet and capsule.
Different forms of doxycycline are available in the following strengths:
| Form | Strengths |
|---|---|
| tablet | 20 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg |
| DR tablet | 50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg |
| capsule | 50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg |
| DR capsule | 40 mg |
Doxycycline is also available as an oral suspension (a type of liquid mixture) and as an injection, but this article does not cover these forms.
Doxycycline hyclate vs. monohydrate
Doxycycline tablets and capsules come in two different salt versions: doxycycline hyclate and doxycycline monohydrate. Your body dissolves and absorbs these salt forms differently. The salt form your doctor prescribes may depend on what condition the drug is being used to treat and other factors.
For more information, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Typical dosages for adults
The following information describes doxycycline dosages that are commonly prescribed or recommended in adults. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for certain bacterial infections
Doctors may prescribe doxycycline to treat certain bacterial infections. Typically, your doctor will prescribe a higher dose on the first day of treatment. This helps the medication to start working quickly. Then they’ll decrease your dosage to maintain a steady level of the drug in your body for the remainder of treatment.
The following dosage chart presents the doxycycline dose in adults. The dosage is typical for bacterial infections, including:
| Dosage form | Starting dosage (first day of treatment only) | Maintenance dosage |
|---|---|---|
| tablet | 200 mg per day, given as 100 mg every 12 hours | 100 mg per day, given as a single dose or 50 mg every 12 hours |
| DR tablet | 200 mg per day, given as 100 mg every 12 hours | 100 mg per day, given as a single dose or 50 mg every 12 hours |
| capsule | 200 mg per day, given as 100 mg every 12 hours | 100 mg per day, given as a single dose or 50 mg every 12 hours |
The recommended maintenance dosage for more severe infections is 100 mg twice per day (every 12 hours).
Doctors typically prescribe doxycycline for 7 to 10 days to treat infections. Sometimes, they may prescribe it for longer periods of time.
Dosage for malaria prevention
Doxycycline DR tablet is approved to help prevent malaria. In this case, the recommended dose is 100 mg once per day. Treatment typically starts 1 to 2 days before travel to an area with malaria and continues for 4 weeks after leaving the area.
Dosage for rosacea
Doctors may prescribe doxycycline DR capsule to help treat rosacea. The recommended dosage for this condition is 40 mg once per day in the morning.
Medical Perspective“It’s important to take your full course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better sooner. Stopping an antibiotic early can leave some bacteria alive, which may allow the infection to return. It also increases the chance that the remaining bacteria become harder to treat. Finishing the full course helps make sure the infection is fully cleared.”
» Learn more: What to know about antibiotic resistance
Quotes represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
Doxycycline is approved to treat infections and help prevent malaria in children ages 9 years and older.
Dosage for certain bacterial infections
Children weighing 45 kg (about 99 lb) or more should receive the adult dosage of doxycycline. For details, refer to the “Typical dosages” section.
For children taking doxycycline who weigh less than weighing less than 45 kg, the dosage is based on the child’s body weight in kilograms (kg). One kg equals about 2.2 pounds (lb). The dosage per kg is measured in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight and is calculated by your child’s doctor.
See the following table for the typical dosing schedule for children weighing less than 45 kg:
| Dosage form | Starting dosage (first day of treatment only) | Maintenance dosage |
|---|---|---|
| tablet | 4.4 mg/kg per day, divided into two doses given every 12 hours | 2.2 mg/kg per day, given as a single dose or divided into two doses every 12 hours |
| DR tablet | 4.4 mg/kg per day, divided into two doses given every 12 hours | 2.2 mg/kg per day, given as a single dose or divided into two doses every 12 hours |
| capsule | 4.4 mg/kg per day, divided into two doses given every 12 hours | 2.2 mg/kg per day, given as a single dose or divided into two doses every 12 hours |
The recommended maintenance dosage for more severe infections is 2.2 mg/kg per day, given as a single dose every 12 hours.
Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about their dosage.
Dosage for malaria prevention
Doctors may prescribe doxycycline DR tablets for malaria prevention.
Children weighing 45 kg or more should receive the adult dosage for malaria prevention described earlier.
The dosage for children weighing less than 45 kg is 2 mg/kg of body weight once per day. Doctors may prescribe doses up to the adult dosage. Treatment typically starts 1 to 2 days before travel to an area with malaria and continues for 4 weeks after leaving the area.
Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about their dosage.
Doxycycline tablets and capsules are swallowed whole with plenty of fluids. Do not divide, crush, or chew doxycycline.
You must take the doxycycline DR capsule on an empty stomach, which means 2 hours before or at least 2 hours after a meal. If stomach upset occurs, you may take other forms of doxycycline with food.
It may be helpful to take doxycycline around the same time of day. This helps maintain a steady level of the drug in your body so doxycycline can work effectively.
If you have trouble swallowing tablets or capsules, see this step-by-step guide for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Length of treatment
Doxycycline DR capsule is meant to be a long-term treatment for rosacea. If you and your doctor determine that doxycycline is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
Other forms of doxycycline are used short term for bacterial infections and malaria prevention. Doctors prescribe doxycycline for 7 to 10 days to treat most bacterial infections. They prescribe it for several weeks to help prevent malaria.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about how long you can expect to take doxycycline.
Below are some frequently asked questions about doxycycline oral tablets and capsules.
Doxycycline 100 mg twice per day for 7 days is the correct dosage for certain bacterial infections. For serious infections, doctors prescribe the drug for longer than 7 days. Also, some infections, such as syphilis, require higher doses for longer periods of time.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage.
It depends. For many UTIs, a 7-day course of doxycycline is the recommended length of time. However, some UTIs may require longer treatment times.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage.
It’s important that you do not take more doxycycline oral tablet or capsule than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose.
If you take more than the recommended amount of doxycycline
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much doxycycline. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Disclaimer: While Medical News Today strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.