Drug interactions
Carbamazepine + Doxycycline
Severity: Moderate
Carbamazepine and Doxycycline: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Carbamazepine speeds up the breakdown of doxycycline and can substantially lower its blood concentrations and shorten its half-life. This may lead to subtherapeutic antibiotic exposure and treatment failure, particularly in serious infections.
What this interaction means in plain words
Carbamazepine and Doxycycline can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Carbamazepine belongs to Central Nervous System; Doxycycline belongs to Anti Bacterial.
Why it happens
Carbamazepine induces hepatic microsomal enzymes, increasing doxycycline clearance.
What to do
Consider increasing the doxycycline dose (e.g. twice-daily dosing) or choosing an alternative antibiotic for serious infections.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Doxycycline
- Acitretin + Doxycycline Contraindicated
- Aminolevulinic acid + Doxycycline Major
- Cholera vaccine + Doxycycline Major
- Doxycycline + Isotretinoin Major
- Doxycycline + Methoxyflurane Major
- Doxycycline + Microbiota Major
Other interactions of Carbamazepine
- Artemether / lumefantrine + Carbamazepine Contraindicated
- Cabotegravir + Carbamazepine Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Delamanid Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Dienogest / estradiol valerate Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Doravirine Contraindicated
- Carbamazepine + Elbasvir / grazoprevir Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Carbamazepine with Doxycycline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Carbamazepine and Doxycycline can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Carbamazepine speeds up the breakdown of doxycycline and can substantially lower its blood concentrations and shorten its half-life. This may lead to subtherapeutic antibiotic exposure and treatment failure, particularly in serious infections.
How serious is the interaction between Carbamazepine and Doxycycline?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Consider increasing the doxycycline dose (e.g. twice-daily dosing) or choosing an alternative antibiotic for serious infections.
What other medicines interact with Doxycycline?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Doxycycline with, for example, Acitretin, Aminolevulinic acid, Cholera vaccine. The full list is on the Doxycycline page.
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