Drug interactions
Cholera vaccine + Doxycycline
Severity: Major
Cholera vaccine and Doxycycline: major 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
The oral live attenuated cholera vaccine contains a living bacterial strain that doxycycline can kill, which may reduce the vaccine's immune response and protection. Antibiotic exposure around the time of vaccination can therefore make the vaccine ineffective.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cholera vaccine and Doxycycline can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Why it happens
Antibacterial activity of doxycycline against the live attenuated Vibrio cholerae vaccine strain impairs colonization and immunogenicity.
What to do
Avoid giving the live oral cholera vaccine to patients who have taken systemic antibiotics in the preceding 14 days, and do not give antibiotics near vaccination. Delay vaccination until after the antibiotic course.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
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Other interactions of Doxycycline
- Acitretin + Doxycycline Contraindicated
- Aminolevulinic acid + Doxycycline Major
- Doxycycline + Isotretinoin Major
- Doxycycline + Methoxyflurane Major
- Doxycycline + Microbiota Major
- Doxycycline + Palovarotene Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cholera vaccine with Doxycycline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Cholera vaccine and Doxycycline can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. The oral live attenuated cholera vaccine contains a living bacterial strain that doxycycline can kill, which may reduce the vaccine's immune response and protection. Antibiotic exposure around the time of vaccination can therefore make the vaccine ineffective.
How serious is the interaction between Cholera vaccine and Doxycycline?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid giving the live oral cholera vaccine to patients who have taken systemic antibiotics in the preceding 14 days, and do not give antibiotics near vaccination. Delay vaccination until after the antibiotic course.
What other medicines interact with Doxycycline?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Doxycycline with, for example, Acitretin, Aminolevulinic acid, Isotretinoin. The full list is on the Doxycycline page.
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