Drug Name

Vibramycin (Doxycycline)

Drug Uses

Vibramycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, related to other tetracyclines, that is commonly used for the treatment of bacterial infections, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, mycoplasma, psittacosis, and many diseases carried by ticks including Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and salmon poisoning.

Vibramycin is especially helpful are, as mentioned, the intracellular ones including:

• Haemobartonella felis (agent of feline infectious anemia);
• Borrelia burgdorferi (agent of Lyme disease);
• Chlamydia psittaci (an agent of feline upper respiratory infection);
• Ehrlichia species (a tick-borne organism);
• Mycoplasma species (in upper respiratory and urinary infections).

How Taken

• Dogs: The typical dose administered to dogs is 2-5 mg per pound every 12 to 24 hours orally.
• Cats: The typical dose administered to animals is 2.5 mg per pound every 12 to 24 hours orally.

The duration of administration depends on the condition being treated, response to the medication and the development of any adverse effects.

Drug Class and Mechanism

Vibramycin is an antibiotic of the tetracycline class. This drug is related to other tetracyclines such as chlortetracycline and oxytetracycline.

Vibramycin will inhibit the synthesis of protein within susceptible organisms (bacteria, etc.), resulting in their death.

Missed Dose

If you miss to give a dose of Vibramycin, give it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your pet to take the next dose, skip the dose and go back to the regular dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage

Store Vibramycin between 39 and 86 degrees F (4 and 30 degrees C). Keep Vibramycin out of the reach of children and away from pets.

Warnings/Precautions

• Vibramycin should not be used in animals with known hypersensitivity or allergy to the drug.
• Vibramycin may interact with other medications. Consult with your veterinarian to determine if other drugs your pet is receiving could interact with Vibramycin. Such drugs include certain antacids, iron supplements, kaolin, bismuth subsalicylate and certain antibiotics.
• Vibramycin should not be administered orally with calcium or calcium-containing medications because they may inhibit oral absorption of the antibiotic.

Possible Side Effects

• Occasionally vomiting has been observed, especially when high doses are administered.
• Rarely, animals may develop diarrhea or loose stools from oral Vibramycin. This is related to a change in the bacterial population in the animal's intestine. If diarrhea is observed, your veterinarian should be notified, and a change in medication may be indicated.
• Vibramycin may bind to calcium in teeth and cause discoloration. Therefore, the administration of Vibramycin to animals younger than seven months of age is discouraged without first consulting with a veterinarian.

More Information

Tell your veterinarian if your pet is being given an antacid (Milk of Magnesia or Maalox), bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol), minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and over the counter vitamin and mineral supplements; warfarin (Coumadin), a penicillin antibiotic (Amoxil, Trimox, Pen VK, dicloxacillin (Dynapen), carbenicillin (Geocillin), oxacillin (Bactocill), and others. There may be other medications that are not listed that can affect doxycycline. Tell your veterinarian about prescription and over the counter medications that are given to your pet. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products.