Doxycycline for Upper Respiratory Tract Infection User Reviews

• And...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2019

"Had a chesty, wheezy cough for nearly 4 weeks and during that time brought up a lot of green/yellow mucus. Snotty nose. No other symptoms like muscle aches and thought I'd soldier on. After 6 weeks decided to visit Dr. who said my right lung was crackly and prescribed amoxicillin. Taken for 1 week, only started to feel better on the last day of the course. Mucus reduced, cough still niggly. Cough became really wet and mucus restarted. Felt like a cup full every time I expelled some. So 10 days later and back to the Dr., and Doxycycline prescribed this time twice a day on day 1, then 1 a day 'til the blister pack is completed. Snotty nose disappeared 1st night, and on day 3 wheeze disappeared, and I still have 4 days of meds to take. No side effects as taken with food and a pint of water at ingestion. If I have anything like this again, I'll press for immediate prescribing of doxy."

• Anonymous
• December 7, 2019

"Doxycycline is a very good antibiotic which is very effective. Was given this for a sinus infection that has failed to clear after amoxicillin. Have had it previously so I am aware of the potential nasty side effects. Can make you extremely nauseous if not taken with an adequate meal and plenty of water. As with other antibiotics can upset your stomach and give you diarrhea. The cons have to be weighed against the pros though, as ultimately recovering from a bacterial infection is priority. I can handle upset stomach, nausea and headaches if an antibiotic is effective in treating the infection. You will ultimately recover from those but the infection could be the end of you if left to run its course. No drug is without side effects and this should be taken into consideration. People drink alcohol and look what that does to you."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2020

"This doxycycline is the only antibiotic that works almost immediately when I get a sinus infection. I had my first sinus infection about 2 years ago, was prescribed amoxicillin and was absolutely miserable while sick and this didn't even touch it. Went back to the doctor about a week later, still feeling awful with all the normal respiratory symptoms and was then put on doxycycline. It started to work very quickly and I don't remember experiencing any side effects. Fast forward to now when I started experiencing the same symptoms of this last sinus infection from 2 years ago (facial pain, runny nose, headache, sore throat) and immediately made an appointment with my doctor who prescribed doxycycline, as it worked so well before. Again, this started working almost immediately and the symptoms started subsiding. This is a wonder drug in my opinion and I highly recommend!!"

• din...
• October 28, 2009

"This antibiotic worked great. It cleared my lungs that were suffering for two years as a result of getting an infection from a breathing test machine. I took other antibiotics, but they only added a prolongation to it, making it worse. Eventually, it got so bad that the Veteran Admin put me on doxycycline, a drug that I will always request for bone, lung, and other conditions."

• Lis...
• October 13, 2014

"I've been taking Doxycycline for a few days now for bronchitis/pneumonia. I take it twice a day. The dose in the morning makes me nauseous, and I vomited once. Other than the extreme list of interactions with food and other medications, I would take it again for my illness. It's potent and so far seems to be clearing up my lungs and sinuses!"

• gre...
• August 18, 2020

"I had been coughing for over a week nonstop, so much that I vomited. Took 2 the first day, within hours, my chest had cleared 90%. No side effects yet, but even if I get some, it is nothing compared to the chest infection. It's a wonder drug."

• Von...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 30, 2020

"Been poorly for 4 weeks. I have COPD and usually have a rescue pack containing steroids and doxycycline. With all this COVID about, docs wouldn’t give me a rescue pack until I got a COVID test, which came back negative. So it was nearly a week into being poorly. I finally got doxycycline, but no steroids. They cleared my upper tract infection, but days later it came back, so docs have now finally given me steroids and more doxycycline, but a ten-day course instead of seven days. I’m praying I finally get rid of this nasty infection as I feel so drained. Think the moral of my story, if I had the rescue pack in at the start of the infection, I wouldn’t have been as poorly as I have been. I’ve always had a rescue pack at hand for my COPD of steroids and doxycycline and felt better soon after taking them. Amoxicillin didn’t help at all."

• 234...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 28, 2015

"Fought off a sinus infection that went into my chest and turned into bronchitis. I absolutely hate taking antibiotics, but after a couple of months with a bad cough, which was actually starting to go away, I developed pleurisy. I had decided I would have to go see the doctor. He prescribed me this and an anti-inflammatory. It started working on the second day, and by day seven, it was gone. I did not have any side effects. I had never taken this before, so it might be why it worked so fast because I thought the pain was going to kill me."

• Rbf...
• March 20, 2016

"I'm a smoker (20 a day roughly) got given 100mg to be taken twice on the first day and one every other day on a seven-day course. I was actually originally given this for an STI, not a chest infection that I didn't really notice I had. However, the second day of taking, I thought I was almost dying with flu symptoms and a terrible cough, but I stuck at it with plenty of good food and water. The second night when the coughing was worst, I got hardly any sleep, shivered, sweated, and had loads of blankets on, etc. The third day, the coughing was still there but not even half as bad, and it just got better day by day. It cleared my lungs, and I can breathe amazingly now. The STI is gone. It did make my gums a bit sour and I felt a slight burning sensation in the lungs."

• son...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2016

"I started taking this and am now three days in. I was first given a course of amoxicillin. It didn't clear my chest or my sinuses. I then phoned 111 (UK) and their out-of-hours doctor prescribed me doxycycline. Immediately, the tension in my head was alleviated and the pain in my sinuses was gone. Stupidly, this morning I took my tablet on time and went back to sleep, please don't do this. I wish I had seen these testimonies, but now I have and won't make the same mistake. Other than that, the medicine is good, and I believe I should have been prescribed this first and not any other wishy-washy antibiotics."

• jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 10, 2018

"Reading most of these user reviews, it seems I'm the only one not suffering from side effects. I've taken doxy after tick bites about 4 times in my 52 years on Earth. 2 of those times were preventative, the other 2 times I already was infected (erythema migrans was clearly visible). I can't say enough good about this antibiotic. You just have to not take it on an empty stomach. The negative reviews, to me, seem like whining and blaming doxy for something it is not even responsible for. I've decided to take it this week (in 2018) when I was coughing for 2 weeks and had flu-like symptoms, even after having been vaccinated against the flu. This worked wonders. I had only taken 2 x 100 mg doxy, and the entire thing was over the next day. This is an absolute killer antibiotic. Try to avoid direct sunlight up to a week after you've taken it, or your skin will burn. Highly recommend this drug for lots of bacterial infections."

• Den...
• December 12, 2009

"I've been on Doxy for about four days, and the nausea is horrible. Today I had to leave my final exam because I was afraid I'd vomit. It's been that way since the first time I took it. I tried not eating with it, since that's what the bottle instructs, but the nausea isn't so bad if I eat. I have noticed improvements though. I'd had a bad respiratory infection for months but didn't know what it was. Finally got diagnosed and got this, and now I don't feel like death, but I do have a horrible headache. Didn't realize it could have been a side effect of it, but that makes sense now. Basically, it's a good cure for the respiratory infection, but the side effects are bad. On a side note, it'll be cool to see what it does with my mild acne."

• Jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2016

Doxycycline "I've been taking 100 mg of Doxycycline twice a day for 8 days now, and I feel worse than when I started. Now, in addition to the upper respiratory infection, I have terrible vertigo (side effect of Doxycycline)."

• Don...
• March 26, 2015

"Into my fourth dose (100 mg), took it with cold tea and shortly after felt sick for a while. I previously took it with a large glass of water and along with a meal, had no symptoms. Do what the notes tell you to do: take with a meal and don't lie down, but keep active and all will be fine."

• NYG...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2016

"Developed bronchial infection a couple of days into a cold. Tried usual cold remedies, but was feeling worse. Got up enough strength to drive over to my primary physician, who is also a pulmonary specialist. I wanted a chest X-ray as I had double pneumonia years ago, was hospitalized, very ill, so ill they brought a priest in for my last rites. My physician prescribed 100 mg doxycycline 2 x daily, told me to take it with food if I felt nauseous. The first 2 days I was okay; took it with 8 oz. of water as directed, ate some bread with it, waited to eat my full meal, stayed off dairy. On the third day, nausea and dizziness began; my head felt like vice grips were squeezing it. Into day 4 now, still same side effects, but the med is breaking up and clearing out the infection."

• Cas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2017

"Doxycycline treats bacteria buildup in the respiratory area. The burning of this drug is only attacking the bacteria buildup, which means it's working. As with any drug, wait 3 to 4 hours before continuing the second dose; after taking doxycycline, drink plenty of water, and wait 20 to 30 minutes before eating, and resume drinking water. On the second day, only take doxycycline once a day and follow the above directions. Avoid sugar, salt, dairy products, bran cereal, and acidic foods. Soup and fruit that are non-acidic is great. You're welcome to look up your own foods. Bon appétit."

• Big...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 15, 2019

"I had been suffering from a lingering chest infection for about 3 weeks. I also found out I had chlamydia and was prescribed these. Could feel improvement in my breathing by the end of the first day, still coughing stuff up but seemed like it was being replaced with less. By the end of day 3, it was like I'd never been ill. It is a wonder drug. Shame all the antibiotics are gonna stop working :(."

• Lab...
• December 12, 2013

"The medicine works, but comes with a price of bad side effects. Severe nausea, and my gums ached really bad for some reason. The nausea I only had when I would take it in the morning on an empty stomach and lasted for about an hour or two, after that, I would be fine. At night before bed, no problems. Took about 3 days before I started feeling better."

• Too...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2023

"I was prescribed a 7-day course of these pills after taking another antibiotic that made me really sick. I was so scared to take these as I get medication anxiety. I took them at 8 am every morning with 2 slices of lightly buttered toast and a full glass of water. About 40 minutes after, I ate a rusk (yes, a baby biscuit - great for nausea and settling the stomach) and drank another glass of water! I then kept on my feet for 45 minutes after to let everything go down... and NO side effects!! I cannot believe how lucky I am to have an antibiotic I do not react badly to! I am feeling much better now, although I might need a longer course really. I just wanted to write a review as I know there are many people like me out there who worry about taking medication, so I wanted to help other people like me. The main thing is being well! I'm going to take probiotics and daily vitamins now that I have finished my course to get my body back in good condition."

• Old...
• March 2, 2017

"I had an upper respiratory infection. It worked in clearing things up, but I experienced many side effects, which included nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, pressure in the head, and vomiting every time I took my prescription. I took my prescriptions with food and water and followed directions by the book. It seems to have many benefits, but some of the side effects are not fun to say the least."

• Cab...
• April 6, 2013

"After being on doxycycline for 4 days, my lungs were clearing up from the upper respiratory infection, but I also started getting severe nausea and vomiting. I followed the directions to the letter. I had to call my doctor and get switched to a different medicine."

• Jon...
• May 6, 2018

"Amoxicillin wasn't working, my symptoms-heavy brownish-green sinus mucus infection, watering eyes, bad cough, and constantly clearing my throat. Told I was on the brink of bronchitis. Doxycycline saved me from getting worse. Doctor said not to take a tablet until 2 hours after eating, and then to take it with a minimum of 16 oz of water and 2 Dramamine pills. I ate a light breakfast, and 2 hours later at 10 am took 1 pill, forced myself to drink 16 oz of water, and took two Dramamine pills. I did feel warm and kept to light activity, I did notice some reduced coughing by about 9 pm. The next morning, I did the same and took an additional pill about 9 pm before bed. My mucus was noticeably lighter and yellow in color the following morning. On day 4, my mucus was clear almost, and I wasn't coughing half as bad. By day seven, mucus was salty, by the evening it was gone. Moral of the story, the doc said this is strong medicine, not like regular amoxicillin."

• Bec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2019

"I am on day 7 of doxycycline for an upper respiratory tract infection. I have been feeling shortness of breath, my head feels weird, little appetite, and tingling in my back. Can't get in to see my doctor this week because they are booked. Not sure if I should stop taking the doxycycline. I don't like the side effects of it."

• CB1...
• March 23, 2017

"Amoxicillin was taking a long time to clear the chest/throat infection, so the doctor swapped to doxycycline. Within 2 days, a noticeable difference, infection already clearing, but felt exhausted, spaced out, then had quite a startling amount of blood in my stools. Was told by the doctor to stop taking immediately."

• Sic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2021

"I only have 2 pills left to take of my 7-day prescription, and no improvement in my chest infection. Still coughing so hard I'm pulling muscles in my chest, but now I also have to deal with the horrible side effects (crippling anxiety that keeps me awake all night, zapping/twitching throughout my body, depression, nausea, unable to eat, exhaustion, confusion, racing heartbeat). It has been a complete nightmare. I feel like I'm on death's doorstep. I guess I'll have to try something else tomorrow when I'm done with this horrible medicine since it did nothing except make things much, much worse."