Doxycycline and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Kri...
• August 13, 2013

For Rosacea "I started taking doxycycline one month ago, and within 3 days, my acne and rosacea were gone, and it never came back. My doctor told me it would not help with the redness at all, but it did. I could honestly just cry. I am THAT happy with this medication. It also soothed my very dry eyes, which I think were due to the rosacea as well. Take note, however, that this stuff is REALLY hard on your stomach if you take it without eating. I get dizzy and dry heave. All in all, I want to hug my doxycycline because it changed my life."

• 3...
• January 5, 2020

For Bacterial Infection "I was prescribed 7 days of 100 mg, the first day taking 2 pills for a sinus infection. I took the first dose as directed with a glass of water, and within an hour I was doubled over in pain, nauseous, and dizzy. Day 2, I felt a lot of pressure in my head, especially on the right side of my head, really bad ringing in my ears, and feeling like my ears would pop/burst. Today I woke up with a stiff neck and joints, with the right side of my neck really tender to touch, and feeling extremely tired. I took the medication after a full breakfast and started feeling so much pressure in my head, my ears ringing extremely loudly, anxious to the point of what feels like a panic attack. My hands and arms also felt what’s best described as light and tingly. I threw the medication up today on purpose to get it out of my body, and thankfully I had it with a large meal. The rest I have thrown away. I’d rather be sick than take this medication."

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "I took doxycycline for 4 days. Then I felt dizzy, blurred vision, forgetful. I ended up in the hospital because I felt like I was drunk! I couldn't even remember going to the ER. I couldn't walk or answer questions. They said this pill doesn't have a side effect like that. I beg to differ. I lost 2 days of memory because of this drug. They need more research."

• Gig...
• July 12, 2013

For Lyme Disease "I found a bright red rash on my arm after planting some flowers and vegetables in my yard. I thought at first it was a yellow jacket sting, but I never felt it. By after a few days, my arm began to hurt, and the rash spread. Not a true bull's-eye though. My doctor saw me from across the crowded waiting room and pointed to me and said Lyme. I was prescribed Doxycycline 100mg 2x a day for 14 days. I was unable to take this medicine on an empty stomach because I had severe nausea and diarrhea but didn't want to reduce the effectiveness, so I ate a little something. It made me sleepy and sometimes anxious and sometimes dizzy but not enough to stop the medicines. I pray this Lyme disease is gone for good."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 24, 2018

For Bacterial Infection "I experienced horrible side effects, including headaches, swelling and tightness in face, swollen and sore throat, dizziness and lightheadedness, body aches, thirst, racing heart, insomnia, shallow breathing. It almost felt like flu symptoms. Symptoms went away 12 hours after I stopped taking it, but headache is lingering still. I never want to experience that again. Absolutely horrible."

• Joh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "My doctor prescribed me this doxycycline antibiotic orally, 100 mg for MRSA after the first two antibiotics failed (some sort of penicillins). The doxycycline has managed to fade the MRSA boils but not completely eradicate the infection. The side effects are by far the worst I’ve ever experienced from any other drug I’ve taken. From dizziness, nausea, and the worst of all, the pressure it causes in your head. My whole 10 days on this drug have consisted of being in bed or lying on my couch with anxiety from side effects. I wouldn’t recommend this drug to my worst enemy."

• Sus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2023

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I had terrible side effects from doxycycline. Slowly recovering since going off it 2 weeks ago. After 4 days of 100 mg daily for my dermatitis staph infection, I almost passed out. All of a sudden, my head got so heavy and exhausted, and pressure all over my head and behind my eyes. I went to sleep, but my mind felt like it was racing and all confused, like you’d feel if you had a concussion and fever. I woke up in the morning, and my brain felt like it had not slept at all. Brain extremely fatigued. I also had chronic nausea, tinnitus, dizziness, foggy head, confusion, and high anxiety and irritability. It honestly felt like I had suffered a traumatic head injury. I will never take doxycycline again."

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

Doxycycline for Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "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)."

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

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "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."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2016

For Bacterial Infection "This antibiotic works well for me, but side effects stink. Took it for a bacterial infection. I was advised to take it on an empty stomach, but within 30 mins, I get super nauseous and dizzy. Started eating a small amount of food before and after and feel less nauseous. I prepare myself to be miserable for a couple of hours in the morning after taking it and then take my second dose before bed, so I can sleep it off."

• Axe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 12, 2020

For Bacterial Infection "I have a bad sinus infection, so I called my doc, whom I see weekly because of my BP, and they gave me this. Within 20 minutes of my first dose, the sinus pressure became beyond extreme, I became dizzy, extremely hot, sweaty (it’s cold where I live), and I blared my air conditioner, and I got so nauseous I puked. Now, after vomiting, it’s still intense, and I had to take a migraine pill and an anti-nausea pill. If you have a sinus infection, stick with the Amoxicillin clav. This pill IS AWFUL."

• Anonymous
• July 24, 2012

For Bacterial Infection "I took this medication for 4 days and had severe side effects. It started out with a stomach ache, nausea, diarrhea, then I felt like I had the worst case of the flu. Body aches, chills, low-grade fever, dizziness, weakness, sore skin. Plus, the infection I was taking it for only got worse. It's been 4 days since I stopped taking it, and I still feel horrible."

• NS5...
• December 10, 2016

For Bronchitis "Miracle worker! I was on amoxicillin for 5 days, went back to my GP as my symptoms were no better; if anything, the infection had spread. My GP swapped me over to doxycycline, and within 24 hours, I started to notice improvements. I'm on day 4 (7-day course), and today is the first day I've not had a fever or been coughing nonstop. The coughing is still quite persistent, but with this med, I'm hopeful I'll be okay very soon. Minor side effects for me: dizziness & headaches."

• Bos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2018

For Bacterial Infection "I was on doxycycline 100 mg, 2x daily for 7 days. I thought I was dying after 5 pills. I had been sick for over a week, and the urgent care NP thought I should take this. I actually asked for amoxicillin, and she refused. I had taken 3 doses and felt my heart race and dizzy. I called in to the urgent care but could not speak directly to her. The receptionist said I could stop taking it, but she wasn’t convinced it was from the doxy. So I thought I’d push through. After dose 5, I left work at noon and went straight to my family doctor, I thought I was dying. I had watery diarrhea exploding from me. Ten times before noon! I was severely dizzy, I couldn’t even think about eating. I had cold sweats and a weird headache. I felt like my brain was swelling! My vision seemed bowed, that’s the only way I can explain it. I couldn’t see anything straight. He told me doxy is a horrible antibiotic, the side effects are too common and severe. He doesn’t prescribe."

• sti...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "Was prescribed doxycycline for a bad ear infection (I’m allergic to penicillin). 5 days later, I only felt worse. Experienced terrible nausea and dizziness, ended up in bed for the entire 5 days and saw no improvement. Had to go back for a new prescription."

• Pam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "I am taking this medication for sinusitis and bronchitis. It works, but the side effects for me are horrible. Very nauseous, although I take it with food, and generalized body aches. I feel dizzy occasionally. I dread taking this med!"

• Old...
• March 2, 2017

For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection "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."

• Bra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2020

For Acne "Awful, do not take this drug for acne. I previously took lymecycline for about a year and a half, and it worked great, had no side effects, but it stopped working, so I was put on doxycycline, and I only took 6 days' worth of pills and developed a persistent headache, dizziness, blurred vision, ringing in my ears that still persisted over a week after I stopped taking these pills. Take a different antibiotic if you can."

• San...
• April 8, 2020

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I developed cellulitis on my right calf. Based on my medical history and a previous cellulitis case that required two courses of cephalexin, my doctor suspected that it was caused by MRSA, and I was given a doxycycline hyclate prescription. I was rather hesitant to take this, since I'd heard that doxycycline isn't the best for cellulitis and due to side effects from other antibiotic classes (azithromycin made me too dizzy to walk; Cipro made me have unrelenting diarrhea). But lo and behold, I developed only minor side effects on this drug (gas, occasional dizziness), and my infection started to look significantly better about six hours after my first dose. Avoiding calcium and iron was a bit of a pain, but I'm just glad that my infection was vanquished."

• mah...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 8, 2020

For Pelvic Inflammatory Disease "I started taking this doxycycline 4 days ago after my PID didn't go away from a less strong antibiotic. I was prescribed a 100 mg pill, 2 times a day for 7 days. Within minutes after taking this pill, I get very dizzy, my eyes become extremely sensitive to light, my stomach starts turning, and I get heartburn every now and then. I don't feel the pain from the PID much anymore (not sure if it's because now I'm just focusing on the issues from the pills, haha). I'm hoping my PID will be gone after this week and if so, all these side effects will be worth it, but it is quite shocking! I've never been so affected by a medication before, which makes me feel uneasy about taking this."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2018

For Bacterial Infection "I was given Doxy for a sinus infection, and I immediately felt terrible. I had horrible watery diarrhea, headaches, and neck pain. I couldn’t sleep and was dizzy, lightheaded, and the worst was I was incredibly irritable and had a short fuse. I wouldn’t recommend this medicine to anyone."

• Lou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "Starting to wonder if just fighting the infection with the natural immune system would be the better course to take instead of taking this medication. Headache, stiff neck, dizziness, tiredness, heartburn, racing heart, etc. What are doctors trying to pull with this stuff? Seems like patients on chemotherapy feel better than people taking this poison. Can't believe I paid money for this."

• Mar...
• October 4, 2017

For Bacterial Infection "Was prescribed this for a sinus infection and had some really bad side effects, such as severe dizziness, nausea, lightheadedness, feeling spacey, and vomiting. I'm very sensitive when it comes to any kind of medication."

• Lit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2022

For Bacterial Infection "I was absolutely terrified to take this after reading all the negative reviews and really scary possible side effects. But I had to for a ureaplasma bacteria infection in my bladder that no other antibiotic can treat. I was experiencing extremely uncomfortable bladder symptoms, and after hesitating for a week, I finally took the first dose. Doxycycline is really hard on the stomach, and I learned really quickly to always eat something at least 15 minutes before taking a dose (even just a piece of toast), unless I wanted horrible stomach cramps and vomiting. Otherwise, I had barely any side effects. Just a small headache and dizziness the first couple of days. I felt really encouraged by the positive reviews on here and wanted to add one to hopefully ease some minds! Side effects are rare but can happen, and every person's body reacts differently, so if this is one you absolutely have to take, stay calm, take deep breaths, listen to your body, and take a probiotic!"

• mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "This was my second time on the med. The first time, I had no issues at all. Prescribed 100 mg twice a day. This time, I had nausea, dizziness, severe headaches, and worst of all, non-stop panic attacks. I do have anxiety issues but rarely ever have panic attacks, so this scared me big time. My doctor pulled me off after Day 3 and said my infection was likely gone since the side effects went away, and a week later, I have an infection again."