Doxycycline for Chlamydia
Request doxycycline online for chlamydia with free, fast and discreet delivery
Prices from £18.00
In stock. Simply fill in a brief consultation questionnaire and one of our doctors will review your request today.
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Doxycycline comes in tablet form and is more than 95% effective at treating chlamydia infections. It belongs to a class of medications called tetracyclines, which work by preventing bacteria from growing and spreading. The recommended doxycycline dose for chlamydia is twice daily for 7 days.
Our doctors can prescribe doxycycline for chlamydia if:
- you have tested positive on a ZAVA chlamydia test
- you have been diagnosed with chlamydia by a doctor
- a recent sexual partner has tested positive for chlamydia
Request your doxycycline chlamydia treatment today, and if approved by a ZAVA doctor, you can receive it in unmarked packaging through our fast, free, and discreet delivery service.
Doxycycline for Chlamydia
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Doxycycline is an oral antibiotic used to treat chlamydia and other bacterial infections. It is the first-line treatment for chlamydia, which means it is always prescribed first unless you are allergic, pregnant, or take medication that can interfere with the efficacy of the medication.
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Doxycycline should be taken twice a day for 7 days to treat chlamydia.
To take doxycycline for chlamydia, you should:
- space your doses 12 hours apart
- swallow your tablet whole with fluids
- sit up for 30 minutes after each tablet to avoid oesophagal irritation (irritation of the throat)
- sexual contact must be avoided until you finish the treatment to allow the medication time to remove the infection from your body
“It is important to take the full dose of doxycycline for chlamydia by finishing your treatment course, even if your symptoms have gone away or you start to feel better. If you do not finish your course of treatment, your symptoms could return, and the bacteria could become more resistant to future treatment.” – Dr Brenda Ikeji, Medical Editor
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Doxycycline works to treat chlamydia by preventing the bacteria from being able to grow and spread. It does this by targeting proteins that the bacteria need to survive. This process then kills the bacteria that cause chlamydia, treating the source of infection.
How long does it take for chlamydia to go away after taking doxycycline?
Doxycycline starts working straight away to treat chlamydia and should start preventing the growth and spread of the bacteria after the very first dose. It’ll take 7 days of taking doxycycline for a chlamydia infection to fully clear.
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Doxycycline treatment for chlamydia is available to purchase online from reputable and regulated online doctor services like ZAVA. Alternatively, you can request treatment at your local GP or sexual health clinic following a sexual health test and a face-to-face consultation.
Can I buy doxycycline for chlamydia online?
Yes, you can buy doxycycline online. You should only request doxycycline treatment for chlamydia online from trusted online doctor services like ZAVA. We are monitored and regulated to ensure you receive safe medication.
Ordering doxycycline with a prescription from ZAVA is quick and convenient, with no need for a face-to-face appointment. Here’s how it works:
- Complete a short online medical questionnaire – Share details about your health so our doctors can ensure doxycycline is right for you. You will need a positive chlamydia test result first, which you can request through our service, your GP or your local sexual health (GUM) clinic
- Order and pay online – Sign in or create your ZAVA account, select doxycycline, and securely make your payment.
- Doctor review and approval – A UK-licensed doctor will check your health information and approve your prescription request if doxycycline is safe and appropriate for you.
- Fast and discreet delivery – If approved, doxycycline will be delivered discreetly to your home or a local post office for collection.
Can I buy doxycycline treatment for chlamydia over the counter?
No, you cannot buy doxycycline over the counter. You can only obtain doxycycline with a prescription. You will need to book a consultation with your doctor or complete an online medical questionnaire with ZAVA to get a prescription.
Can I get doxycycline for chlamydia on the NHS?
Yes, you can get a prescription for doxycycline on the NHS if you visit your local GP or sexual health clinic. Getting an NHS prescription for chlamydia treatment usually requires a face-to-face consultation.
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Like with all medications, doxycycline may cause side effects. However, not everyone will experience them.
Frequency Doxycycline side effects Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- nausea and/or vomiting
- loss of appetite
- headaches
- chest pain
- shortness of breath worsening of symptoms if you have lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- vaginal infection
- indigestion
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people)
- anxiety
- flushing/skin reddening
- buzzing or ringing noise in ear
- soreness or itching of genitals or rectal area
- inflammation of bowel
- difficulty swallowing, or sore or painful tongue or mouth
- abnormal liver function
- discolouration of thyroid tissue (if taken for long periods)
- loosening of the nail from the nail bed
- jaundice
- vision disorders
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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking doxycycline immediately and call 999 or go to A&E straight away:
- sudden difficulty breathing
- fever
- facial swelling
- rash or itching
- severe, persistent or bloody diarrhoea
- very severe headaches causing visual disturbances such as blurred vision, double vision or loss of vision
- blistering of skin, mouth, eyes and/or genitals
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Doxycycline side effects can last from a few days to a few weeks. As the recommended treatment course lasts for 7 days, side effects usually go away following completion of the course.
Mild side effects can be managed at home with hydration (drinking clear fluids) and pain relief (over-the-counter treatments like paracetamol or ibuprofen).
What to do if you experience side effects from doxycycline
Here are some tips if you experience side effects while taking doxycycline to help you manage them at home.
To help with headaches, you can:
- drink plenty of fluids including water, juice, and caffeine-free or herbal tea
- take painkillers – it’s safe to take paracetamol and ibuprofen with doxycycline
To help with nausea and vomiting, you can:
- eat plain, simple foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast
- avoid spicy or rich foods with high-fat content
- drink small sips of water to avoid dehydration
To help with photosensitivity, you can:
- wear clothes that cover your skin when outside
- apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30
- avoid sun lamps and tanning beds
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Although doxycycline is a very effective treatment for chlamydia, it might not be the right chlamydia treatment for everyone. Certain conditions or other medications can interact with it and make it less effective or unsafe.
Before taking doxycycline, you must let your doctor know if you have:
- kidney or liver problems
- myasthenia gravis
- porphyria
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- syphilis
- diarrhoea or usually get diarrhoea when taking antibiotics
- a stomach or intestine-related condition
- recently been or know you will soon be exposed to strong sunlight
Doxycycline must not be taken if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Some medications can impact the effectiveness of doxycycline and doxycycline may impact the effectiveness of some medications. Tell your doctor if you regularly take any of the following:
- carbamazepine or phenytoin (epilepsy medication)
- antacids (indigestion remedies)
- barbiturates (epilepsy medication or sedatives)
- warfarin or coumarins (used to prevent blood clots)
- oral contraceptives
- other antibiotics such as rifampicin or penicillin
- stomach ulcer medications that contain bismuth such as Pepto-Bismol
- oral acne medications containing vitamin A, such as isotretinoin
- medications for epilepsy, such as phenytoin or carbamazepine
- ciclosporin, a medication that calms down your immune system
For a detailed list of drug interactions, visit the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
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Doxycycline is the first-line treatment for chlamydia but it may not be suitable for everyone. If you experience any of the conditions outlined above or take any of the medications listed, alternative treatments may be recommended and prescribed, including:
Azithromycin (Zithromax)
Clinical trials have concluded that doxycycline and azithromycin are equally effective in treating chlamydia. However, rising bacterial resistance to azithromycin means it’s becoming less effective when used to treat widespread infections. Therefore, azithromycin is typically only prescribed when doxycycline is not suitable.
Erythromycin
Erythromycin is another antibiotic which is typically only prescribed if your doctor thinks doxycycline is unsuitable for you. Studies have reported that those who take erythromycin experience worse side effects than doxycycline and azithromycin.
If you cannot take doxycycline, speak to your GP, who will advise which alternative treatment is right for you. ZAVA doctors will only prescribe doxycycline for chlamydia, so, if appropriate, you’ll need to obtain an alternative prescription from your GP or local sexual health clinic.
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Frequently asked questions
What is doxycycline used for?
Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, meaning it can be used to treat a range of infections such as (but not limited to):
- sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia
- skin conditions like acne
- eye infections
- chest, lung, or nasal infections
- malaria
How effective is doxycycline for chlamydia?
Doxycycline is 95% effective in treating chlamydia when taken correctly.
When can I have unprotected sex after treatment?
We do not recommend unprotected sex, since protection like condoms can help avoid STIs and unwanted pregnancies. If you are planning to have unprotected sex, you should make sure both you and your partner are free of STIs, which means testing negative at least 3 months after the last time either of you slept with someone else.
We recommend that you wait until the day after finishing your treatment for chlamydia with doxycycline before you have sex. If your partner is still undergoing treatment, you should not have sex with them until they have also finished their treatment.
You should test for chlamydia every 3 to 6 months if you are sexually active and have multiple sexual partners, or if you change sexual partners. You should test more frequently than this if you are having unprotected sex with new partners.
Remember, it can take up to 2 weeks for chlamydia to show up on a sexual health test, so you need to make sure you wait the appropriate amount of time between sex and testing to obtain an accurate result.
What happens if you miss a dose of doxycycline for chlamydia?
If you miss a dose of doxycycline for chlamydia, aim to take your medication as soon as possible after the scheduled time. However, if it’s nearly time for your next dose, you can skip the original dose and just take the next tablet. After that, you can resume the normal dosage cycle, such as 1 dose every 12 hours for the remainder of your treatment window. It can be helpful to set an alarm or reminder each day if you’re worried about missing your doses.
Important: You must never take an extra dose to make up for a missed dose, and you should never take 2 doses at the same time. If you think you might have taken more doxycycline than recommended and are experiencing any side effects, get in touch with your GP or pharmacist.
Will 3 days of doxycycline cure chlamydia?
Clinical studies have found that a 3-day course of doxycycline can be as effective as a 7-day course of doxycycline for chlamydia.
However, it’s recommended in the UK that a 7-day course of doxycycline be prescribed for treating chlamydia to ensure that the infection clears fully. You must take the full prescribed course of treatment to clear the infection, as chlamydia is known to come back after treatment if the course is not finished.
Why am I still experiencing symptoms after taking doxycycline for chlamydia?
If you are still feeling symptoms of chlamydia after taking doxycycline, it may be a sign that the chlamydia bacteria in your body has developed resistance to the medication and you still have an infection. This can happen if you do not finish the full course of antibiotics and in rare cases, because it does not work for you.
It could also mean your symptoms are being caused by something other than chlamydia. If you are experiencing symptoms after finishing your doxycycline treatment for chlamydia you should speak with your doctor.
Can you drink alcohol whilst taking doxycycline for chlamydia?
No, drinking alcohol whilst taking doxycycline is not recommended. This is because drinking alcohol can reduce how effective the medication is.
Brenda studied medicine at St Georges University of London and has most recently worked in John Radcliffe Oxford University Hospitals, covering acute and general medicine.
Meet our doctorsLast reviewed: 01 May 2025
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About doxycycline, NHS [accessed 27 February 2025]
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WHO Guidelines for the Treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis, WHO [accessed 27 February 2025]
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Doxycycline Hyclate, National Library of Medicine [accessed 27 February 2025]
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Evaluation of a 3-Day Course of Doxycycline for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Chlamydia trachomatis Cervicitis, National Library of Medicine [accessed 27 February 2025]
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Azithromycin versus doxycycline for genital chlamydial infections: a meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials, National Library of Medicine [accessed 27 February 2025]
In stock. Prices from £18.00
