Hello everyone,

I am new to the forum. Just a little background: I have been diagnosed with major depression and GAD since I was 19 - I'm 26 now. For most of that time, I've been on Lexapro, which has literally been a life-saver (I have tried to go off it a few times before, but had a nervous breakdown each time so went back on it). I was very stable and happy until recently. I got a staph infection and the doctor put me on Doxycycline for 2 weeks. After about a week on it, I started noticing feeling anxiety at absolutely nothing, coupled with feeling depressed. I was on 5 mg/Lexapro, but during this time I increased it to 10 mg. Well after I went off the antibiotic, I did not feel better. Still getting anxious at nothing, panic attacks, crying spells, you name it (the crying spells and anxiety attacks aren't everyday, probably a few days a week). I tried taking Ativan, but I really don't like to take it unless it's an emergency since it makes me so sleepy at work. I went to my psychiatrist and told her about my reaction to the antibiotic, and she said she's had patients before who've gone off the deep end after being on an antibiotic. I went off the antibiotic on June 1st, and she said it would take about a week to get out of my system, so technically the increased dose of Lexapro wouldn't really start to "kick in" until the 4-week mark, around July 8th, when I'm supposed to see her again.

So my question is, has anyone else experienced this kind of reaction after being on antibiotics? And how long after you stopped taking them did you begin to feel better?

Thanks,

Jen

Hi Acacia731:

I don't have any experience with that antibiotic but perhaps being worried or concerned about your condition while taking it could be causing the depression symptoms.

Hi Acacia,

I could have sworn that I answered this post a week ago. Hmm maybe the gremlins ate it...

How have you been since posting? SOme people have reported depression as a side-effect of doxycycline although it's rarely listed in the side effects by medical advisors. Remember it could also have been the increase in your Lexapro that did it too.
I'd be interested to hear how you got on.

PRT xx

Hi Acacia731,

I have heard and known a few people who have suffered depression like symptoms as a result of specific antibiotic therapy, usually at a higher dose and for chronic dosirders.

It i worth talking to yor Doctor about this. There are many other medications on the markek that are linked to causing or making it worse. So it is worth getting advice on it.

BestWishes

Jim Bow

I Googled: "Doxycycline depression" and I got quite a few hits back about this. Other people seem to be reporting it.

This post has been edited by breezin: Jul 12 2009, 08:20 AM

Found some other info on the RxList website. The ORACEA version of Doxycycline caused anxiety in 4% of people in the clinical trials. The Monodox version of Doxycycline doesn't seem to indicate that.