[Question #13418] Syphilis Treatment - stop Doxycycline now that I just got penicillin injections?
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3 hours ago
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Started feeling crappy a couple of weeks ago. Then noticed some slight redness on penis and scrotum with some tenderness. I live in a remote area and wasn’t able to get a syphilis test right away so told pushed the doctor to give me Doxycycline which I have been on for about 21 days because i suspected possible syphilis. ( 2 pills a day , 100 mg each). A few days ago I was finally tested and am positive for syphilis (not my first case of it and not 100 percent sure if this case isn’t related to my positive case 8 yrs ago). Yesterday the nurse gave me penicillin injections , one in each arm. Now I’m reading online that Doxy can really interfere with the efficacy of the penicillin. I forgot to take a tablet last night but took one this morning and then read about how it could interfere. Any thoughts? I only have a couple of days left of the Doxy. Do I stop taking the Doxycycline now that i just had penicillin injections or finish the remaining 5 tablets?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
1 hours ago
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Welcome to the Forum. Thanks for your questions. I'll be glad to comment. I don't know about your diagnosis of syphilis, particularly given that you have previously had syphilis- the symptoms you describe are not those of syphilis but I do know that you do not need more doxycycline. Fourteen days of doxycycline is the recommended therapy for syphilis in persons who cannot take penicillin so you were already cured of syphilis if you had it, even before the penicillin shots. You should stop taking the doxycycline at this time- it is not needed.
I hope this information is helpful. EWH
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13 minutes ago
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Well :
I have not finished the prescription of Doxycycline, as I started it 12 days ago and have two more days left. I know that I am not supposed to stop the prescription until its finished. but now that i received the two shots of penicillin just yesterday I want to stop taking the Doxy so that the penicillin can fully do it's job. Is that advisable? I read online that Doxy can interfere with the penicillin. Also, I wanted to take the penicillin in case its secondary syphilis but it sounds like from your response I really didn't need to start it?