Doxycycline/Cipro and Lifting

My back acne has gotten so bad over the last few months that my wife demanded I go to a dermatologist. I was prescribed a regimen of doxycycline and a topical foam to help get rid of it. I know certain antibiotics are linked to tendon ruptures and before I start taking this stuff, I just wanted to make sure no one has heard of any adverse tendon effects or anything else that might interfere with weight training?

When I brought it up to the doc she seemed unaware of this, but I am almost certain it’s something I’ve heard before.

Cipro is the antibiotic associated with collagen problems. I know of no similar problems with Doxy.

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Originally Posted by Mark Rippetoe

Cipro is the antibiotic associated with collagen problems. I know of no similar problems with Doxy.

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Ah ok! I just wanted to make sure. I appreciate the response.

Don't use the same bath towel twice. I have also personally found I am prone to breakouts when taking pain meds. If you are on those, try to avoid them for a while.

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Originally Posted by Mark Rippetoe

Cipro is the antibiotic associated with collagen problems. I know of no similar problems with Doxy.

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Also Levaquin. The class in question is fluoroquinolones. You can ask your doctor of pharmacist if an antibiotic is in this class, or ask Dr Google. These antibiotics have become much less popular in recent years for a number of reasons, including the tendon ruptures. There are a few situations where they are probably still the best choice, but mostly there are good substitutes.

Doxycycline has other potential side effects, but is not a quinolone, so your tendons should be safe.

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Originally Posted by jfsully

Also Levaquin. The class in question is fluoroquinolones. You can ask your doctor of pharmacist if an antibiotic is in this class, or ask Dr Google. These antibiotics have become much less popular in recent years for a number of reasons, including the tendon ruptures. There are a few situations where they are probably still the best choice, but mostly there are good substitutes.

Doxycycline has other potential side effects, but is not a quinolone, so your tendons should be safe.

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Thanks Sully! The only other issue I see with Doxycycline is that I’ll have to strategize my half GOMAD milk ingestion around when I take it. If I take it twice a day but only 8 hours apart, would that be sufficient? The doc told me not to take it within 2 hours of any dairy. I can do that, but I’ll need to take it 8 hours apart in order to do so. Apparently, it’s less effective when taken with dairy. All the other side effects seemed pretty standard and run-of-the-mill.

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Originally Posted by Frank_B

Thanks Sully! The only other issue I see with Doxycycline is that I’ll have to strategize my half GOMAD milk ingestion around when I take it. If I take it twice a day but only 8 hours apart, would that be sufficient? The doc told me not to take it within 2 hours of any dairy. I can do that, but I’ll need to take it 8 hours apart in order to do so. Apparently, it’s less effective when taken with dairy. All the other side effects seemed pretty standard and run-of-the-mill.

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You’re doing gomad and breaking out badly? Honestly your skin issues could be from all the dairy you are consuming. I have taken doxycycline to many times to count and for months at a time in some cases. I don’t really have anything to add other than trying to stop having so much dairy and consider putting on jojoba oil on your back after showering (now brand is good). It cleared my acne up which was mostly in the winter due to dry skin apparently.

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Originally Posted by Frank_B

Thanks Sully! The only other issue I see with Doxycycline is that I’ll have to strategize my half GOMAD milk ingestion around when I take it. If I take it twice a day but only 8 hours apart, would that be sufficient? The doc told me not to take it within 2 hours of any dairy. I can do that, but I’ll need to take it 8 hours apart in order to do so. Apparently, it’s less effective when taken with dairy. All the other side effects seemed pretty standard and run-of-the-mill.

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Food interferes with absorption of doxycycline, and calcium in dairy may specifically interfere. This is not to say that it prevents absorption, but it has the same effect that lowering the dose would. I would say take it an hour before or 2 hours after a meal or significant milk intake, to maximize absorption. BUT, you may not need maximum absorption to get the benefit of the medication. Many people find doxy hard on the stomach unless taken with food, so they don't follow the empty stomach guideline.

The best thing would be to take it consistently, and decide for yourself whether empty vs non-empty stomach works better for your digestion and schedule. Just pick a schedule and stick with it. Then assess whether it is effective the way you're doing it. You may or may not need the full-dose potency to clear up the backne. Taking it 8 hours apart is probably fine.

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Originally Posted by Johnsonville

You’re doing gomad and breaking out badly? Honestly your skin issues could be from all the dairy you are consuming. I have taken doxycycline to many times to count and for months at a time in some cases. I don’t really have anything to add other than trying to stop having so much dairy and consider putting on jojoba oil on your back after showering (now brand is good). It cleared my acne up which was mostly in the winter due to dry skin apparently.

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Yeah. I know my dairy intake may be part of the acne problem. I’m 6’2, 225 and trying to get to 240-250. I wouldn’t mind being 270, but I have a job that has me crawling through small crawl spaces and my shoulders and ass are already getting me stuck in places I used to crawl through with ease.

Without milk I just can’t stuff enough food down my throat to gain weight. I scaled back from full GOMAD because I was starting to have digestive issues.

Thanks again sully. I’ll play around and see what works best.

I did not know about CIPRO and started taking it Friday night for an ear infection. I don't feel like I need to be taking anymore of it after reading this thread and doing a Google search.

Cipro made my knees hurt...bad. I quit taking it because of that. I wouldn't squat heavy taking Cipro.

For those of you out there on statins...statins killed my training. The pain was unbearable.