Investigating the relationship between lactose intolerance and doxycycline-induced gastrointestinal disturbances

Ashley Y. Hernandez-Gutierrez; Kenan Kherallah; Ivan Rodriguez; Scott D. Worswick

doi:10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20263733

Authors

Ashley Y. Hernandez-Gutierrez Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Kenan Kherallah Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Ivan Rodriguez Department of Dermatology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Scott D. Worswick Department of Dermatology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20263733

Keywords:

Doxycycline, Antibiotic, Drug side effects, Lactose intolerance

Abstract

Background: Doxycycline, a highly effective broad-spectrum antibiotic, is frequently prescribed for dermatological conditions due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. The adverse effects (AE) doxycycline-induced gastrointestinal (GI) are well described in the literature and clinical practice. However, the use of lactose as an excipient in doxycycline formulations is not commonly known and may contribute to symptoms in patients with lactose intolerance.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, phone-based survey of patients with documented doxycycline use. Participants reported lactose intolerance status and GI symptoms experienced during therapy. The association was assessed using odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and statistical significance testing.

Results: Out of 98 participants, 46% experienced GI AE. We observed that individuals with lactose intolerance are 1.979 times more likely to experience any GI AE than those without (95% CI 0.598-6.547) with a p=0.257. With a threshold of p<0.05, we could not appreciate a statistically significant association between lactose intolerance and GI AE.

Conclusions: Although lactose intolerance was associated with increased odds of GI AE, the relationship was not statistically significant. However, findings noted in this study suggest a possible trend that warrants further investigation. Larger, prospective studies are needed to confirm our observation and clarify the clinical impact of lactose-containing doxycycline formulations.

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