Doxycycline and Penicillin G Procaine for 
Inhalational Anthrax (Post-Exposure)

Doxycycline and penicillin G procaine are antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. They do not work for viral infections (for example, the common cold). Doxycycline and penicillin G procaine have been approved for all forms of anthrax. (inhalational, gastrointestinal, and cutaneous). In October 2001, FDA published a Federal Register notice clarifying that these drugs were approved for inhalational anthrax (post-exposure). Use of doxycycline in children under 8 presents special concerns because of possible tooth discoloration. Long-term use of intravenous doxycycline or penicillin G procaine presents safety concerns, and patients should be switched, when appropriate, to other antibiotics to complete a 60 day course of therapy for inhalational anthrax (post-exposure).

• How to Prepare Emergency Dosages of Doxycycline at Home for Infants and Children [HTML]   (Posted 4/25/2003)

  •   Printable card [PDF ]   (Posted 4/25/2003)
• Palatability Evaluations of Doxycycline Solid Dosage Tablets Ground and Mixed in Food or Drinks  (Issued and posted 7/3/2002)

• Stability and Dose Uniformity Evaluations of Doxycycline Solid Dosage Tablets Ground and Mixed in Food or Drinks  (Issued and posted 7/3/2002)

• Federal Register Notice on Doxycycline and Penicillin G Procaine Administration for Inhalational Anthrax (Post-Exposure).  HTML or PDF

• List of Published Literature Relied on in Issuing the Federal Register Notice on Doxycycline and Penicillin G Procaine Administration for Inhalational Anthrax (Post—Exposure)

• FDA Encourages Drug Firms to Revise Doxycycline and Penicillin G Procaine Labeling with Information for Treating Inhalational Anthrax (Post-Exposure). Talk Paper.

• Doxycycline (Vibramycin, Monodox, Doryx, Doxy , Atridox, Periodox, Vibra-Tabs ): Use by Pregnant and Lactating Women

• Questions and Answers for Consumers on Doxycycline 

• Questions and Answers for Consumers on Penicillin G Procaine

Related Links from FDA

• Cipro (Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride) for Inhalation Anthrax 

• Questions and Answers about Anthrax Prevention and Treatment from the Department of Health and Human Services.

• Antibiotic Resistance.  Disease-causing microbes that have become resistant to drug therapy are an increasing public health problem. Tuberculosis, gonorrhea, malaria, and childhood ear infections are just a few of the diseases that have become hard to treat with antibiotic drugs. Part of the problem is that bacteria and other microorganisms that cause infections are remarkably resilient and can develop ways to survive drugs meant to kill or weaken them. This antibiotic resistance, also known as antimicrobial resistance or drug resistance, is due largely to the increasing use of antibiotics.

• Buying Prescription Medicines Online: A Consumer Safety Guide

• Buying Medicines Online: Tips and Warnings for Consumers

Background Information

• Search the National Library of Medicine's database, MEDLINE, for references to articles from medical journals

  • Cipro search

  • Doxycycline search

  • Penicillin G Procaine Search

• Information on Anthrax from the National Library of Medicine's MEDLINEplus. Consumer Information including FAQ's, latest news, symptoms and diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. 

• Centers for Disease Control - Update: Investigation of Bioterrorism-Related Anthrax and Interim Guidelines for Exposure Management and Antimicrobial Therapy, October 2001

• Centers for Disease Control.  Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Disease information

• World Health Organization: Questions and Answers on Anthrax

• World Health Organization Guidelines for the Surveillance and Control of Anthrax in Humans and Animals

• Anthrax Vaccine program.  Department of Defense.

• Anthrax.  U.S. State Department International Information Program