From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Doxycycline is not typically included in standard asthma rescue packs as it is an antibiotic, not a medication for acute asthma symptoms. A typical asthma rescue pack usually contains a short course of oral corticosteroids (like prednisone 40-60mg daily for 5-7 days) and instructions to increase the frequency of rescue inhaler use (albuterol). If doxycycline is included, it would be for treating a suspected respiratory infection that might trigger asthma exacerbation, typically at a dose of 100mg twice daily for 5-7 days, as suggested by studies such as 1. This antibiotic targets common respiratory pathogens that can worsen asthma symptoms. However, antibiotics should only be used when there's clear evidence of bacterial infection, not for viral triggers or non-infectious asthma flares, as indicated by the lack of direct evidence for asthma in studies like 2 and 3. The most recent and highest quality study on asthma management, 4, does not specifically address the use of doxycycline in asthma rescue packs, reinforcing the idea that antibiotics are not a standard component of asthma treatment. If you're experiencing asthma symptoms, it's essential to follow your personalized asthma action plan and contact your healthcare provider before starting any medications, as they can adjust recommendations based on your specific condition and history. Key considerations include:
- The role of antibiotics in asthma exacerbations is generally limited to cases with clear evidence of bacterial infection.
- The standard treatment for asthma exacerbations involves corticosteroids and bronchodilators, not antibiotics, as outlined in guidelines like those discussed in 4.
- Doxycycline, if used, should be at a dose of 100mg twice daily for a limited duration, such as 5-7 days, and only when there's a strong suspicion of bacterial infection, as might be inferred from studies on COPD and antibiotic use like 5.