DOH: Doxycycline for leptospirosis not allowed without prescription
Pedestrians wade through floodwaters as they cross the intersection of Pedro Gil Street and Taft Avenue in Ermita, Manila, on Monday, July 21, 2025. — Photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — As many Filipinos get exposed to floodwaters brought by the heavy rainfall these days, the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday reminded the public that doxycycline against leptospirosis should not be taken without a doctor’s prescription.
The DOH noted that the appropriate dosage of doxycycline depends on the level of exposure or risk of anyone who wades through floodwaters.
“For wrong intake, the drug may become ineffective against bacteria, and treating simple infections may become difficult. This can lead to serious illnesses or complications,” the DOH said in Filipino in an advisory.
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“The DOH advises the public to consult a doctor to be given the proper prescription for the antibiotic’s usage,” the DOH added.
The Philippine Institute of Health Insurance earlier said that doxycycline, an antibiotic, “is the recommended post-exposure chemoprophylactic agent for leptospirosis.”
Medical experts said that humans can get infected by the illness caused by the leptospira bacteria when they come in contact with water, food, or soil containing contaminated animal urine.
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Early symptoms of the disease include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhea. The DOH previously said that infected persons can also experience jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark-colored urine, low urine output, and severe headache.
The DOH also advised the following preventive measures:
- Those exposed to floodwaters, with wounds or not, must consult a doctor for a prescription on doxycycline intake.
- Those who are not exposed to floodwaters but have wounds must use a waterproof bandage and avoid wading through floodwaters.
- Those who are not exposed to floodwaters and don’t have wounds must stay safe and avoid wading through floodwaters. /das/abc
