Doxycycline hyclate vs. monohydrate: what’s the difference?
Reviewed by Chimene Richa, MD,
Written by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Reviewed by Chimene Richa, MD,
Written by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
last updated: May 25, 2022
4 min read
Here's what we'll cover
The names of medications can be confusing. Drug names are often tricky to spell, tough to pronounce, and many sound alike.
If you’re searching for an antibiotic called doxycycline, you’ll notice that comes as two different drugs. Keep reading to learn about doxycycline hyclate vs. monohydrate, and if one is better for treating things like acne and bacterial infections.
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What is doxycycline used for?
Doxycycline is an antibiotic that stops certain types of bacteria from growing. It treats a wide range of bacterial infections including (Patel, 2022):
Lyme disease
Malaria
Periodontal (gum) disease
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Gastrointestinal infections
Anthrax infection
Doxycycline also has anti-inflammatory effects, making it useful for treating inflammatory conditions. One example is rosacea, a skin condition that causes bumps and blemishes. Healthcare providers also prescribe doxycycline to treat acne, taking advantage of both its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties (Patel, 2022).
Here are some fast facts about doxycycline (FDA, 2008; Krout, 2015):
Drug class: Tetracycline antibiotic
Route: Oral
Forms: Capsule, tablet, liquid suspension, delayed-release tablet
Brand names: Monodox, Vibramycin, Acticlate, Doryx, Oracea, Adoxa, Periostat
Generic names: doxycycline hyclate, doxycycline monohydrate
Doxycycline comes in a variety of strengths. The usual dosage is 100 mg taken once or twice daily. Be sure to follow the directions from your healthcare provider.
Differences between doxycycline monohydrate and hyclate
You may be wondering if there’s a big difference between these two medications. The short answer is, not really. They both contain the same powerful active ingredient: doxycycline. And both are effective against the same types of bacteria (DailyMed, 2017; DailyMed, 2021).
So if doxycycline hyclate and monohydrate are essentially the same thing, why the two names? Medications often have a second part to their name. For doxycycline, the second parts are monohydrate and hyclate. These names indicate what salt is attached to the active drug molecule. Salts are inactive ingredients but can be important for helping your system absorb drugs like doxycycline (Neubig, 2010).
Healthcare professionals often omit the salt name when talking about medications. That’s why it can be surprising when your prescription label has a drug name that’s slightly different than expected. If you have questions about your prescription, don’t hesitate to reach out to a pharmacist or healthcare provider for medical advice.
Doxycycline hyclate vs. monohydrate: which is better?
Both forms of doxycycline are effective at fighting the same types of bacteria. There are slight differences in their pharmacology like absorption and bioavailability, which are measures of how well a drug gets into your bloodstream.
A small study looking at how doxycycline gets absorbed after oral administration in 12 people found no differences between hyclate and monohydrate forms of doxycycline. However, they did point out that doxycycline monohydrate has a lower risk of irritating the esophagus (Malmborg, 1984).
To lower the risk of irritation in your esophagus, healthcare providers recommend drinking a full glass of water with each dose of doxycycline. You’ll also want to avoid laying down right after you take a dose. These points of advice apply to both the hyclate and the monohydrate versions (DailyMed, 2017; DailyMed, 2021; Krout, 2015).
Another pharmacological difference is that doxycycline hyclate fully dissolves in water, whereas doxycycline monohydrate only slightly dissolves in water. But, once either form absorbs into your system, they become active as doxycycline. Each are equally effective for treating acne and infections (Krout, 2015).
Cost of doxycycline hyclate vs. monohydrate
Since the scientific differences aren’t significant, the cost of each drug may be a more practical comparison. The estimates below show the average retail price for doxycycline, according to GoodRx (GoodRx-a, n.d.; GoodRx-b, n.d.).
Doxycycline monohydrate 100 mg, quantity of 30 capsules: $58.
Doxycycline hyclate 100 mg, quantity of 30 capsules: $109.
Doxycycline hyclate 100 mg, quantity of 30 tablets: $105.
Keep in mind that these prices are estimates and don’t take into account any insurance plans or discounts.
Side effects of doxycycline
Common side effects of doxycycline include (Patel, 2022):
Diarrhea
Photosensitivity (increased skin sensitivity to sunlight, which may lead to sunburn)
Nausea
Vomiting
Skin rash or itching
Headaches
Tooth discoloration
Potential drug interactions
Doxycycline has the potential to interact with several different types of medications. The interaction risks are the same regardless if you take the hyclate or monohydrate version of doxycycline. The most important interactions with doxycycline to be aware of include (DailyMed, 2017; DailyMed, 2021):
Calcium, aluminum, magnesium, and iron. Minerals can bind to doxycycline in your digestive tract and limit its absorption. This interaction can make doxycycline less effective. Calcium, aluminum, magnesium, and iron are found in supplements, multi-vitamins, laxatives, and antacids like Tums or Maalox. Many foods are also fortified with minerals. It is important to avoid products that contain these minerals two hours before or after taking doxycycline (Patel, 2022).
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol). Bismuth may affect the absorption of doxycycline, potentially making the medication less effective.
Oral contraceptives. It is possible that doxycycline and other antibiotics may make birth control pills less effective. If you’re taking birth control to prevent pregnancy, you may want to use a backup method like condoms while taking doxycycline.
Blood thinners. Doxycycline has been reported to affect blood clotting. If you take a blood thinner drug, such as warfarin, your healthcare provider may monitor you more closely while you take doxycycline. They may tell you to adjust your warfarin dosage temporarily.
Doxycycline can be an effective treatment for a wide range of conditions. Do not hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider if you have questions about this or other medications.
DISCLAIMER
If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
DailyMed. (2021). Doxycycline hyclate capsule . Retrieved from https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=f18daceb-33a3-4931-9be7-ecd6356cc119&type=display
DailyMed. (2017). Monodox - doxycycline monohydrate capsule . Retrieved from https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=a65325a7-ae0a-4704-99c4-a3a2e4e1dcf2&type=display
GoodRx-a. (n.d.). Doxycycline Hyclate . Retrieved from https://www.goodrx.com/doxycycline-hyclate?dosage=100mg&form=capsule&label_override=doxycycline%20hyclate&quantity=30&sort_type=popularity
GoodRx-b. (n.d.). Doxycycline Monohydrate . Retrieved from https://www.goodrx.com/doxycycline-monohydrate?slug=doxycycline-monohydrate&form=capsule&dosage=100mg&quantity=30&label_override=doxycycline-monohydrate
Krout, C. & Lio, P. (2015). Tetracyclines: History and current formulation review from a dermatology perspective. Practical Dermatology , 51–54. Retrieved from http://v2.practicaldermatology.com/pdfs/pd0215_ClinicalFocus.pdf
Malmborg, A. S. (1984). Bioavailability of doxycycline monohydrate. A comparison with equivalent doses of doxycycline hydrochloride. Chemotherapy, 30 (2), 76–80. doi:10.1159/000238249. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6697815/
Neubig, R. R. (2010). Mind your salts: when the inactive constituent isn't. Molecular Pharmacology, 78 (4), 558–559. doi:10.1124/mol.110.067645. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20651116/
Patel, R. S. & Parmar, M. (2022). Doxycycline hyclate. StatPearls . Retrieved on May 16, 2022 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555888/
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (2008). DORYX® (doxycycline hyclate) . Retrieved from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2008/050795s005lbl.pdf