Efracea 40mg MR Capsules

What is Efracea?

Efracea is a prescription-only medication containing 40mg of doxycycline. This low dose helps to treat inflammatory rosacea in adults by reducing redness, swelling and spots on your face. It focuses on calming inflammation rather than killing bacteria. You take it once a day, and it offers a gentle approach to rosacea treatment without the same risk of antibiotic resistance.

How Does Efracea Work?

Efracea works by tackling the inflammation that causes the red bumps and spots that are core symptoms of rosacea. Although the active ingredient is an antibiotic, at the levels in Efracea, it works to calm your skin instead of killing the bacteria present on it. This helps to reduce rosacea symptoms gently. Efracea is a slow-release medicine, meaning it gives steady relief when you take it like your prescriber tells you to.

Efracea and Other Rosacea Treatments

Efracea capsules are an oral antibiotic treatment for rosacea. They can be combined with other topical, non-antibiotic rosacea treatments, such as:

• Soolantra cream
• Finacea gel
• Dermalex Rosacea Treatment
• Mirvaso gel
• Soolantra Gel

How To Take Efracea

Take one Efracea capsule each morning on an empty stomach, either at least one hour before or two hours after eating a meal. Never chew the capsule; instead, swallow it whole. Take Efracea with a full glass of water, and make sure you’re either sitting down or standing up (never lying down) to avoid irritation to your throat. Don’t take milk or dairy products at the same time as you take your Efracea. These products contain calcium, which could reduce how effective your Efracea is. Always wait two to three hours after your daily dose of Efracea before consuming any dairy products.

Ingredients

Each Efracea capsule contains 40mg of doxycycline (as doxycycline monohydrate) as the active ingredient. The other ingredients are hypromellose, methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer (1:1), citrate, talc, hypromellose, titanium dioxide, macrogol 400, yellow iron oxide, red iron oxide, polysorbate 80, and sugar spheres (maize starch, sucrose). The capsule is made up of gelatin, black iron oxide, red iron oxide, yellow iron oxide, and titanium dioxide. The printing ink on the capsule contains shellac, propylene glycol, black iron oxide, indigo carmine aluminium lake, allura red AC aluminium lake (E129), brilliant blue FCF aluminium lake, and D & C yellow no. 10 aluminium lake.

Side Effects

Efracea can cause side effects, but not everyone will get them. Common side effects include inflammation of the nose and throat, inflammation of the sinuses, fungal infection, anxiety, sinus headache, high or increased blood pressure, diarrhoea, pain in the upper part of the abdomen, dry mouth, back pain, and changes in liver or blood sugar tests.

If you notice any unwanted side effects, discuss them with your prescriber so they can monitor you.

Warnings

Before deciding to use Efracea capsules you should consider the following warnings:

• Do not take Efracea if you have every had an allergic reaction to any of the ingredients listed above.
• Do not take Efracea if you are in or have passed the fourth month of pregnancy as it may affect the unborn baby. If you become pregnant whilst taking Efracea then consult with you doctor as soon as possible.
• Do not take Efracea if you are currently using any oral retinoids.
• Do not take Efracea if you suffer from achlorhydria (an absence of stomach acid) or have had any surgery on the duodenum (upper part of the gut).

You should always consult with you doctor before beginning a course of efracea if you:

• Have liver disease.
• Are predisposed to candidiasis overgrowth.
• Are currently suffering from an oral or vaginal fungal or yeast infection.
• Currently suffer from muscle disease.
• Currently suffer from colitis.
• Experience any oesophageal ulceration or irritation.
• Have rosacea affecting the eyes.
• Expose yourself to strong UV light as sunburn can occur more easily.

Always speak to your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medication as this may interfere with Efracea.

You should not use Efracea if you are currently using the medication isotretinoin as this can increase the risk of pressure in the brain.

Do not use any of the following products within three hours of taking efracea:

• Antacids
• Vitamin supplements
• Any product which contains calcium – this includes dairy products
• Products containing aluminium, magnesium, iron, and bismuth
• Cholestyramine
• Activated charcoal
• Sucralfate

Some medications for ulcers and heartburn may reduce the effectiveness of Efracea and should not be taken within two hours of each other.

If you suffer from diabetes, or are currently on blood thinners, consult with your doctor about altering your dosages.

Certain antibiotics can become less effective when used alongside Efracea.

The following medications may reduce the length of time that Efracea will remain active within body:

• Carbamazepine (epilepsy)
• Barbituates (sleeping pills or short-term pain killers)
• Primidone (anti-convulsant) or cyclosporine (organ transplant)
• Rifampicin (tuberculosis)
• Diphenylhydantoin and phenytoin (seizures of the brain)

Efracea should also not be used in conjunction with the anaesthetic methoxylfluorane as this can cause severe damage to your kidneys.

Efracea capsules should always be taken with plenty of water in order to properly wash down them down your throat, reducing irritation in the gullet. Any dairy products, such as milk, should not be taken at the same time as Efracea as calcium can decrease its effectiveness.

Always read the label and accompanying product information before making any decision regarding new medication.