Efracea

What is Efracea?

Efracea is a prescription-only medication that contains the antibiotic doxycycline. It is a low-dose antibiotic that treats inflammatory rosacea in adults by reducing swelling, redness, and acne-like spots on the face and improving skin appearance. Efracea is a branded medication and is made by Patheon France.

How Does Efracea Work?

Although Efracea contains the antibiotic doxycycline, it works by targeting the specific inflammatory pathways that cause rosacea-related bumps, pimples, and redness rather than killing the bacteria on the skin's surface. This helps to gently relieve symptoms, such as redness, swelling, visible blood vessels, and spots.

Efracea is a slow-release medication, meaning it releases the active ingredient over a prolonged period to provide steady, effective results. Because Efracea is a low-dose antibiotic, it is safe for long-term use and has a low risk of creating antibiotic-resistant strains.

How Long Does Efracea Take to Work?

Many people find that Efracea noticeably improves their rosacea symptoms within 4 weeks, but a typical course can last for up to 16 weeks, depending on how severe your symptoms are. Your clinician or doctor will typically review how well you have progressed after 6 weeks.

How Effective is Efracea for Rosacea?

Efracea is a safe and effective treatment for moderate-to-severe rosacea. In two clinical trials, treatment with 40 mg of Efracea significantly reduced the average total inflammatory lesions compared with placebo.

One study found that the anti-inflammatory 40 mg daily dose of doxycycline was associated with a rapid onset of action, resulting in a significantly greater decrease in total inflammatory lesions than a placebo after 3 weeks.

How to Take Efracea

Efracea is available as a 40mg modified-release capsule, and the recommended dose is one capsule per day. Swallow it whole, preferably in the morning on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Swallow the capsule with a full glass of water while sitting or standing to avoid throat irritation. Do not chew the capsule; take it exactly as your clinician told you to. They will advise you on how long you need to take Efracea.

You must not take Efracea with milk or dairy products because these contain calcium, which may reduce the effectiveness of the medication. Leave 2 to 3 hours after taking your daily dose before drinking or eating dairy products. If you are unsure about how to take Efracea, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

What if You Forget to Take Efracea

If you forget to take Efracea, skip the missed dose and take the next one at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

What if You Take Too Many Efracea MR Capsules

If you take more Efracea capsules than you have been prescribed, there's a risk of damage to your liver, kidneys, or pancreas. If you have taken too much Efracea, speak to a doctor immediately about what you should do. You may experience side effects such as an upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness.

Efracea Side Effects and Cautions

Efracea can cause side effects in some people, so read the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with the medication before you start taking it, and discuss any concerns with the clinician. By understanding the potential side effects of Efracea, you will feel more confident about managing them at home and when you may need to seek medical advice.

Possible Side Effects of Efracea

Efracea can cause side effects, but not everyone will experience them. Clinical trials have shown that Efracea side effects are usually mild to moderate and can often be managed at home.

The above list is not a comprehensive rundown of potential Efracea side effects. More details can be found within the Patient Information Leaflet that accompanies the medication. You can also report any adverse reactions you experience to your clinician or the MHRA's Yellow Card Scheme.

Serious Side Effects of Efracea

In some people, Efracea can cause serious side effects. If you get any of the following, you should stop taking Efracea and contact your doctor as soon as possible or, in an emergency, call 999 or get someone to take you to A&E:

• Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction: Causes fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, and skin rash, and usually occurs shortly after starting treatment.
• Allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction: Symptoms include a swollen face, lips, tongue, and throat; difficulty breathing or swallowing; hives; itchy skin and eyes; rapid heartbeat; and feeling faint.
• Severe or prolonged bloody diarrhoea: could be a sign of bowel inflammation, which can happen as a result of taking antibiotics.

Efracea Interactions and Warnings

Efracea may not be suitable for everyone. That's why you should tell the clinician about any current medical conditions or medications you are taking, so they can check whether Efracea is safe and suitable for you.

Do not take Efracea if you:

• Are allergic to any medications that belong to the tetracycline family, including doxycycline or minocycline, or to any other ingredients listed in the medication
• Are pregnant because Efracea should not be taken after the 4th month of pregnancy, as it may harm the unborn child
• Have a condition that causes the absence of acid in the stomach (achlorhydria) or if you have had surgery on the upper part of the gut called the duodenum

Precautions Before Taking Efracea

Before taking Efracea, tell the clinician if you:

• Have liver disease
• Have a history of predisposition to candidiasis overgrowth or currently have an oral or vaginal yeast or fungal infection
• Have colitis
• Have oesophageal irritation or ulceration
• Have the type of rosacea that affects the eyes
• Expose your skin to strong sunlight or artificial sunlight because more severe sunburn can occur in some people who take doxycycline
• Are intolerant to some sugars
• Have a condition called myasthenia gravis

Efracea and Other Medicines

Before taking Efracea, tell the clinician if you are taking any prescribed, over-the-counter, or herbal medications. Do not take Efracea:

• At the same time as a medication called isotretinoin because of a risk of increased pressure in the brain.
• If you are taking antacids, multi-vitamins, or other products that contain calcium, aluminium, magnesium, iron or bismuth, or cholestyramine, activated charcoal, or sucralfate, do so 2 to 3 hours after taking Efracea.

You should also not take any other treatments for ulcers or heartburn until at least 2 hours after using Efracea, as they could affect the medication's effectiveness.

Tell the clinician, before starting Efracea, if you are taking:

• Blood thinners
• Certain diabetes treatments, as your doctor may need to check if the dose of your diabetes medication needs to be changed
• Antibiotics, like penicillin, because Efracea can make them less effective
• Barbiturates
• Rifampicin
• Carbamazepine
• Diphenylhydantoin
• Phenytoin
• Primidone
• Cyclosporin

If you are due to have surgery, let your doctor or surgeon know because taking Efracea at the same time as the general anaesthetic methoxyfluorane can cause serious kidney damage.

Taking Efracea with Food and Drink

Always take Efracea with enough water to wash down the capsule, as this helps reduce the risk of irritation or ulcers in your throat or food pipe. You should also avoid eating or drinking milk or dairy products at the same time as Efracea because the calcium within them can reduce the medication's effectiveness. Ideally, you should leave 2 to 3 hours between taking Efracea and consuming dairy products.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Efracea must not be taken during pregnancy because it can cause permanent tooth discolouration in unborn children. It is also not suitable for long-term use if you are breastfeeding because it can cause permanent tooth discolouration and reduced bone growth in breastfed children.

If you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding, speak to your doctor, clinician, or pharmacist for advice before taking Efracea.

Frequently Asked Questions About Efracea MR Capsules