Doxycycline HC1 (Vibramycin) syrup as a single-dose oral treatment for uncomplicated urethritis in men.

Some years ago, Silvestre and Gallai (1968) successfully treated gonorrhoea in men using doxy-cycline HC1 given in a single oral dose. In Glasgow comparable results were obtained in the treatment of gonorrhoea in women by Moffett, McGill, Masterton, and Schofield (1972), as well as in men by Masterton and Schofield (1972). Furthermore, a significant number of male patients who were suffering from non-specific urethritis were cured by this treatment. At the same time, it was noted that, with doxy-cycline HC1 in a dose of 300 mg., patients complained of gastrointestinal side-effects-5 per cent. had nausea and 10 per cent. vomited. These side-effects were partly, but not completely, controlled by giving the capsules with milk. In the present study, involving male patients suffering from uncomplicated urethritis, the same dosage of doxycycline HC1 and the same protocol and criteria were used as in the previous trial, except that, in an attempt to eliminate the side-effects, a syrup instead of a capsule was used. The results obtained are compared with those of the previous trial. Methods 266 male patients suffering from uncomplicated urethritis were admitted to the trial which covered a 10-week period starting in October, 1973. Irrespective of the microscopic diagnosis, the patients were given 30 ml. Vibramycin syrup (50 mg./5 ml.) in a single oral dose in the clinic. No other treatment was given, and patients with complicated infections, those in transit, and those who had previously been unreliable attenders were excluded from the survey. 227 (85-3 per cent.) were born in the United Kingdom. 32-7 per cent. were married, 57-5 per cent. were single, and 9-8 per cent. separated or divorced.