Your Patients Are Calling About Doxycycline — Here's How to Help

If your front desk has been fielding calls from patients who can't fill their Doxycycline prescriptions, you're not alone. Despite improvements in overall supply, Doxycycline availability remains inconsistent across pharmacies and regions in 2026.

This guide provides a practical framework for helping your patients access Doxycycline — or appropriate alternatives — with minimal disruption to your workflow.

For background on the shortage timeline and clinical considerations, see our provider briefing on the Doxycycline shortage.

Current Availability Snapshot

As of early 2026, the Doxycycline supply picture looks like this:

• Improving but uneven: National supply is significantly better than 2023-2024, but regional and pharmacy-level stockouts persist
• Most affected formulations: Doxycycline hyclate 100 mg capsules and oral suspension continue to see the most variability
• More stable: Doxycycline monohydrate products, delayed-release tablets (Doryx), and 50 mg strength capsules tend to have better availability
• Chain vs. independent: Large chain pharmacies often experience shortages simultaneously due to shared distributors, while independent pharmacies may have different supply sources

Why Your Patients Can't Find It

Understanding the barriers helps you address them efficiently:

1. Distributor allocation: Major wholesalers allocate limited supply based on pharmacy purchase history. New or smaller-volume pharmacies may receive less
2. Formulation specificity: Prescriptions specifying "doxycycline hyclate capsules" may not be fillable even when monohydrate tablets are in stock
3. Strength rigidity: A prescription for 100 mg capsules can't be filled with 50 mg capsules without a new prescription
4. Geographic variability: Shortages can be hyperlocal — one zip code may be fully stocked while another 10 miles away has nothing
5. Patient awareness: Many patients don't know to check multiple pharmacies or explore alternative formulations

5 Steps to Help Your Patients Get Doxycycline

Step 1: Write Flexible Prescriptions

The single most impactful thing you can do is build flexibility into your prescriptions:

• Allow salt form substitution: Write "doxycycline 100 mg" without specifying hyclate or monohydrate, or add a note that either is acceptable
• Include dosage form flexibility: Note that capsules, tablets, or delayed-release tablets are all acceptable
• Consider dual-strength options: Add a note that two 50 mg capsules may be dispensed in lieu of one 100 mg capsule if needed

This gives the pharmacist room to work with whatever product they have in stock, reducing the need for callbacks and new prescriptions.

Step 2: Direct Patients to Medfinder

Medfinder provides real-time pharmacy stock tracking. Recommend it at the point of prescribing:

• Include medfinder.com on your after-visit summary
• Have front desk staff mention it when scheduling follow-ups
• Add it to your practice's patient resource list

When patients can locate stock themselves, it reduces the number of "I can't find my medication" calls to your office.

Step 3: Recommend Independent Pharmacies

Build a list of local independent pharmacies and compounding pharmacies that your staff can share with patients. Independent pharmacies often have access to different distributors and may carry Doxycycline when chain pharmacies don't.

If you have relationships with specific independent pharmacies in your area, consider calling ahead to confirm they have stock before directing patients there.

Step 4: Have a Pre-Approved Alternative Ready

For your most common Doxycycline indications, establish a preferred alternative that you're comfortable prescribing if Doxycycline is unavailable:

• Acne/Rosacea: Minocycline 100 mg daily, or extended-release Minocycline 45-135 mg daily
• Chlamydia: Azithromycin 1g single dose (noting increasing resistance concerns)
• Lyme Disease: Amoxicillin 500 mg TID for 14-21 days
• Respiratory Infections: Azithromycin Z-Pack or Amoxicillin-Clavulanate
• MRSA Skin Infections: Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) or Minocycline

Having these alternatives pre-decided allows your staff to process prescription changes quickly when patients call back reporting unfilled prescriptions.

Step 5: Educate Patients Proactively

At the time of prescribing, brief your patients on the current supply situation:

• "Doxycycline can sometimes be hard to find. If your pharmacy doesn't have it, check Medfinder or call an independent pharmacy."
• "If you can't find it anywhere, call us and we'll switch you to an alternative."
• "Your pharmacist may offer a slightly different version of Doxycycline — that's fine, it works the same way."

Setting expectations upfront reduces patient anxiety and empowers them to take action rather than waiting for your office to solve the problem.

Alternative Medications: A Quick Reference

For a detailed discussion of alternatives, see our provider shortage briefing. Here's a quick reference table:

Minocycline

• Class: Tetracycline
• Best for: Acne, skin/soft tissue infections, MRSA
• Key consideration: Higher CNS side effect profile (dizziness, vertigo); potential for skin discoloration with long-term use
• Cost: $15-$50 generic

Azithromycin

• Class: Macrolide
• Best for: Respiratory infections, uncomplicated chlamydia
• Key consideration: Growing resistance in N. gonorrhoeae; not effective for Lyme or malaria
• Cost: $10-$25 generic

Amoxicillin

• Class: Penicillin
• Best for: Lyme disease (especially pregnant patients, children under 8)
• Key consideration: Different spectrum; penicillin allergy contraindication
• Cost: $4-$15 generic

Atovaquone-Proguanil (Malarone)

• Class: Antimalarial
• Best for: Malaria prophylaxis when Doxycycline is unavailable
• Key consideration: More expensive; start 1-2 days before travel vs. Doxycycline's same-day start
• Cost: $50-$150 for a 2-week course

Workflow Tips for Your Practice

Create a Doxycycline Shortage Protocol

Document a simple workflow that your staff can follow when patients call about unfilled Doxycycline prescriptions:

1. Confirm the formulation and strength prescribed
2. Direct the patient to Medfinder and suggest independent pharmacies
3. If patient still can't find stock within 24-48 hours, route to provider for alternative prescription
4. Provider selects pre-approved alternative based on indication
5. New prescription sent to patient's preferred pharmacy (or pharmacy with confirmed availability)

Use Your EHR

Add a clinical alert or note template flagging Doxycycline availability issues. This serves as a reminder to discuss alternatives and share resources at the point of prescribing.

Batch Alternative Prescriptions

If you're seeing a high volume of callback requests, designate a time slot each day for reviewing and processing Doxycycline alternative prescriptions. This prevents these requests from disrupting your patient schedule.

Final Thoughts

The Doxycycline shortage has placed an additional burden on prescribers who are already stretched thin. By building flexibility into your prescriptions, equipping patients with tools to find available stock, and having a clear alternative protocol, you can minimize disruption to both your patients and your practice.

For additional provider resources, visit medfinder.com/providers.