Aminolevulinic Acid and Doxycycline Injection: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · Source data updated Aug 8, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Doxycycline Injection
Aminolevulinic Acid
No brand names on record
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
What happens
Increased risk of phototoxic skin reaction (ie, severe sunburn)
Interaction Deep Dive
Avoid administering this drug for 24 hours before and after administration of oral aminolevulinic acid1. Concurrent use of topical aminolevulinic acid and this drug may increase the risk of phototoxic reaction 2. A phototoxic reaction following administration of aminolevulinic acid to a patient taking St. John's wort has been described 3. An in vitro study also demonstrated synergistic phototoxicity of St. John's wort and aminolevulinic acid 3.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Synergistic phototoxicity
Literature reports
1 report — tap to read
a) In a clinical trial investigating aminolevulinic acid in the diagnosis of breast tumors involving 20 patients, one patient experienced a phototoxic reaction six hours after receiving aminolevulinic acid. It was discovered that this patient was taking St. John's wort (Hyperiforce(R)). The patient developed a burning erythematous rash with severe swelling of the face, neck, and hands. The doses of St. John's wort and aminolevulinic acid were below the usual phototoxic threshold, suggesting a synergistic phototoxic effect when the two were combined. An in vitro study confirmed the hypothesis that a synergistic phototoxic effect occurred when St. John's wort and aminolevulinic acid were combined 3.
Common questions
Can I take Aminolevulinic Acid and Doxycycline Injection together?
Increased risk of phototoxic skin reaction (ie, severe sunburn) Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Aminolevulinic Acid and Doxycycline Injection interaction?
It is rated moderate. Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "unspecified". The timing of this interaction is not well characterized.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "probable". Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Aminolevulinic Acid or Doxycycline Injection need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there anything you'd monitor while I'm on both?
References (3)
- Product Information: GLEOLAN powder for oral solution, aminolevulinic acid HCl powder for oral solution. NX Development Corp (per FDA), Miami, FL, 2017. DailyMed
- Product Information: AMELUZ(R) topical gel, aminolevulinic acid HCl 10% topical gel. Biofrontera Inc (per FDA), Wakefield, MA, 2016. DailyMed
- Ladner DP, Klein SD, Steiner RA, et al: Synergistic toxicity of delta-aminolaevulinic acid-induced protoporphyrin IX used for photodiagnosis and hypericum extract, a herbal antidepressant. Br J Dermatol 2001; 144(4):916-918. PubMed
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