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# Emergency Doxycycline Shelf Life Guidance
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/emergency-doxycycline-shelf-life-guidance/
- Published: 2017-04-25T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T22:19:47.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5138529

FDA has issued a draft guidance, *Extending Expiration Dates of Doxycycline Tablets and Capsules in Strategic Stockpiles*, to provide guidance to government stakeholders on testing to extend the shelf life of stockpiled doxycycline tablets and capsules for public health emergency preparedness and response purposes for an anthrax emergency. The [document](https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM554506.pdf?ref=fdaweb.com) and any resulting expiration date extensions authorized by FDA do not apply to doxycycline available commercially or otherwise held for any other non-emergency purpose, FDA says.

The guidance applies to both doxycycline monohydrate and hyclate tablets capsules equivalent to 50 mg and 100 mg of doxycycline that are indicated for post-exposure prophylaxis or treatment of inhalational anthrax. It gives background information on the drug product, the recommended protocol for supporting an extension of expiration dates of specific doxycycline lots, how to identify a suitable laboratory to conduct testing, and the process for requesting and receiving an authorized expiration date extension for an identified lot of doxycycline.