Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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379. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the details of missions or deployment of soldiers abroad in 2015 that used the anti-malaria drugs Malarone and Doxycycline; the number of Defence Forces personnel involved; the rank of those on such missions; and the duration they were deployed for these missions. [18562/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I have been advised by the military authorities that the information sought cannot be provide within the required timeframe. I will revert to the Deputy when the information is available.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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380. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on whether doxycycline 100mg is a broad spectrum antibiotic (details supplied). [18563/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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You have referred to the use of Doxycycline as a broad spectrum antibiotic and to the information provided in previous Parliamentary Questions. I am advised that Doxycycline is an antibiotic which has a wide range of applications, including as a prophylactic agent in the prevention of malaria. It has very limited application in the actual treatment of malaria.

I am further advised that there is a contradiction between Section 4.5 of the SmPC (Summary of Product Characteristics) and Section 4.2 of the SmPc. One points out that the absorption of Doxycycline is impaired by concurrently administered antacids containing inter alia calcium and the other advises that if there is gastric irritation, it is recommended that Doxycycline be given with food or milk. The SmPC is contradictory as milk and dairy products such as cheese contain large amounts of calcium. This contradiction was already apparent to the Director of the Defence Forces Medical Branch and the Defence Forces Medical Officers.

Presently, I am informed that the advice in relation thereto would indicate that dairy products should not be consumed within a certain number of hours before the Doxycycline and should not be consumed thereafter for a certain number of hours.

Investigations in relation to this which includes a dynamic review of up to date publications indicates that for maximal absorption of Doxycycline it should never be taken contemporaneously with dairy products. However, a pragmatic approach is applied if required, on the basis that partial absorption of the active ingredient is preferable to no absorption at all resulting in a level of protection albeit reduced.

There is, I have to state, no contradiction of the position in the context of earlier replies to Parliamentary Questions, but rather the contradiction exists within the Summary of Product Characteristics.