What is demeclocycline?
Demeclocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic. It fights bacteria in the body.
Demeclocycline is used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as urinary tract
infections, acne, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and others.
Demeclocycline may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking demeclocycline?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to demeclocycline, or to similar medicines such
as doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn,
Vectrin), or tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap).
Before taking demeclocycline, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease. You may
not be able to take demeclocycline, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring
during therapy.
If you are using demeclocycline to treat gonorrhea, your doctor may test you to make sure you
do not also have syphilis, another sexually transmitted disease.
FDA pregnancy category D. This medication can cause harm to an unborn baby, including
permanent discoloration of the teeth later in life. Do not use demeclocycline without your doctor's
consent if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
Demeclocycline can make birth control pills less effective.
Use a non-hormonal method
of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while you are taking
demeclocycline.
Demeclocycline passes into breast milk and may affect bone and tooth development in a
nursing infant.
Do not
take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you
are breast-feeding a baby.
Children younger than 8 years old should not take demeclocycline. Demeclocycline can
cause permanent tooth discoloration and can also affect a child's growth.
How should I take demeclocycline?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger
amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your
prescription label.
Take demeclocycline with a full glass of water (8 ounces).
Take this medication on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.
Do not take demeclocycline with milk or other dairy products, unless your doctor has told you
to. Dairy products can make it harder for your body to absorb the medicine.
Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your
symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Demeclocycline will not treat a viral
infection such as the common cold or flu. Do not give this medicine to another person, even if they
have the same condition you have.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking
demeclocycline. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Throw away any unused demeclocycline when it expires or when it is no longer needed. Do
not take any demeclocycline after the expiration date printed on the label. Using expired
demeclocycline can cause damage to your kidneys.
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of demeclocycline?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the
missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take
extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about demeclocycline?
Your pharmacist has information about demeclocycline written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of demeclocycline?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using demeclocycline and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious
side effects:
-
severe headache, dizziness, blurred vision;
-
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
-
severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
-
urinating less than usual or not at all;
-
pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion
or weakness;
-
severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back,
nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate;
-
loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
-
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness.
Less serious side effects may include:
-
sores or swelling in your rectal or genital area;
-
mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach upset;
-
white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
-
swollen tongue, trouble swallowing; or
-
vaginal itching or discharge.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about demeclocycline?
Do not
use this medication if you are pregnant. It could cause harm to the
unborn baby, including permanent discoloration of the teeth later in life.
Demeclocycline can
make birth control pills less effective.
Use a second method of birth control while you are
taking demeclocycline to keep from getting pregnant.
Demeclocycline passes into breast milk and may affect bone and tooth development in a
nursing baby.
Do not
take this medication without telling your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give demeclocycline to a child younger than 8 years old. Demeclocycline can cause
permanent yellowing or graying of the teeth, and it can affect a child's growth.
Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Demeclocycline
can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF
15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.
Do not take iron supplements, multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives
within 2 hours before or after taking demeclocycline. These products can make demeclocycline less
effective.
Throw away any unused demeclocycline when it expires or when it is no longer needed. Do
not take any demeclocycline after the expiration date on the label has passed. Expired demeclocycline
can cause a dangerous syndrome resulting in damage to the kidneys.
What should I avoid while taking demeclocycline?
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have
diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the
diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.
Avoid taking this medicine just before lying down. It may cause heartburn or ulcers in your
esophagus (food pipe).
Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Demeclocycline
can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF
15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.
Do not take iron supplements, multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives
within 2 hours before or after taking demeclocycline.
What other drugs will affect demeclocycline?
Before taking demeclocycline, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:
-
cholesterol-lowering medications such as cholestyramine
(Prevalite, Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);
-
isotretinoin (Accutane);
-
tretinoin (Renova, Retin-A, Vesanoid);
-
an antacid such as Tums, Rolaids, Milk of Magnesia,
Maalox, and others;
-
a product that contains bismuth subsalicylate such as
Pepto-Bismol;
-
minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and
over-the-counter vitamin and mineral supplements;
-
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); or
-
a penicillin antibiotic such as amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox,
others), penicillin (BeePen-VK, Pen-Vee K, Veetids, others), dicloxacillin (Dynapen),
carbenicillin (Geocillin), oxacillin (Bactocill), and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
demeclocycline. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use.
This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start
using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of demeclocycline?