What is tetracycline?
Tetracycline is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in the body.
Tetracycline is used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as urinary tract
infections, acne, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and others.
Tetracycline may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tetracycline?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to tetracycline, or to similar medicines
such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin), or
minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn, Vectrin).
Before taking tetracycline, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease. You
may not be able to take tetracycline, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special
monitoring during therapy.
If you are using tetracycline 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 tetracycline without your
doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
Tetracycline 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 tetracycline.
Tetracycline 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 tetracycline. Tetracycline can
cause permanent tooth discoloration and can also affect a child's growth.
How should I take tetracycline?
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 tetracycline 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 tetracycline 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.
Shake the
oral suspension
(liquid) well just before you measure a
dose. To be sure you get the correct dose, measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or
medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask
your pharmacist for one.
Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your
symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Tetracycline 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
tetracycline. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Throw away any unused tetracycline when it expires or when it is no longer needed.
Do not take any tetracycline after the expiration date printed on the label. Using expired
tetracycline 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 tetracycline?
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 tetracycline?
Your pharmacist has information about tetracycline written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of tetracycline?
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 tetracycline 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. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about tetracycline?
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.
Tetracycline can make birth control pills less effective.
Use a second method of
birth control while you are taking tetracycline to keep from getting pregnant.
Tetracycline 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 tetracycline to a child younger than 8 years old. Tetracycline 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).
Tetracycline 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 tetracycline. These products can make tetracycline
less effective.
Throw away any unused tetracycline when it expires or when it is no longer needed.
Do not take any tetracycline after the expiration date on the label has passed. Expired tetracycline
can cause a dangerous syndrome resulting in damage to the kidneys.
What should I avoid while taking tetracycline?
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 exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds).
Tetracycline 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 tetracycline.
What other drugs will affect tetracycline?
Before taking tetracycline, 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 tetracycline. 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 tetracycline?