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Family Medicine (Expert Forum)
Tetracycline reaction?
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
Questions in the Family Medicine forum are answered by Dr. J.M. Keyes. Topics covered include general health issues, adolescence, babies, child health, eating disorders, fitness, immunizations and vaccines, infectious diseases, medical tests and procedures, and senior health.
Tetracycline reaction?
by pem0608, Aug 19, 2005 12:00AM
I am not getting a complete answer from my Doctor, maybe there isn't one, but I thought I would try to find out some more information. I am not blaming anyone or anything like that, just want to know.........
About a month ago I had a cyst on the back of my neck become inflamed. I went to a dermatologist who prescribed Keflex, and it continued to get worse. I went back about a week later and it was drained ant they put me on Augmentin. It drained, healed and then started to return...then they put me on Tetracycline. At this point I sought a second opinion and was told that this was not an infection at all, but simply how the body responds to the contents of a cyst when it ruptures, it treats it as an infection or foreign body. A culture showed no infection, and I never had a fever, so this made sense I guess.....I'm not a Dr!.
I am scheduled to have the cyst removed, and being off antibiotics, it has behaved the same way, as long as it doesn't stop draining, heal up and reform, it doesn't get any larger, and in fact has gotten very small.
That's the background. My question is more in regards to the apparent reaction I had to Tetracycline, I do not think I was ever on this before. After a few days, I experienced extreme fatigue, and I am usually active and can get by on 4 hours sleep for several days in a row. I also had a discoloration of my tongue, what I perceive as an odd feeling in my mouth....not quite thirsty, but hard to describe,...maybe fuzzy...maybe thirsty...not sure, and muscle aches. I often have felt lousy after taking medication, but it usually subsides after a few days, I took this for about a week before stopping. I have been off Tetracycline for about 48 hours now, am not taking any antibiotics. I am still feeling pretty tired, though maybe a little better, tongue still discolored (just the top), and odd feeling in my mouth is maybe less, but still there.
How long will something like this last or did I have a reaction that needs to be followed up on? I plan to follow up anyway, but I don't have an appointment until next week, I have been told "this is a normal reaction in some people".
Incidently the possible mishandling of the cyst originally occurred when without my knowledge I was not seeing a dermatologist, but rather a General Practioner who only works part time in the capacity of a PA in the dermatology practice.......obviously nothing against GP's, but it seems this DR after futher discussion, does not have a clinical background, but had come from a "practice management" background. Nice.
About a month ago I had a cyst on the back of my neck become inflamed. I went to a dermatologist who prescribed Keflex, and it continued to get worse. I went back about a week later and it was drained ant they put me on Augmentin. It drained, healed and then started to return...then they put me on Tetracycline. At this point I sought a second opinion and was told that this was not an infection at all, but simply how the body responds to the contents of a cyst when it ruptures, it treats it as an infection or foreign body. A culture showed no infection, and I never had a fever, so this made sense I guess.....I'm not a Dr!.
I am scheduled to have the cyst removed, and being off antibiotics, it has behaved the same way, as long as it doesn't stop draining, heal up and reform, it doesn't get any larger, and in fact has gotten very small.
That's the background. My question is more in regards to the apparent reaction I had to Tetracycline, I do not think I was ever on this before. After a few days, I experienced extreme fatigue, and I am usually active and can get by on 4 hours sleep for several days in a row. I also had a discoloration of my tongue, what I perceive as an odd feeling in my mouth....not quite thirsty, but hard to describe,...maybe fuzzy...maybe thirsty...not sure, and muscle aches. I often have felt lousy after taking medication, but it usually subsides after a few days, I took this for about a week before stopping. I have been off Tetracycline for about 48 hours now, am not taking any antibiotics. I am still feeling pretty tired, though maybe a little better, tongue still discolored (just the top), and odd feeling in my mouth is maybe less, but still there.
How long will something like this last or did I have a reaction that needs to be followed up on? I plan to follow up anyway, but I don't have an appointment until next week, I have been told "this is a normal reaction in some people".
Incidently the possible mishandling of the cyst originally occurred when without my knowledge I was not seeing a dermatologist, but rather a General Practioner who only works part time in the capacity of a PA in the dermatology practice.......obviously nothing against GP's, but it seems this DR after futher discussion, does not have a clinical background, but had come from a "practice management" background. Nice.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Aug 19, 2005 12:00AM
, Aug 19, 2005 12:00AM
The following are the known side effects to tetracycline from a drug information text:
Cardiovascular: Pericarditis
Central nervous system: Intracranial pressure increased, bulging fontanels in infants, pseudotumor cerebri, paresthesia
Dermatologic: Photosensitivity, pruritus, pigmentation of nails, exfoliative dermatitis
Endocrine & metabolic: Diabetes insipidus syndrome
Gastrointestinal: Discoloration of teeth and enamel hypoplasia (young children), nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, esophagitis, anorexia, abdominal cramps, antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis, staphylococcal enterocolitis, pancreatitis
Hematologic: Thrombophlebitis
Hepatic: Hepatotoxicity
Renal: Acute renal failure, azotemia, renal damage
Miscellaneous: Superinfection, anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity reactions, candidal superinfection
I am not aware of some of your symptoms being related to the tetracycline. If the symptoms persist, you may want to consider options other than the medication. An evaluation for fatigue can include a blood count, thyroid tests, measuring a vitamin b-12 level, and electrolyte and liver function tests.
You can discuss these options with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com
Cardiovascular: Pericarditis
Central nervous system: Intracranial pressure increased, bulging fontanels in infants, pseudotumor cerebri, paresthesia
Dermatologic: Photosensitivity, pruritus, pigmentation of nails, exfoliative dermatitis
Endocrine & metabolic: Diabetes insipidus syndrome
Gastrointestinal: Discoloration of teeth and enamel hypoplasia (young children), nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, esophagitis, anorexia, abdominal cramps, antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis, staphylococcal enterocolitis, pancreatitis
Hematologic: Thrombophlebitis
Hepatic: Hepatotoxicity
Renal: Acute renal failure, azotemia, renal damage
Miscellaneous: Superinfection, anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity reactions, candidal superinfection
I am not aware of some of your symptoms being related to the tetracycline. If the symptoms persist, you may want to consider options other than the medication. An evaluation for fatigue can include a blood count, thyroid tests, measuring a vitamin b-12 level, and electrolyte and liver function tests.
You can discuss these options with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com
Member Comments
by thunder5, Nov 25, 2005 12:00AM
I also had a reaction to Tetracycline. I was prescribed Tetra for Perioral Dermatitis. After the 5th day on it I developed fever and chills. Thinking I had the flu I stayed on it for another day. No other symptoms of the flu except the fever and chills so I stopped taking the Tetra. Sure enough the fever and chills went away the day I stopped taking it. Dr. said it couldn't be the Tetra but I know it was.
