Generic Tetracycline

Tetracycline is also prescribed as Brodspec, Emtet-500, Panmycin, Sumycin, and Tetracap. Tetracycline is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections such as skin infections, urinary tract infections, tooth infections, gonorrhea, ear infections, and other infections caused by bacteria.

Tetracycline is not appropriate for everyone. A thorough medical history should be assessed prior to prescribing this medication. Patients with a medical history that includes allergies to medications such as tetracycline, demeclocycline, doxycycline, or minocycline, liver disease, or kidney disease may not be able to take tetracycline or may require careful monitoring while undergoing drug therapy with tetracycline, depending on the condition and the severity of the condition. This medication is not approved for children under the age of 8 years old.

The American Food and Drug Administration rated this medication as a pregnancy risk category D, which means that this medication has been proven to cause harm or birth defects in unborn babies. Tetracycline does pass through the mother’s breast milk and may affect a nursing baby, including impacting on the development of bone strength. The prescribing physician should avoid prescribing this medication to a pregnant or nursing woman, or to women who are likely to become pregnant. Tetracycline interferes with the effectiveness of birth control pills, and women should be urged to use a second form of non-hormonal birth control when taking this medication.

There is a risk of side effects associated with tetracycline, some of which are severe. A patient experiencing a serious side effect or an allergic reaction should seek immediate emergency medical attention. An allergic reaction will present with symptoms that include facial swelling, including swelling of the lips, mouth, throat, and tongue, hives, and difficulty breathing. Other serious side effects which require immediate emergency medical attention include symptoms such as loss of appetite, jaundice, severe headache, chills, blurry vision, dizziness, fever, body aches, flu symptoms, severe blistering, red or peeling skin rash, decreased or the absence of urination, pale sin, dark colored urine, clay colored stools, confusion, weakness, stomach pain that spreads to the back, nausea, vomiting, fast heart rate, or unusual bruising or bleeding.

Other less serious side effects typically do not require emergency medical treatment but should be reported to the prescribing physician. Patients should be encouraged to report all side effects. Less serious side effects include symptoms such as upset stomach, mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sores or swelling in the genital area, white sores in the mouth, tongue, or throat, swollen tongue, trouble swallowing, vaginal itching, or vaginal discharge. Less serious side effects can often be reduced to a tolerable level by reducing the dosage of tetracycline.

Tetracycline should be taken exactly as it has been prescribed by the physician. If the patient misses a dose, the dose should be taken as soon as it is remembered. However, if it is almost time for the next scheduled dose, the missed dose should be skipped to avoid the potential for an overdose. If an overdose is suspected, the patient should seek immediate emergency medical treatment. An overdose will present with symptoms that include severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

There is a risk of negative drug interactions associated with tetracycline. A thorough medical history should be understood prior to prescribing this medication. Patients should be urged to inquire with the prescribing physician before taking any new medications, including over the counter medications and herbal remedies. Medication which have a known interaction with tetracycline include medication used for lowering cholesterol, Accutane, blood thinners, additional antibiotics, tretinoin, antacids, or products such as Pepto-Bismol that contain bismuth subsalicylate.