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| Pronunciation |
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 (tet
ra SYE
kleen) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Achromycin®[DSC]; Brodspec®;
EmTet®; Sumycin® Oral; TetraCap®;
Topicycline® Topical; Wesmycin® |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
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| Acromicina (Mexico); Ambotetra (Mexico);
Apo-Tetra® (Canada); Novo-Tetra (Canada); Nu-Tetra (Canada);
Quimocyclar (Mexico); Tetra-Atlantis® (Mexico); Zorbenal-G
(Mexico) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Antibiotic, Ophthalmic; Antibiotic, Tetracycline Derivative; Antibiotic,
Topical |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to tetracycline or any other part of the
medicine.
- Do not give to children less than 8 years of
age.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used to prevent and to treat a variety of bacterial
infections.
- When applied to the skin, it is used for the prevention and treatment
of acne.
- It can be used by dentist to treat adult
periodontitis.
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| How does it work? |
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- Tetracycline inhibits the protein production in bacteria preventing
them from living.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
- Oral:
- Take on an empty stomach. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.
- Do not take dairy products, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc,
multivitamins with minerals, colestipol, cholestyramine, didanosine, or antacids
within 2 hours of this medicine.
- A liquid (suspension) is available if you cannot swallow pills. Those
who have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before
and after medicine is given. Shake well first.
- Stop tube feeding for 2 hours, flush tube, and give medication. Flush
tube and restart tube feeding 1 hour later.
- Skin:
- Do not take by mouth. For skin only. Keep out of mouth, nose, and eyes
(may burn).
- Wash your hands before and after use.
- Clean affected area before use.
- Apply solution until skin is wet.
- Cosmetics can be used after the skin has
dried.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Oral:
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Skin:
- Apply a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one and return
to your regular schedule.
- Do not apply a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid lots of sun. Use sunscreen;
wear protective clothing and eyewear.
- Oral:
- Not to be used in children younger than 8 years of age.
- Do not take bismuth (Pepto-Bismol®) with this
medicine.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). May make infection
more difficult to treat.
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control
that you can trust while taking this medicine.
- Birth control pills may not work. Use another form of birth control
while taking this medicine.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.
- Skin:
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.
- Dental:
- Avoid actions that may remove or change the position of the fiber. Do
not chew hard, crusty, or sticky foods.
- Do not brush or floss near the area or poke with fingers or tongue.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Oral:
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Belly pain and cramps.
- Diarrhea. Yogurt, Bifidobacterium bifidum
, or Lactobacillus acidophilus
may help. These products are available at health food stores or in some
pharmacies.
- Vaginal irritation. Report itching or discharge to healthcare
provider.
- Skin:
- Stinging, burning. This usually goes away in a few minutes. Yellowing
of the skin. This will wash off.
- Dental:
- Discomfort around placement area, redness when fiber removed.
- Inflammation and pain in
mouth.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Watch for change in temperature or worsening of infection if you are
being treated for an active infection.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Severe headache.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
- If the dental fiber moves, breaks, if there is severe pain, swelling,
or bleeding.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room temperature.
- Throw away any oral medicine not used. Do not
keep.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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