What is Tetracycline
Tetracycline is semisynthetically produced from chlortetracycline, which is derived from Streptomyces aureofaciens.
It is classified as a short-acting tetracycline, although this classification scheme is somewhat artificial since tetracycline can be dosed at longer intervals than usually occurs in clinical practice.
It has a wide spectrum of activity against many gram-negative and gram-positive organisms, but is inactive against viruses and fungi.
The most common uses of tetracycline are to treat Chlamydia, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and rickettsial infections.
Tetracycline is also effective in combination with bismuth salts, metronidazole, and appropriate acid-suppressive therapy to treat Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) gastrointestinal infection.
Tetracycline is available in oral and topical preparations, including an ophthalmic ointment.
The drug first received FDA approval in 1953.
Tetracycline periodontal fibers were approved March 1994 for adjunct treatment of periodontitis.
Two products that contain tetracycline, Helidac(R) (bismuth subsalicylate, metronidazole, and tetracycline) and Pylera(TM) (bismuth subcitrate potassium, metronidazole, and tetracycline) are approved to eradicate H. pylori infection associated with duodenal ulcer disease (see separate monographs).
As of March 2007, tetracycline oral suspension is no longer commercially available in the U.S.
Brand Name
- Emtet-500
- Panmycin
- Sumycin
Indications
- Acinetobacter sp.
- acne rosacea
- acne vulgaris
- Actinomyces sp.
- actinomycosis
- amebiasis
- anthrax
- Bacillus anthracis
- Bacteroides sp.
- Balantidium coli
- Bartonella bacilliformis
- bartonellosis
- Borrelia recurrentis
- Brucella sp.
- brucellosis
- Campylobacter fetus
- cervicitis
- chancroid
- chlamydia infection
- Chlamydia trachomatis
- chlamydial conjunctivitis
- Chlamydophila psittaci
- cholera
- Clostridium sp.
- dental infection
- dentoalveolar infection
- endodontic infection
- Entamoeba histolytica
- Entamoeba sp.
- Escherichia coli
- Francisella tularensis
- Fusobacterium fusiforme
- gonorrhea
- granuloma inguinale
- Haemophilus ducreyi
- Haemophilus influenzae (beta-lactamase negative)
- Haemophilus influenzae (beta-lactamase positive)
- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication
- Klebsiella aerogenes
- Klebsiella granulomatis
- Klebsiella sp.
- Listeria monocytogenes
- listeriosis
- lower respiratory tract infections
- lymphogranuloma venereum
- malaria
- murine typhus
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae
- periodontitis
- plague
- plague prophylaxis
- proctitis
- Propionibacterium acnes
- psittacosis
- Q fever
- relapsing fever
- Rickettsia sp.
- Rickettsial pox
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- Shigella sp.
- shigellosis
- skin and skin structure infections
- Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA)
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Streptococcus pyogenes (group A beta-hemolytic streptococci)
- syphilis
- trachoma
- Treponema pallidum
- Treponema pertenue
- tularemia
- upper respiratory tract infections
- urethritis
- urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Vibrio cholerae
- yaws
- Yersinia pestis
Side Effects
- anaphylactoid reactions
- angioedema
- anorexia
- arthralgia
- azotemia
- blurred vision
- candidiasis
- diarrhea
- diplopia
- dysphagia
- enamel hypoplasia
- enterocolitis
- eosinophilia
- erythema
- esophageal ulceration
- esophagitis
- exfoliative dermatitis
- fever
- glossitis
- headache
- hemolytic anemia
- hepatic failure
- increased intracranial pressure
- Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction
- lupus-like symptoms
- maculopapular rash
- nail discoloration
- nausea
- neutropenia
- papilledema
- pericarditis
- photosensitivity
- pseudotumor cerebri
- purpura
- rash
- serum sickness
- superinfection
- teratogenesis
- thrombocytopenia
- thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
- tongue discoloration
- tooth discoloration
- urticaria
- vomiting
Monitoring Parameters
- LFTs
Contraindications
- breast-feeding
- children
- colitis
- corticosteroid therapy
- diarrhea
- geriatric
- GI disease
- hepatic disease
- infants
- inflammatory bowel disease
- laboratory test interference
- neonates
- pregnancy
- pseudomembranous colitis
- renal disease
- renal failure
- renal impairment
- sexually transmitted disease
- sulfite hypersensitivity
- sunlight (UV) exposure
- surgery
- tartrazine dye hypersensitivity
- tetracyclines hypersensitivity
- ulcerative colitis
Interactions
- Acitretin
- Aluminum Hydroxide
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Carbonate
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Hydroxide
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Hydroxide; Simethicone
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Trisilicate
- Amoxicillin
- Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Lansoprazole
- Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Omeprazole
- Amoxicillin; Clavulanic Acid
- Ampicillin
- Ampicillin; Sulbactam
- Antacids
- Aspirin, ASA; Citric Acid; Sodium Bicarbonate
- Atovaquone
- Atovaquone; Proguanil
- Bexarotene
- Bismuth Subcitrate Potassium; Metronidazole; Tetracycline
- Bismuth Subsalicylate
- Bismuth Subsalicylate; Metronidazole; Tetracycline
- Calcium
- Calcium Acetate
- Calcium Carbonate
- Calcium Carbonate; Magnesium Hydroxide
- Calcium Carbonate; Risedronate
- Calcium Carbonate; Simethicone
- Calcium Chloride
- Calcium Gluconate
- Calcium; Vitamin D
- Carbenicillin
- Carbetapentane; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Carbetapentane; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Pseudoephedrine
- Cholestyramine
- Chromium
- Colesevelam
- Colestipol
- Dicloxacillin
- Didanosine, ddI
- Dienogest; Estradiol valerate
- Digoxin
- Drospirenone
- Drospirenone; Estradiol
- Drospirenone; Ethinyl Estradiol
- Drospirenone; Ethinyl Estradiol; Levomefolate
- Elagolix; Estradiol; Norethindrone acetate
- Estradiol
- Estradiol Cypionate; Medroxyprogesterone
- Estradiol; Levonorgestrel
- Estradiol; Norethindrone
- Estradiol; Norgestimate
- Ethinyl Estradiol
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Desogestrel
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Ethynodiol Diacetate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Etonogestrel
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Levonorgestrel
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Levonorgestrel; Ferrous bisglycinate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Levonorgestrel; Folic Acid; Levomefolate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norelgestromin
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone Acetate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone Acetate; Ferrous fumarate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone; Ferrous fumarate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norgestimate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norgestrel
- food
- Halobetasol; Tazarotene
- Heparin
- Hetastarch; Dextrose; Electrolytes
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Quinapril
- Insoluble Prussian Blue
- Iron
- Iron Salts
- Iron Sucrose, Sucroferric Oxyhydroxide
- Isotretinoin
- Lanthanum Carbonate
- Leuprolide; Norethindrone
- Levonorgestrel
- Lithium
- Lomitapide
- Magnesium
- Magnesium Citrate
- Magnesium Hydroxide
- Magnesium Salts
- Mestranol; Norethindrone
- Methotrexate
- Methoxsalen
- Metoclopramide
- Mipomersen
- Molindone
- Nafcillin
- Neuromuscular blockers
- Norethindrone
- Norgestrel
- Omeprazole; Amoxicillin; Rifabutin
- Omeprazole; Sodium Bicarbonate
- Oral Contraceptives
- Oxacillin
- Penicillin G
- Penicillin G Benzathine
- Penicillin G Benzathine; Penicillin G Procaine
- Penicillin G Procaine
- Penicillin V
- Penicillins
- Photosensitizing agents (topical)
- Piperacillin
- Piperacillin; Tazobactam
- Polycarbophil
- Polysaccharide-Iron Complex
- Porfimer
- Pyridostigmine
- Quinapril
- Quinine
- Segesterone Acetate; Ethinyl Estradiol
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Sodium Ferric Gluconate Complex; ferric pyrophosphate citrate
- Sodium picosulfate; Magnesium oxide; Anhydrous citric acid
- St. John’s Wort, Hypericum perforatum
- Sucralfate
- Sulfonylureas
- Tazarotene
- Ticarcillin
- Ticarcillin; Clavulanic Acid
- Tretinoin, ATRA
- Verteporfin
- Warfarin
- Zinc
- Zinc Salts
