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Tetracycline should not be taken by children under 8 years of age or women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. |
Tetracycline, an antibiotic, eliminates bacteria that cause infections, including lyme disease, pneumonia, acne, venereal (sexually transmitted) disease, bladder infections, and the infection that causes ulcers (Helicobacter pylori). Antibiotics will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections.
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Tetracycline comes as a capsule and tablet to take by mouth and a topical solution to be applied to the skin. Doses should be taken as far apart as possible throughout the day. For example, if your doctor tells you to take tetracycline four times a day, take a dose every 6 hours.
Oral tetracycline should be taken on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. Drink a full glass of water with each dose.
Tetracycline topical solution usually is applied to the skin twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take tetracycline exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Before taking tetracycline,
Drink a full glass of water with each dose of tetracycline. Take tetracycline on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals or snacks. Do not take tetracycline with food, especially dairy products such as milk and cheese. Take tetracycline with crackers or a snack (no dairy products) only if you experience an upset stomach.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Although side effects from tetracycline are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
If you experience the following symptom, call your doctor immediately:
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to tetracycline.
If you have diabetes, tetracycline causes false results in some tests for sugar in the urine. Check with your doctor before changing your diet or the dosage of your diabetes medicine.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Your prescription is probably not refillable. If you still have symptoms of infection after you finish the tetracycline, call your doctor.
Last Revised - 01/01/2003
The MedMaster Patient Drug Information database provides information copyrighted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland Copyright© 2004. All Rights Reserved.
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Page last updated: 04 October 2004 |