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Back to Infections Drug Index
Tetracycline hydrochloride
Achromycin Ophthalmic, Achromycin V, Nor-Tet, Panmycin, Robitet,
Sumycin, Tetracap, Tetralan, Tetram, Topicycline
Pregnancy Category D
Drug classes
Antibiotics
Tetracyclines
Mechanism of action
Bacteriostatic: inhibits protein synthesis of susceptible bacteria,
preventing cell replication.
Indications
Systemic Administration
- Infections caused by rickettsiae; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; agents
of psittacosis, ornithosis, lymphogranuloma venereum and granuloma
inguinale; Borrelia recurrentis, Haemophilus ducreyi, Pasteurella
pestis, Pasteurella tularensis, Bartonella bacilliformis,
Bacteroides, Vibrio comma, Vibrio fetus, Brucella, Escherichia coli,
Enterobacter aerogenes, Shigella, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus,
Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella, Diplococcus pneumoniae,
Staphylococcus aureus
- When penicillin is contraindicated, infections caused by
Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum, Treponema pertenue,
Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium, Bacillus anthracis,
Fusobacterium fusiforme, Actinomyces, Neisseria meningitidis
- Adjunct to amebicides in acute intestinal amebiasis
- Treatment of acne (oral)
- Uncomplicated urethral, endocervical or rectal infections in
adults caused by Chlamydia trachomatis
- Instilled in a chest tube, unlabeled use: pleural sclerosing
agent in malignant pleural effusions
Ophthalmic Administration
- Treatment of superficial ocular infections due to susceptible
strains of microorganisms (ophthalmic preparations)
- Prophylaxis of ophthalmia neonatorum due to N. gonorrrhoeae or
C.
Topical Administration
- Treatment of acne vulgaris (topical dermatologic solution)
- Treatment and prophylaxis of minor skin infections due to
susceptible organisms (topical dermatologic ointment)
Contraindications
Systemic administration and dermatologic solution:
- Contraindicated in the presence of allergy to any of the
tetracyclines; allergy to tartrazine (in 250-mg tetracycline
capsules marketed under brand name Panmycin); pregnancy (toxic to
the fetus); lactation (causes damage to the teeth of infant).
- Use caution in the presence of hepatic or renal dysfunction.
Ophthalmic preparations:
- Contraindicated in the presence of ocular viral, mycobacterial
or fungal infections.
Use caution in the presence of renal dysfunction, seizures.
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Adverse effects
Systemic Administration
- GI: Discoloring and
inadequate calcification of primary teeth of fetus if used by
pregnant women, discoloring and inadequate calcification of
permanent teeth if used during period of dental development, fatty
liver, liver failure, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
glossitis, dysphagia, enterocolitis, esophageal ulcers
- Hematologic: Hemolytic
anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, eosinophilia, leukocytosis,
leukopenia
- Dermatologic: Phototoxic
reactions, rash, exfoliative dermatitis
- Hypersensitivity: Reactions
from urticaria to anaphylaxis, including intracranial hypertension
- Other: Superinfections,
local irritation at parenteral injection sites
Ophthalmic Preparations
- Local: Transient irritation,
stinging, itching, angioneurotic edema, urticaria, dermatitis,
superinfections
Topical Dermatologic Solutions
- Local: Stinging, burning
during application; skin irritation; dermatitis; yellowing of areas
of application
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