GENERIC NAME: TETRACYCLINES - ORAL

BRAND NAME(S): Achromycin V, Sumycin

Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage

USES: This medication is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. It is also used to treat acne and to prevent "traveler's diarrhea".

HOW TO USE: This medication works best if taken on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after meals. Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces or 240 milliliters) of water unless your doctor directs you otherwise. Do not lie down for 30 minutes after taking this drug. May take with food if stomach upset occurs unless your doctor directs you otherwise. Take this medication 2-3 hours before or after taking any products containing magnesium, aluminum, or calcium. Some examples include quinapril, certain forms of didanosine (chewable/dispersible buffered tablets or pediatric oral solution), vitamins/minerals, and antacids. Dairy products (e.g., milk, yogurt), calcium-enriched juice, sucralfate, bismuth subsalicylate, iron, and zinc are also included. These products bind with tetracycline preventing its full absorption. Antibiotics work best when the amount of medicine in your body is kept at a constant level. Do this by taking the medication at evenly spaced intervals throughout the day and night. Continue to take this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may allow bacteria to continue to grow resulting in a relapse of the infection.

SIDE EFFECTS: This medication may cause stomach upset, diarrhea, nausea, headache or vomiting. If these symptoms persist or worsen, notify your doctor. Very unlikely, but report promptly: stomach pain, yellowing eyes or skin, vision problems, mental changes. Tetracyclines increase sensitivity to sunlight. Use of this medication for prolonged or repeated periods may result in a secondary infection (e.g., oral, bladder or vaginal yeast infection) or sore throat while taking this medication. In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to this drug, seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

doxycycline, Vibramycin, Oracea, Adoxa, Atridox and Others - Learn more about Doxycycline, including a description, generic and brand names, drug class and mechanism, preparations, storage, reasons for prescription, dosing, drug interactions, effect on pregnancy and nursing mothers, and common side effects. Source:MedicineNet Rosacea - Learn the symptoms, treatment and diet for rosacea (adult acne), a skin condition that causes facial redness, dilated blood vessels and ocular rosacea (in advanced cases). Source:MedicineNet Clostridium Difficile Colitis (Antibiotic-Associated Colitis, C. difficile colitis) - Learn about clostridium difficile, or C. difficile the most common gut bug infection and growing epidemic. C. difficile symptoms include bloody diarrhea, fever, severe abdominal pain. Source:MedicineNet Read 31 more tetracycline related articles ... So Much to Do, So Little Sleep Head Injuries All Too Common in Summer Play Health Tip: The Word on Wisdom Teeth Health Tip: Make Exercise a Daily Habit New Source of Heart Stem Cells Found Health Highlights: June 23, 2008 Poorer Patients Have Poorer Survival After Cancer Diagnosis One Gene May Be Key to Myeloma Crocodile Babies Cry Out for Hatching Immune Molecule Key to Preventing Organ Rejection