page header

Contents  ·  Introduction  ·  Learning  Objectives  ·  Textbook  ·  Lectures  ·  Procedures  ·  Final Exam  ·  Library  ·  Laboratory  ·  Pharmacy  ·  Imaging  ·  Forms  ·  Videos  ·  About  ·  Contact Us>

Tetracycline (Sumycin, Tetracyn, Panmycin)

Category:

  • Antibiotic

Description:

  • Tetracycline antibiotic

Indications:

  • Rickettsiae infections (Rocky Mtn spotted fever, typhus fever, Q fever, rickettsialpox and tick fevers)

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections

  • Psittacosis and ornithosis

  • Lymphogranuloma venereum and granuloma inguinale

  • Borrelia recurrentis infections

  • Gram-negative infections (E. coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Shigella species, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, H. influenzae, Klebsiella species,H. ducreyi, Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, Bartonella bacilliformis, Bacteroides species, Campylobacter fetus, V. cholerae, Brucella species)

  • Gram-positive infections (Streptococcus species, S. pyogenes, S. faecalis)

  • For infections were penicillin is the drug-of-choice but is contraindicated (N. gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum, T. pertenue, Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium species, Bacillus anthracis, Fusobacterium fusiforme, Actinomyces species,  N. meningitidis)

  • Acute intestinal amebiasis

  • Acne

  • Inclusion conjunctivitis

  • Chlamydia trachomatis

  • Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi)

Contraindications:

  • None

Precautions:

  • Pregnancy category D

  • Do not use in last half of pregnancy up to 8 years old due to tooth discoloration

  • May cause photosensitivity reactions

  • Prolonged intraveneous (IV) administration may lead to thrombophlebitis, initiate oral therapy as soon as possible

  • Doses greater than 2 grams per day may lead to hepatic function impairment

  • Excreted in breast milk

  • May cause pseudotumor cerebri (benign intracranial hypertension with symptoms of headache and blurred vision)

  • Do not use after expiration date.  Degraded, expired tetracyclines are highly nephrotoxic.

  • Administer on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals

  • Do not take with antacids, iron, aluminum, magnesium or zinc preparations, milk or dairy products

  • Take with a full glass of water and remain standing for at least 90 seconds and/or lay down for 60 minutes to decrease occurrence of esophageal ulcers.

  • Complete full course of therapy.

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

  • Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, epigastric distress, loose stools, sore throat

  • Esophageal ulcers

  • Fatty liver, hepatotoxicity, increased BUN levels

  • Urticaria

  • Local injection site pain  

Dosage:

Administered orally (capsules and suspension) and by IV injection

  • Adults:

    • Oral: 1-2 grams per day in 2-4 equal doses

    • Parenteral: 250-500mg q12h

    • Mild/moderate infections: 250mg po qid or 500mg po bid

    • Severe infections: 500mg po qid

  • Children (>8 years old):

    • Oral: 25-50mg/kg/day in 4 equal doses

    • Pareneteral: 10-20mg/kg/day (average 12mg/kg/day) in 2 divided doses

  • Brucellosis: 

    • 500mg qid for 3 weeks, followed by 1 gram streptomycin

  • Syphilis: 

    • 30-40grams in equally divided doses over 10-15 days

  • Gonorrhea: 

    • 1.5 gram initially, then 500mg every 6 hours up to a total of 9 grams

  • Chlamydia trachomatis infections: 

    • 500mg four times a day for at least 7 days

  • Severe acne: 

    • 1 gram per day in divided doses initially, then 125-500mg per day

  • Lower resp, skin, bone or joint infection (mild/moderate): 

    • 500mg po q12h or 400mg IV q12h

 


The information contained here is an abbreviated summary. For more detailed and complete information, consult the manufacturer's product information sheets or standard textbooks

Source: Operational Medicine 2001,  Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300

This information is provided by The Brookside Associates.  The Brookside Associates, LLC. is a private organization, not affiliated with any governmental agency. The opinions presented here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Brookside Associates or the Department of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute an endorsement of that product or service by either the US Department of Defense or the Brookside Associates. All material presented here is unclassified.

C. 2009, 2014, All Rights Reserved

brookside associates logo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertise on this site