Tetracycline Hydrochloride

Tetracycline Hydrochloride

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Questions & Answers

Side Effects & Adverse Reactions

THE USE OF DRUGS OF THE TETRACYCLINE CLASS DURING TOOTH DEVELOPMENT (LAST HALF OF PREGNANCY, INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD TO THE AGE OF 8 YEARS) MAY CAUSE PERMANENT DISCOLORATION OF THE TEETH (YELLOW - GRAY - BROWN). This adverse reaction is more common during long-term use of the drugs but has been observed following repeated short-term courses. Enamel hypoplasia has also been reported. TETRACYCLINE DRUGS, THEREFORE, SHOULD NOT BE USED IN THIS AGE GROUP UNLESS OTHER DRUGS ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE EFFECTIVE OR ARE CONTRAINDICATED.

All tetracyclines form a stable calcium complex in any bone forming tissue. A decrease in fibula growth rate has been observed in premature infants given oral tetracycline in doses of 25 mg/kg every six hours. This reaction was shown to be reversible when the drug was discontinued.

Results of animal studies indicate that tetracyclines cross the placenta, are found in fetal tissues and can have toxic effects on the developing fetus (often related to retardation of skeletal development). Evidence of embryotoxicity has also been noted in animals treated early in pregnancy. If this drug is used during pregnancy or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. Tetracycline drugs should not be used during pregnancy unless absolutely necessary.

If renal impairment exists, even usual oral or parenteral doses may lead to excessive systemic accumulation of the drug and possible liver toxicity. Under such conditions, lower than usual total doses are indicated, and, if therapy is prolonged, serum level determinations of the drug may be advisable.

Photosensitivity manifested by an exaggerated sunburn reaction has been observed in some individuals taking tetracyclines. Patients apt to be exposed to direct sunlight or ultraviolet light should be advised that this reaction can occur with tetracycline drugs. Treatment should be discontinued at the first evidence of skin erythema.

The antianabolic action of the tetracyclines may cause an increase in BUN. While this is not a problem in those with normal renal function, in patients with significantly impaired renal function, higher serum levels of tetracycline may lead to azotemia, hyperphosphatemia and acidosis.

Legal Issues

There is currently no legal information available for this drug.

FDA Safety Alerts

There are currently no FDA safety alerts available for this drug.

Manufacturer Warnings

There is currently no manufacturer warning information available for this drug.

FDA Labeling Changes

There are currently no FDA labeling changes available for this drug.

Uses

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of tetracycline hydrochloride and other antibacterial drugs, tetracycline hydrochloride should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

Tetracycline is indicated in the treatment of infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated organisms in the conditions listed below:

  • Upper respiratory tract infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae. Note: Tetracycline should not be used for streptococcal disease unless the organism has been demonstrated to be susceptible.
  • Lower respiratory tract infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Eaton agent, and Klebsiella sp.)
  • Skin and soft tissue infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureaus. (Tetracyclines are not the drugs of choice in the treatment of any type of staphylococcal infections.)
  • Infections caused by rickettsia including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus group infections, Q fever, rickettsialpox.
  • Psittacosis or ornithosis caused by Chlamydia Psittaci.
  • Infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis such as uncomplicated urethral, endocervical or rectal infections, inclusion conjunctivitis, trachoma, and lymphogranuloma venereum.
  • Granuloma inquinale caused by Calymmatobacterium granulomatis.
  • Relapsing fever caused by Borrelia sp.
  • Bartonellosis caused by Bartonella bacilliformis.
  • Chancroid caused by Hemophilus ducreyi.
  • Tularemia caused by Francisella tularensis.
  • Plaque caused by Yersinia pestis.
  • Cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae.
  • Brucellosis caused by Brucella species (tetracycline may be used in conjunction with an aminoglycoside).
  • Infections due to Campylobacter fetus.
  • As adjunctive therapy in intestinal amebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica.
  • Urinary tract infections caused by susceptible strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, etc.
  • Other infections caused by susceptible gram-negative organisms such as E. coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Shigella sp., Acinetobacter sp., Klebsiella sp., and Bacteroides sp.
  • In severe acne, adjunctive therapy with tetracycline may be useful.

When penicillin is contraindicated, tetracyclines are alternative drugs in the treatment of the following infections:

  • syphilis and yaws caused by Treponema pallidum and pertenue, respectively,
  • Vincent’s infection caused by Fusobacterium fusiforme,
  • infections caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae,
  • anthrax caused by Bacillus anthracis,
  • infections due to Listeria monocytogenes,
  • actinomycosis caused by Actinomyces species,
  • infections due to Clostridium species.

History

There is currently no drug history available for this drug.

Other Information

Tetracycline is a yellow, odorless, crystalline powder. Tetracycline is stable in air but exposure to strong sunlight causes it to darken. Its potency is affected in solutions of pH below 2 and is rapidly destroyed by alkali hydroxide solutions. Tetracycline is very slightly soluble in water, freely soluble in dilute acid and in alkali hydroxide solutions, sparingly soluble in alcohol, and practically insoluble in chloroform and in ether. The chemical name for tetracycline hydrochloride is 4-(Dimethylamino)-1,4,4a,5,5a,6,11,12a-octahydro-3,6,10,12,-12a-pentahydroxy-6-methyl-1,11-dioxo-2-naphthacenecar-boxamide monohydrochloride. Its structural formula is as follows:

Tetracycline structural formula

C22H24N208•HCI M.W. 480.90

Each capsule, for oral administration, contains 250 mg or 500 mg tetracycline hydrochloride. In addition, each capsule contains the following inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, pregelatinized starch and stearic acid. The inactive ingredients for the gelatin capsules include: (250 mg) FD&C Yellow No. 6, D&C Yellow No. 10, and titanium dioxide; (500 mg): FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Red No. 40, D&C Yellow No. 10, and titanium dioxide.

Tetracycline Hydrochloride Manufacturers


  • Contract Pharmacy Services-pa
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride Capsule [Contract Pharmacy Services-pa]
  • Blenheim Pharmacal, Inc.
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride Capsule [Blenheim Pharmacal, Inc.]
  • Rebel Distributors Corp
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride Capsule [Rebel Distributors Corp]
  • Physicians Total Care, Inc.
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride Capsule [Physicians Total Care, Inc.]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride Capsule [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Watson Laboratories, Inc.
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride Capsule [Watson Laboratories, Inc.]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride Capsule [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Stat Rx Usa Llc
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride Capsule [Stat Rx Usa Llc]
  • H.j. Harkins Company, Inc.
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride Capsule [H.j. Harkins Company, Inc.]
  • Bryant Ranch Prepack
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride Capsule [Bryant Ranch Prepack]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride (Tetracycline Hydrochloride ) Capsule [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Liberty Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride Capsule [Liberty Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]
  • Ivax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride Capsule [Ivax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]
  • Vetone
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride (Tc Vet 324) Powder [Vetone]
  • Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc.
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride Capsule [Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc.]
  • State Of Florida Doh Central Pharmacy
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride Capsule [State Of Florida Doh Central Pharmacy]
  • Bryant Ranch Prepack
    Tetracycline Hydrochloride Capsule [Bryant Ranch Prepack]

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