Overview Of Tetracycline

Potential Medication Interactions

Taking certain antacids with tetracycline could reduce the effectiveness of this antibiotic. If possible, patients are advised to avoid the use of any antacids that contain magnesium, calcium, or sodium bicarbonate while on this antibiotic. If they are necessary, patients should take tetracycline at least two hours before or six hours after taking antacids. Laxatives with these ingredients are also known to interact with tetracycline. Patients should check with their doctor about taking iron or zinc supplements while on this antibiotic. Tetracycline interacts with some anticoagulants, including warfarin. Thus, patients should let their doctor know about any anticoagulants they take.

This antibiotic also interacts with others in the same class, including minocycline and doxycycline. Digoxin, atovaquone, strontium, and oral retinoids are a few of the other medications that interact with tetracycline. Patients should discuss their full medication list with their doctor to avoid harm from possible medication interactions. This list should include all vitamins, herbs, prescriptions, and over-the-counter medications. Pharmacists should also check for potential drug interactions with the patient's other medications before dispensing tetracycline.

Common Dosage Recommendations

Capsules of tetracycline are available in tablets of 250 and five hundred milligrams. Five milliliters of the oral syrup contains 125 milligrams of tetracycline. The recommended dose of this antibiotic can vary based on why patients need to take it. However, the average dose for adults is one to two thousand milligrams daily.

When patients need it for acne, they will likely take two doses of five hundred milligrams each day, likely separated by six to twelve hours, for at least two weeks. The two doses of five hundred milligrams each day is quite common. Of course, some conditions, such as brucellosis, require a higher dose. Brucellosis patients may need to take five hundred milligrams of tetracycline four times a day for three weeks as part of their treatment.