Oxytetracycline Tablets

  • Oxytetracycline is an antibacterial medicine. This means that it stops infections caused by germs (bacteria). It is prescribed as a treatment for chest infections such as pneumonia, and also for some mouth infections. It is also prescribed for infections resulting from some types of bites, and some sexually transmitted infections.
  • Oxytetracycline is also prescribed for some longer-term skin conditions, such as acne and rosacea.
Garvan

Pharmacist - M.B.A. (Public Health) D.I.C.

Oxytetracycline Tablets

What is oxytetracycline used for?…

Garvan J. Lynch
MBA (Public Health)

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What is oxytetracycline used for?

  • Oxytetracycline is a tetracycline-type antibiotic that is most often prescribed to treat acne (spots) and rosacea.
  • It's also used to treat certain bacterial infections, for example chest infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia and mycoplasma infections, mouth infections and some sexually-transmitted infections. Additionally, it is used to treat infections transmitted by ticks, lice, fleas and mites, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus group, Q fever and Coxiella endocarditis and tick fevers.

How does oxytetracycline work?

  • Oxytetracycline works by stopping bacteria from growing and increasing in numbers. To make sure the bacteria causing an infection are susceptible to oxytetracycline your doctor may take a tissue sample, for example a swab from the infected area, or a urine, sputum or blood sample.
  • Oxytetracycline is mainly used to treat acne because it's active against the bacteria associated with acne, Propionebacterium acnes. This is a common type of bacteria that feeds on sebum produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. It produces waste products and fatty acids that irritate the sebaceous glands, making them inflamed and causing spots. By controlling bacterial numbers, oxytetracycline brings the inflammation of the sebaceous glands under control and allows the skin to heal.

Key facts about oxytetracycline

  • Oxytetracycline is only available on prescription.
  • Oxytetracycline comes as 250mg tablets that should be taken on an empty stomach.
  • Oxytetracycline is taken twice a day to treat acne or rosacea and four times a day to treat infections. Always complete the course prescribed by your doctor.
  • Oxyxtetracycline shouldn't be taken by children under 12 years, or by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • The most common side effects are stomach ache, diarrhoea, feeling or being sick and loss of appetite.
  • Don't use sunbeds or sunlamps while you're taking oxytetracycline. It's a good idea to protect your skin with clothing or a sun cream if you're in strong sunlight.
  • It's generally OK to drink alcohol in moderation while taking oxytetracycline. 

Oxytetracycline is not suitable for:

  • Children under 12 years of age.
  • Women who are pregnant. Oxytetracycline can be deposited in the baby's growing bone, affecting the development of the skeleton, and in teeth, causing staining.
  • Women who are breastfeeding. Oxytetracycline may pass into breast milk, which may cause staining of a nursing infant's teeth (even if they have not yet erupted).
  • People with decreased kidney function or kidney failure.
  • People who are allergic to any ingredient of the tablets. Check the ingredients listed in the leaflet that comes with your medicine if you know you have specific allergies.
  • People who are allergic to other tetracycline-type antibiotics. Make sure your doctor knows if you've ever had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic.

Some people might need a lower oxytetracycline dose or extra monitoring. Make sure your doctor knows if you have:

  • Liver problems, or if you're taking medicines that can have side effects on the liver.
  • A condition called myasthenia gravis, which involves abnormal muscle weakness.
  • An inflammatory condition called systemic lupus erythematosus.

How do I take oxytetracycline, and how often?

  • Oxytetracycline tablets should be taken on an empty stomach. This means an hour before food or two hours after food. Do not take the tablets at the same time as food, milk or dairy products, as these can stop the medicine being absorbed into the body properly and make it less effective.
  • Swallow the tablets whole with plenty of water while you are sitting or standing to avoid the medicine irritating the throat. Avoid taking a dose just before going to bed.
  • Don't take indigestion remedies or medicines containing aluminium, calcium, iron, magnesium or zinc in the two hours before or after taking oxytetracycline tablets. These can reduce the absorption of oxytetracycline from the gut and make it less effective.
  • If you forget to take an oxytetracycline dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next dose. In this case just leave out the missed dose and take your next dose as usual. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

Dosage and length of treatment varies depending on what you're taking it for:

To treat acne and rosacea:

A typical dose is 500mg (two tablets) taken twice a day, morning and evening. For rosacea you'll need to take it for 6 to 12 weeks. For acne you'll need to continue treatment for at least three months. Follow the instructions given by your doctor.

To treat infections:

One or two tablets are taken four times a day. Take your doses spaced evenly throughout the day, ideally every six hours. Dosage and length of treatment depends on the type and severity of your infection. Always follow your doctor's instructions, which will be printed on the dispensing label that your pharmacist has put on the packet of medicine.

Finish the prescribed course of oxytetracycline even if you feel better or it seems the infection has cleared up. Stopping the course early increases the chance that the infection will return and that the bacteria will grow resistant to the antibiotic.

Can I drink alcohol while taking oxytetracycline?

  • There is no 'do not drink alcohol' warning that applies to taking oxytetracycline because it doesn't specifically affect the medicine itself.
  • However, just be aware that if you feel unwell with an infection or find oxytetracycline gives you a headache or upset stomach then this might be made worse by drinking alcohol. It's also possible that drinking excessive amounts of alcohol with oxytetracycline could increase the risk of getting side effects on your liver.

What are the side effects of oxytetracycline?

  • Feeling or being sick.
  • Diarrhoea.
  • Stomach ache. If you find this medicine upsets your stomach it's OK to take it with food.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Difficulty or pain when swallowing (dysphagia).
  • Visual disturbances.
  • Dizziness.
  • Headache.
  • Overgrowth of the yeast Candida, which may cause infections such as thrush. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you think you've developed thrush, or any other new infection, while taking oxytetracycline.
  • Skin reactions, such as a rash, itching or increased sensitivity of your skin to sunlight or UV light. Tell your doctor if you get a rash.
  • Inflammation of the bowel (colitis). Tell your doctor if you get diarrhoea that is severe or persistent, or contains blood or mucus.
  • Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Tell your doctor if you get severe upper abdominal pain.
  • Raised pressure inside the skull. Tell your doctor if you get a severe persistent headache, or double or blurred vision.
  • Liver problems. Tell your doctor if you experience yellow skin or eyes (jaundice).

Problems with your blood cells. Tell your doctor if you experience unexplained bruising, sore throat, fever or infections.
If you take oxytetracycline for long periods of time your doctor may want to see you regularly to monitor for any possible side effects of the medicine.

Can I take other medicines with oxytetracycline?

Before you take oxytetracycline, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're already taking any medicines, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines. Similarly, always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while you're taking oxytetracycline.

Painkillers

If you need to take a painkiller while you're taking oxytetracycline it's fine to take paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Contraception

Oxytetracycline doesn't affect hormonal contraceptives such as the pill. However, if you experience vomiting or diarrhoea while taking this antibiotic, this can potentially make your pill less effective at preventing pregnancy. If this happens to you, follow the instructions for vomiting and diarrhoea described in the leaflet provided with your pills.

Anticoagulants

Oxytetracycline may increase the anti-blood-clotting effects of coumarin anticoagulant medicines such as warfarin. If you're taking warfarin your doctor may want to check your blood clotting time (INR) after you start and finish treatment with oxytetracycline.

Medicines to avoid

Don't take medicines containing any of the following ingredients in the two hours before or after taking your oxytetracycline dose. They may reduce the absorption of oxytetracycline from the gut and make it less effective:

  • aluminium salts
  • antacids for heartburn and indigestion containing aluminium, bismuth, calcium or magnesium
  • calcium supplements
  • iron preparations, eg ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate
  • kaolin
  • lanthanum
  • magnesium salts
  • quinapril tablets that contain magnesium carbonate, eg Accupro brand
  • ranitidine bismuth citrate
  • sucralfate
  • tripotassium dicitrato-bismuthate
  • zinc salts
  • Videx chewable/dispersible tablets (didanosine).
  • Retinoid medicines such as acitretin, alitretinoin, isotretinoin or tretinoin shouldn't be taken with oxytetracycline. The combination may increase the risk of developing raised pressure within the skull (benign intracranial hypertension).

Vivotif, the oral typhoid vaccine, should not be taken until at least three days after you have finished a course of oxytetracycline. The antibiotic could make this vaccine less effective.

References:

https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/infection/a7299/oxytetracycline/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxytetracycline

https://patient.info/medicine/oxytetracycline-tablets

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/26659

https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00595

https://www.rxlist.com/terramycin-drug.htm

 

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