Tetracycline

Tetracycline is a prescription antibiotic that works by preventing the growth of bacteria. This medicine can be used for the treatment of respiratory tract infections, genital and urinary system infections as well as acne. It’s very important to let your doctor know about any medical conditions you have, such as diabetes, kidney or liver disease, allergies, or asthma. Some of them can make it impossible for you to take tetracycline while others will require additional tests. Your health care provider may want to monitor your condition regularly for possible side effects to make sure you are benefitting for your treatment. You are not supposed to combine tetracycline with any other medications before discussing it with your doctor. The following drugs are supposed to be reported in advance as they can interact with tetracycline making it less efficient: blood thinners, tretinoin, cholesterol-lowering medications, products that contain bismuth subsalicylate, isotretinoin, mineral supplements, minerals, and penicillin antibiotics. You are supposed to wait for at least 2 hours after taking tetracycline before you can safely take laxatives, calcium supplements, iron products, or antacids. If you are not sure about the name of the medicine you are using at the moment, you can use an online pill identifier or that of your pharmacist to check if any interactions should be expected. It’s very important that you continue taking tetracycline for as long as prescribed by your doctor. Even if you get some minor side effects – such as trouble swallowing, diarrhea, swollen tongue, mild nausea, swelling in your rectal or genital area, stomach upset, vaginal itching or discharge, or vomiting – you can continue with the treatment without being worried too much. The side effects mentioned tend to go away on their own and do not require your doctor’s attention. Such side effects as difficulty breathing, dark-colored urine, itching, fever or chills, vomiting, skin rash, loss of appetite, hives, extreme tiredness, blurred vision, upset stomach, yellowing of the skin or eyes, unusual bleeding, confusion, and decreased urination are considered to be serious. You will need to contact your health care provider if you develop any of the serious symptoms mentioned and talk to him about adjusting your dose. Do not wait for several days before reporting your serious side effects as they can get worse with time.