Tetracycline (Systemic)

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take tetracycline (systemic). This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Have your blood work checked if you are on tetracycline (systemic) for a long time. Talk with your doctor.
• Do not use longer than you have been told. A second infection may happen.
• You may get sunburned more easily. Avoid sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen and wear clothing and eyewear that protects you from the sun.
• If you are taking warfarin, talk with your doctor. You may need to have your blood work checked more closely while you are taking it with tetracycline (systemic).
• Birth control pills and other hormone-based birth control may not work as well to prevent pregnancy. Use some other kind of birth control also like a condom when taking tetracycline (systemic).
• This medicine may cause a change in tooth color to yellow-gray-brown in children younger than 8 years old. If this change of tooth color happens, it will not go away. Talk with the doctor.
• Most of the time, tetracycline (systemic) is not for use in children younger than 8 years old. However, there may be times when these children may need to take tetracycline (systemic). Talk with the doctor.
• This medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant. If you are pregnant or you get pregnant while taking tetracycline (systemic), call your doctor right away.

Use tetracycline (systemic) as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
• Keep taking tetracycline (systemic) as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.
• Take on an empty stomach.
• Take with a full glass of water.
• Drink lots of noncaffeine liquids unless told to drink less liquid by your doctor.
• Do not take products that have iron, zinc, or sodium bicarbonate in them or products like antacids that have aluminum, calcium, or magnesium in them at the same time as tetracycline (systemic). Talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not eat or drink dairy products or take calcium at the same time as tetracycline (systemic). They may make tetracycline (systemic) not work as well. If you have questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
• Fever or chills.
• Sore throat.
• Throat irritation.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Any unexplained bruising or bleeding.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• Very bad headache.
• Very upset stomach or throwing up.
• Joint pain.
• Vaginal itching or discharge.
• It is common to have diarrhea when taking tetracycline (systemic). Rarely, a very bad form of diarrhea called Clostridium difficile (C diff)–associated diarrhea (CDAD) may occur. Sometimes, this has led to a deadly bowel problem (colitis). CDAD may happen while you are taking tetracycline (systemic) or within a few months after you stop taking it. Call your doctor right away if you have stomach pain or cramps, very loose or watery stools, or bloody stools. Do not try to treat loose stools without first checking with your doctor.
• Raised pressure in the brain has happened with tetracycline (systemic). Most of the time, this will go back to normal after tetracycline (systemic) is stopped. Sometimes, loss of eyesight may happen and may not go away even after tetracycline (systemic) is stopped. Call your doctor right away if you have a headache or eyesight problems like blurred eyesight, seeing double, or loss of eyesight.

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including prescription or OTC, natural products, or vitamins.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about tetracycline (systemic), please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Review Date: April 4, 2018