7 Medications That Can Interact With Dairy Products: Antibiotics, Levothyroxine, and More
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tetracycline
Used for Acne, Bacterial Infection, Lower Respiratory Infection, Pneumonia, Typhoid, Upper Respiratory Infection, Urinary Tract Infection
Used for Acne, Bacterial Infection, Lower Respiratory Infection, Pneumonia, Typhoid, Upper Respiratory Infection, Urinary Tract Infection
Tetracycline is an antibiotic used to treat many types of bacterial infections. This can include respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It's also sometimes used to treat severe acne. Tetracycline can be taken by adults and children over 8 years of age. It's usually taken by mouth several times a day. Tetracycline can cause unpleasant stomach side effects. There's also a risk of teeth staining in young children whose teeth are still growing.
What is Tetracycline?
What is Tetracycline used for?
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Lower respiratory tract infections
- Bacterial skin infections
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, chancroid, and syphilis
- Rickettsial infections (usually from ticks, fleas, or mites), such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and typhus
- Certain other bacterial infections, such as plague, cholera, and brucellosis
- Severe acne
How Tetracycline works
Tetracycline is a tetracycline antibiotic. It stops bacteria from making proteins they need to grow and survive. This keeps the bacteria from growing and spreading in your body.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Sumycin |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Tetracycline antibiotic |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Tetracycline
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain or discomfort
- Low of appetite
- Skin rash
Less Common Side Effects
- Swollen tongue
- Trouble swallowing
- Esophagus problems (inflammation or ulcer)
- Nail problems or discoloration
Tetracycline serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Infectious diarrhea (Clostridium difficile-related diarrhea: severe or watery diarrhea, foul-smelling diarrhea, frequent bowel movements, stomach cramps, nausea, fever
- High pressure around the brain: headache, dizziness, blurred vision, vision changes, blind spots
- Serious allergic reaction: trouble breathing, chest tightness, swelling of the face or tongue
- Serious skin reaction: round, red, violet, or brown skin patch; blistering
More on Tetracycline side effects
The following Tetracycline side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
For all tetracyclines
More common
Increased sensitivity of skin to sunlight (rare with minocycline)
Rare
Abdominal pain
bulging fontanel (soft spot on head) of infants
headache
loss of appetite
visual changes
yellowing skin
For demeclocycline only
Less common
Greatly increased frequency of urination or amount of urine
increased thirst
unusual tiredness or weakness
For minocycline only
Less common
Pigmentation (darker color or discoloration) of skin and mucous membranes
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
For all tetracyclines
For minocycline only
More common
Dizziness, light-headedness, or unsteadiness
In some patients tetracyclines may cause the tongue to become darkened or discolored. This effect is only temporary and will go away when you stop taking this medicine.
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Tetracycline
Pros
- Treats many types of bacterial infections
- Can also treat severe acne
- Can be an option for some people with a penicillin allergy for certain infections
- Taken by mouth
Cons
- Usually needs to be taken several times a day
- Can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight
- Can interact with dairy products, certain antacids, and certain supplements
- Not recommended during pregnancy or for young children
Pharmacist tips for Tetracycline
- Take tetracycline exactly as prescribed and finish your full course, even if you start to feel better. Stopping too early can make your infection harder to treat.
- Take tetracycline with a full glass of water. This helps the medication go down and lowers the risk of irritation or sores in your esophagus (the tube that connects your throat to your stomach).
- Take tetracycline at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after any dairy products. Some foods and dairy products can lower how much tetracycline your body can absorb. This can affect how well the antibiotic can work.
- Take tetracycline a few hours apart from certain medications and supplements. This includes products with calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, aluminum, or sodium bicarbonate. These products can lower how much tetracycline your body absorbs. Ask your pharmacist how many hours apart you should take them from tetracycline.
- Tell your prescriber and pharmacist about all the medications you take. Tetracycline can interact with certain medications. For example, it can raise the risk of bleeding with blood thinners like warfarin. It might also make birth control pills work less well. Your care team can help make sure all your medications work as intended and are safe to take together.
- Tetracycline can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and make it easier to get a sunburn. Limit your time in direct sunlight. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen when you're outside. Also avoid tanning beds and sunlamps.
- Don't take tetracycline after its expiration date. Expired tetracycline might cause serious kidney problems. Get a new supply if your medication has expired and you haven't completed your full course of treatment.
- If you're pregnant: Tell your prescriber right away. You should avoid taking tetracycline during pregnancy unless your prescriber says it's necessary. Tetracycline isn't safe to take while pregnant because it can harm an unborn baby. It can affect bone and tooth development.
- If you plan to breastfeed: Talk to your prescriber. Tetracycline has the potential to cause serious side effects in nursing infants. Your prescriber can help decide what the best choice is. You can also talk to a lactation expert about other ways to feed your baby.
Risks and warnings for Tetracycline
Tetracycline can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Diarrhea from Clostridiodes difficile infection
Antibiotics, such as tetracycline, can change the normal bacteria in your gut. This can let harmful bacteria called Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) grow too much and cause a serious infection. This infection can lead to severe diarrhea, even up to 2 months after you stop the antibiotic.
It's important to know the difference between mild diarrhea from tetracycline and serious diarrhea from C. diff. Signs of a C. diff infection include fever, nausea, severe or watery diarrhea, foul-smelling diarrhea, frequent bowel movements, or bloody stool. Get medical help right away if you have any signs of this infectious diarrhea. This can be a medical emergency and should get treated as soon as possible.
High pressure around the brain
- Risk factors: People who can get pregnant and are considered overweight | People who can get pregnant and have history of high pressure in the brain | Also taking isotretinoin
Tetracycline has been linked to having high pressure around the brain, called intracranial hypertension. Your risk might be higher risk if you can become pregnant and are considered overweight or have had this problem before. Avoid taking tetracycline with the acne medication isotretinoin, since it can also cause this problem.
The pressure usually gets better after you stop tetracycline. But it can stay high for several weeks. In some cases, it can cause permanent vision loss. Call your prescriber right away if you have headaches or vision changes, such as blurry vision, double vision, or vision loss. You'll need an eye exam right away if you have vision changes.
Sensitivity to sunlight
Tetracycline can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. This means you might get a sunburn more easily. Protect your skin by wearing sun-protective clothing and using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 when you're outside. Avoid tanning beds and other sources of ultraviolet (UV) light while taking tetracycline. Stop taking tetracycline and tell your care team if your skin becomes red or looks sunburned.
Risk of kidney or liver problems in certain people
- Risk factors: Kidney problems | Taking tetracycline long term
If you have kidney problems, tetracycline can build up in your body and cause serious problems. Taking the antibiotic for a long time can also raise the risk of liver problems. If you have kidney problems, your prescriber might give you a lower dose or have you take it less often to help keep you safe.
Problems with developing teeth
- Risk factors: Taking during the last half of pregnancy | Children age 8 years and younger | Taking tetracycline for a long time | Taking several short courses of tetracycline
Tetracycline can affect teeth while they're still developing. This can happen in an unborn baby if it's taken during the second half of pregnancy. It can also happen in children younger than 8 who take the antibiotic.
Tetracycline can permanently stain developing teeth yellow, gray, or brown. This is more common with long-term use, but it can also happen after several short courses. Tetracycline can also cause problems with tooth enamel, which can affect how strong the teeth are.
Because of these risks, tetracycline should usually be avoided during the second half of pregnancy and in children younger than 8. An exception is when it's used to treat anthrax and other antibiotics aren't expected to work or can't be used. Talk to your prescriber if you have concerns about taking tetracycline.
Effects on developing bones during pregnancy and infancy
- Risk factors: Currently pregnant | Premature babies
Avoid taking tetracycline if you're pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Based on animal studies, tetracycline can harm an unborn baby and affect how their bones and teeth develop. Tetracycline should only be used during pregnancy if your prescriber decides it's necessary. Tell your prescriber right away if you become pregnant while taking it.
Tetracycline can also slow bone growth in premature babies who take it. This effect can go away after the medication is stopped. Tetracycline isn't approved for infants.
Tetracycline dosage
The average cost for 56 capsules of 500mg of Tetracycline is $49.09 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 94.43% off the average retail price of $881.99.
Interactions between Tetracycline and other drugs
Tetracycline may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Tetracycline. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking any of these medicines, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with a medication in this class or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Acitretin
- Methoxyflurane
Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Abametapir
- Acenocoumarol
- Amoxicillin
- Ampicillin
- Apixaban
- Ardeparin
- Argatroban
- Ascorbic Acid
- Atazanavir
- Bacampicillin
- Betrixaban
- Bexarotene
- Bivalirudin
- Carbamazepine
- Certoparin
- Cholera Vaccine, Live
- Cloxacillin
- Dabigatran Etexilate
- Dalteparin
- Danaparoid
- Desirudin
- Desogestrel
- Dicloxacillin
- Dienogest
- Digoxin
- Drospirenone
- Edoxaban
- Enoxaparin
- Enzalutamide
- Estradiol
- Ethinyl Estradiol
- Ethynodiol
- Etretinate
- Fondaparinux
- Fosphenytoin
- Gestodene
- Heparin
- Isotretinoin
- Lepirudin
- Levonorgestrel
- Lumacaftor
- Mestranol
- Methicillin
- Methotrexate
- Methoxyflurane
- Mitotane
- Nafcillin
- Nomegestrol
- Norethindrone
- Norgestimate
- Norgestrel
- Oxacillin
- Parnaparin
- Penicillin G
- Penicillin G Benzathine
- Penicillin G Procaine
- Penicillin V
- Phenindione
- Phenprocoumon
- Phenytoin
- Piperacillin
- Pivampicillin
- Porfimer
- Protein C
- Reviparin
- Rifampin
- Rivaroxaban
- St John's Wort
- Sultamicillin
- Temocillin
- Tinzaparin
- Tretinoin
- Warfarin
How much does Tetracycline cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Tetracycline (generic)
$26.59
Tetracycline contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Tetracycline will not be safe for you to take.
- Allergy to other tetracycline antibiotics, such as doxycycline or minocycline
What are alternatives to Tetracycline?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Tetracycline. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
Used for:
Doxycycline hyclate is used to prevent malaria due to the parasite Plasmodium falciparum and to treat many different infections caused by bacteria. Some examples include:
$10.44View prices
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Tetracycline images
