What is Tetracycline ?

Tetracycline is antimicrobial medical product which is used for the treatment of the inflammatory infections of the various site and origin.

Tetracycline has been added to WHO Model List of Essential Medicines by World Health Organization and is one of the most popular antibiotics on the West pharmaceutical market.

This medicine belongs to the group of tetracycline antibiotics which are used in the medical practice since in the 40s, XX century. Tetracycline is an antibiotic with a broad spectrum pharmacological activity. However, due to the longstanding use of antibiotics from Tetracycline group, many causative agents of the infections have developed a resistance to the action of this medicine.

Pneumococcus, anthrax, plague, tularemia, most strains of E. coli, salmonella, staphylococci, and most enterococci are sensitive to Tetracycline.

Tetracycline is especially effective as to chlamydia, mycoplasma, and some protozoa.

It is necessary to study the causative agent of infection for the most effective treatment of the infectious diseases. Have a medical examination and laboratory blood test before the beginning of the treatment.

Tetracycline provides a bacteriostatic action breaking the structure of the protein chain inside the cells of microorganisms. They die because of the antibiotic penetration into the nutritional structure of bacteria.

Directions for the use of Tetracycline

• Pneumonia
• Chronic\acute bronchitis
• Pharyngitis
• Angina
• Pyelonephritis
• Cholecystitis
• Intestinal infections
• Prostate
• Syphilis
• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• Purulent infections of soft tissue
• Acne

Tetracycline is prescribed as an antibacterial medicine for the prevention of the postsurgical infections.

In what dose is Tetracycline taken?

The dosage regimen of Tetracycline may vary in every patient depending on the type of the disease, severity level of the symptoms. It is easier to select a dosage when the causative agent is known.

If the causative agent is unknown, a standard dosage regimen of Tetracycline is recommended:

• A standard effective dose of Tetracycline is 250-500 mg for adults 3-4 times per day
• Tetracycline 250 mg is taken every 6 hours for the most effective antibacterial therapy
• Children at the age of 8 to 12 years are prescribed the dose by the scheme – 20 mg per 1 kg of the body weight
• Children under 8 years are contraindicated to take Tetracycline because the proved medical results indicate a disorder of the bone tissue formation in children under 8 years old
• Tetracycline is used for 4-7 days to treat infections of the middle severity level.

In case of the severe infectious processes of the urinary system, an individual scheme of the treatment is prescribed:

• If gonorrhea, Tetracycline is prescribed in the dose of 1500 mg and then 250 mg is taken every 6 hours within 4 days
• If syphilis, patients are prescribed 200 mg Tetracycline every 6 hours within 15-30 days depending on the severity of the disease.

Precautions

• In case of the prolonged use of Tetracycline, an occasional control of the functions of kidneys, liver, and hemopoietic system is required
• The application of Tetracycline can cause the colouring of enamel into yellow or brown color
• It is strictly contraindicated to take Tetracycline in 2 and 3 term of pregnancy, during lactation and the acute condition of the stomach ulcer.

Patients may experience unwanted side effects in the first 2-3 days of Tetracycline application: poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, dysfunction of intestine, dizziness, and hypovitaminosis of the group B vitamins.

These side effects do not influence on the efficiency of the antibacterial therapy, and therefore a medical intervention is not required.

Vitamin B should be prescribed to prevent hypovitaminosis.