Brands, Medical Use, Clinical Data
Drug Category
- Anti-bacterial Agents
- Antiprotozoals
- Tetracyclines
Dosage Forms
- Tablets
- Oral suspension
- Capsules
- Topical solution
- Ophthalmic suspension
- IV injection
- IM injection
- Ointment
Brands / Synonyms
; Abramycin; Abricycline; Achromycin; Achromycin V; Achromycin, Naphthacene Derivative; Actisite; Agromicina; Ambramicina; Ambramycin; Amycin; Anhydrotetracycline; Aureomycin; Bio-Tetra; Biocycline; Bristaciclin; Bristaciclin α Bristaciclina; Bristacycline; Cefracycline; Ciclibion; Copharlan; Criseociclina; Cyclomycin; Cyclopar; Cytome; Democracin; Deschlorobiomycin; Dumocyclin; Enterocycline; Hostacyclin; Lexacycline; Limecycline; Liquamycin; Medocycline; Mericycline; Micycline; Neocycline; Oletetrin; Omegamycin; Orlycycline; Oxytetracycline HCl; Panmycin; Polycycline; Polyotic; Purocyclina; Pylera; Resteclin; Retet; Robitet; Roviciclina; SK-Tetracycline; Solvocin; Sumycin; Sumycin Syrup; TAC; TC; Terramycin; Tetra-CO; Tetrabon; Tetrachel; Tetracycl; Tetracycline; Tetracycline HCl; Tetracycline II; Tetracyn; Tetradecin; Tetrafil; Tetramed; Tetraverine; Tetrex; Topicycline; Tsiklomistsin; Tsiklomitsin; Veracin; Vetacyclinum
Indications
Used to treat bacterial infections such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus fever, and tick fevers; upper respiratory infections; pneumonia; gonorrhea; amoebic infections; and urinary tract infections. It is also used to help treat severe acne and to treat trachoma (a chronic eye infection) and conjunctivitis (pinkeye). Tetracycline is often an alternative drug for people who are allergic to penicillin.
Pharmacology
Tetracycline is a short-acting antibiotic semisynthetically produced from chlortetracycline, which is derived from Streptomyces aureofaciens. Tetracycline inhibits cell growth by inhibiting translation. It binds to the 30S ribosomal subunit and prevents the amino-acyl tRNA from binding to the A site of the ribosome. This binding is reversible in nature.
Mechanism of Action
Tetracycline passively diffuses through porin channels in the bacterial membrane and reversibly binds to the 30S ribosomal subunit, preventing binding of tRNA to the mRNA-ribosome complex, and thus interfering with protein synthesis.
Absorption
Bioavailability is less than 40% when administered via intramuscular injection, 100% intravenously, and 60-80% orally (fasting adults). Food and/or milk reduce GI absorption of oral preparations of tetracycline by 50% or more.
Toxicity
LD50=808mg/kg (orally in mice)
Biotrnasformation / Drug Metabolism
Not metabolized
Contraindications
Actisite fiber should not be used in patients who are hypersensitive to any tetracycline.
Drug Interactions
Interactions
Interaction may occur with Antacids, Calcium supplements, Cholestyramine, Choline and
magnesium salicylates, Colestipol, Iron-containing drugs, Laxatives, Magnesium
salicylate: these drugs may decrease the potency of tetracyclines. Oral contraceptives
containing estrogen: tetracyclines may decrease the contraceptive effect and increase the
chance of unwanted pregnancy.
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