Oxytetracycline
Description
Oxytetracycline is an antibiotic medicine. It is used for treating a range of bacterial infections occurring in different areas of your body such as lungs, eyes, reproductive organs, skin, urinary tract, etc.
Oxytetracycline may also be used to treat sexually transmitted infections like Gonorrhoea (infection in sex organs). This medicine works by preventing the growth of bacteria.
Oxytetracycline is the treatment of choice for people who do not respond to or are allergic to penicillin antibiotics. This medicine is given as an injection by a healthcare professional. Do not skip any dose and make sure you complete the entire course of treatment. Stopping the treatment early can make bacteria resistant to the antibiotic. This may lead to reoccurrence and worsening of the disease.
Oxytetracycline has some common side effects like diarrhoea, loss of appetite, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, and skin reaction on exposure to sunlight. Inform your doctor immediately if you notice any such side effects. Some people may develop pain and redness at the site of injection, but it is mostly temporary. Oxytetracycline is known to cause teeth discolouration in children.
Oxytetracycline can interact with other medicines. Inform your doctor if you have medical conditions such as liver or kidney troubles, skin allergy, etc. and about any medications that you may be taking. Let your doctor know if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Oxytetracycline
- Diarrhoea
- Loss of appetite
- Skin rash
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tooth discoloration
- Yellow colored eyes or skin
- Increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
- Weakness
Uses of Oxytetracycline
What is it prescribed for?
- Brucellosis
- Pneumonia
- Rickettsial Infection
- Bronchitis
- Chlamydia Infection
- Bacterial conjunctivitis
- Gonococcal infection
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Bacterial skin infections
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe time taken for Oxytetracycline to show its initial effect is not known.
- Duration of effectThe time for which Oxytetracycline remains effective is not known.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?Oxytetracycline has no habit forming tendency.
- Usage in pregnancy?Oxytetracycline is usually not recommended in pregnant women. It is known to cause birth defects in your foetus, especially if used after the first 18 weeks of pregnancy.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Use of Oxytetracycline should be avoided in breastfeeding women due to the cause of side effects like diarrhoea and diaper rash in breastfed babies. This medicine is also known to cause permanent discolouration of the teeth in children. If required, it should only be used upon your doctor's recommendation.
Allergy
Avoid receiving Oxytetracycline if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of your face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Oxytetracycline is usually not recommended in pregnant women. It is known to cause birth defects in your foetus, especially if used after the first 18 weeks of pregnancy.
Breast-feeding
Use of Oxytetracycline should be avoided in breastfeeding women due to the cause of side effects like diarrhoea and diaper rash in breastfed babies. This medicine is also known to cause permanent discolouration of the teeth in children. If required, it should only be used upon your doctor's recommendation.
General warnings
Photosensitivity
Oxytetracycline is known to increase the risk of sunburn. Your doctor will counsel you regarding this. Discontinue the treatment and inform your doctor if you experience a skin rash, irritation or redness.
Liver disease
Patients with liver problems need special consideration while taking Oxytetracycline due to the risk of liver damage. Your doctor may advise dose adjustment and laboratory tests for such patients.
Antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance is a condition in which the bacteria develops the ability to reduce the impact of the antibiotic intended to kill them. It occurs when a required course of antibiotics is not completed. Therefore complete the entire course of treatment with Oxytetracycline, even if the condition gets better to avoid antibiotic resistance.
Use in children
Do not use Oxytetracycline in children less than 12 years of age as this can lead to the risk of permanent teeth discolouration.
Missed Dose
Oral forms: If you missed a dose of Oxytetracycline, make sure that you remember to take your next dose when it is due. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed dose.
Injectables: Oxytetracycline is given in the hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low.
Overdose
Oral forms: Never take more than the prescribed dose. Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor if you suspect that you might have taken an overdose of Oxytetracycline.
Injectables: Since Oxytetracycline is administered in the hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the chances of an overdose are very low. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Warfarin
Ethinyl Estradiol
Cholera Vaccine
Digoxin
Calcium gluconate
Disease interactions
Disease
Information not available.
Food interactions
Avoid using Oxytetracycline along with iron and calcium preparations due to the decreased absorption of Oxytetracycline. Maintain a minimum time gap of 3 hours for better absorption.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Oral forms: Take Oxytetracycline as advised by your doctor with food. Your doctor will determine an appropriate dose for you. Never take more than the prescribed dose.
Do not give your medicine to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.
Complete the entire course of treatment for the best results.
Do not take this medicine with calcium-containing products because of the decrease in absorption.
Injectables: Oxytetracycline injection should be administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical or hospital setting.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Oxytetracycline decreases the necessary substances responsible for the bacteria survival which can cause infections. This inhibits the growth and multiplication of bacteria, eventually killing them.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Tetracyclines, Antibiotics
Schedule
Schedule H
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Oxytetracycline Tablets B.P. 250 mg - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 8 March 2021].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. DailyMed - terramycin- Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride capsule. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 8 March 2021].
Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. Oxytetracycline hydrochloride. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 8 March 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 13 Sep 2021
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.