Introduction
Tetragen is an antibiotic medicine used to treat bacterial infections in your body. It is effective in some infections of the lungs, urinary tract, eyes, and others. It kills bacteria, which helps to improve your symptoms and cure the infection.
Tetragen is also used to treat many sexually transmitted diseases. It should be taken on an empty stomach. You should take it regularly at evenly spaced intervals as per the schedule prescribed by your doctor. Taking it at the same time every day will help you to remember to take it. The dose will depend on what you are being treated for, but you should always complete a full course of this antibiotic as prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking it until you have finished, even when you feel better. If you stop taking it early, some bacteria may survive and the infection may come back.
Commonly seen side effects seen with this medicine include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and skin reaction on exposure to sunlight (photosensitivity). Avoid excessive sun exposure and use sunscreen and protective clothing when outdoors. These are usually temporary and subside with the completion of treatment. Consult your doctor if you find these side effects bother or worry you.
Inform your doctor if you have any previous history of allergy to any antibiotic or liver or kidney problems before taking this medicine. You should also let your healthcare team know all other medicines you are taking as they may affect, or be affected by this medicine. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before using it.
Side effects of Tetragen
Common
- Photosensitivity
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
How to use Tetragen
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Do not chew, crush or break it. Tetragen is to be taken empty stomach.
How Tetragen works
Tetragen is an antibiotic. It stops bacterial growth by preventing synthesis of essential proteins required by bacteria to carry out vital functions.
Indication
Acne, Lyme disease, Uncomplicated gonorrhea, Syphilis, Psittacosis, Q fever, Pleural effusions, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lymphogranuloma venereum, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Trachoma, Nongonococcal urethritis
Administration
Should be taken on an empty stomach. Take on an empty stomach 1 hr before or 2 hr after meals w/ a full glass of water, in upright position. May be taken w/ meals to reduce GI discomfort.
Adult Dose
Oral
Susceptible infections
Adult: 250-500 mg 6 hrly. Max: 4 g/day.
Acne
Adult: 250-500 mg daily, in divided doses, for at least 3 mth.
Syphilis
Adult: 500 mg 4 times daily for 15 days.
Gonorrhoea
Adult: 500 mg 4 times daily for 7 days.
Vibrio Cholera
Adult: 500 mg 4 times daily for 3 days
Brucellosis
Adult: 500 mg 4 times daily for 3 wk in combination w/ streptomycin.
Hepatic impairment: Max: 1 g daily.
Child Dose
Oral
Children :
<8 years: Not recommended
>8 y: 25–50 mg/kg/day q6h
not to exceed 3 g/day
Renal Dose
Renal impairment
CrCl 50-80 mL/min: Dose frequency q8-12hr
CrCl 10-50 mL/min: Dose frequency q12-24hr
CrCl <10 mL/min: Dose frequency q24hr
Contraindication
Hypersensitivity; pregnancy, lactation, children; renal impairment.
Mode of Action
Tetracycline exhibits its bacteriostatic action by reversibly binding to the 30S subunits of the ribosome, thus preventing protein synthesis and arresting cell growth. It has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity including Chlamydiaceae, Mycoplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., spirochaetes, many aerobic and anaerobic gm+ve and gm-ve pathogenic bacteria and some protozoa.
Precaution
Patient w/ pre-existing SLE, myasthenia gravis. Hepatic and mild to moderate renal impairment. Pregnancy. Patient Counselling Avoid direct exposure to sunlight or UV light. Monitoring Parameters Monitor renal, hepatic and haematologic function test, temp, WBC, cultures and sensitivity, appetite, mental status.
Side Effect
>10%
Discoloration of teeth and enamel hypoplasia (young children)
1-10%
Diarrhea,Nausea,Photosensitivity
<1%
Anorexia,Abdominal cramps,Antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis,Bulging fontanels in infants,Diabetes insipidus syndrome,Esophagitis,Exfoliative dermatitis,Incr ICP,Pericarditis,Pseudotumor cerebri,Pancreatitis,Pruritus,Pigmentation of nails,Vomiting
Potentially Fatal: Anaphylaxis, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, blood dyscrasias.
Interaction
Impaired absorption w/ antacids containing divalent and trivalent cations (e.g. Al, Ca, Mg), Fe, Zn and Na bicarbonate preparations, kaolin-pectin, bismuth subsalicylate, sucralfate, strontium ranelate, colestipol and colestyramine. May interfere w/ the bactericidal action of penicillin. May potentiate the effect of anticoagulants. May decrease efficacy of oral contraceptives. Nephrotoxic effects may be exacerbated by diuretics or other nephrotoxic drugs. May increase the hypoglycaemic effect of insulin and sulfonylureas in patients w/ DM. May increase toxic effects of ergot alkaloids and methotrexate.
Potentially Fatal: Concurrent methoxyflurane may result to fatal renal toxicity. Increased risk of benign intracranial HTN w/ vit A or retinoids (e.g. acitretin,isotretinoin, tretinoin).