Tetracycline Side Effects

Brand Names: Sumycin

Please note - some side effects for Tetracycline may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Tetracycline - for the consumer

Tetracycline

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Tetracycline:

Black hairy tongue; blurred vision; bulky loose stools; diarrhea; difficulty swallowing; fever; headache; hives; hoarseness; indigestion; inflammation or redness of tongue; joint pain; loss of appetite; mouth sores; nausea; rash; sensitivity to sunlight; sore throat; stomach pain; swelling and itching of the rectum.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); infection (fever, chills, sore throat); itching; nausea; severe skin reaction to the sun; vaginal irritation or discharge; vomiting.

Tetracycline Suspension

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Tetracycline Suspension:

Black hairy tongue; bulky loose stools; diarrhea; difficulty swallowing; headache; hoarseness; indigestion; inflammation of the mouth; inflammation of the skin; inflammation or redness of tongue; joint pain; loss of appetite; mouth sores; nausea; sensitivity to sunlight; swelling and itching of the rectum; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blurred vision; bulging soft spot in the head of infants; increased pressure in the head; prolonged or severe diarrhea; prolonged or severe headache; purple patches under the skin; second infection (fever, chills, sore throat); severe skin reaction to the sun; stomach pain; vaginal irritation or discharge.

For the professional

Tetracycline

Gastrointestinal:

Anorexia, nausea, epigastric distress, vomiting, diarrhea, glossitis, black hairy tongue, dysphagia, enterocolitis, and inflammatory lesions (with monilial overgrowth) in the anogenital region.

Rare instances of esophagitis and esophageal ulceration have been reported in patients receiving particularly the capsule and also the tablet forms of Tetracyclines. Most of the patients were reported to have taken medication immediately before going to bed.

Teeth:

Permanent discoloration of teeth may be caused during tooth development. Enamel hypoplasia has also been reported.

Skin:

Maculopapular and erythrematous rashes. Exfoliative dermatitis has been reported but is uncommon. Onycholysis and discoloration of the nails have been reported rarely. Photosensitivity is discussed in WARNINGS  .

Renal Toxicity:

Rise in BUN has been reported and is apparently dose related.

Liver:

Hepatotoxicity and liver failure have been observed in patients receiving large doses of Tetracycline and Tetracyclinetreated patients with renal impairment.

Hypersensitivity Reactions:

Urticaria, angioneurotic edema, anaphylaxis, anaphylactoid purpura, pericarditis, exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus, and serum sickness-like reactions, as fever, rash, and arthralgia.

Blood:

Hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura, neutropenia and eosinophilia have been reported.

Other:

Bulging fontanels in infants and intracranial pressure in adults.

When given over prolonged periods, Tetracyclines have been reported to produce brown-black microscopic discoloration of thyroid glands. No abnormalities of thyroid function studies are known to occur.

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