Drug Interactions between Augmentin and tetracycline

Food, especially dairy products, and certain minerals can reduce the absorption of tetracycline and make it less effective in treating your infection. You should take tetracycline on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after meals. Do not take calcium or iron supplements, multivitamins, antacids, or laxatives within 2 hours before or after taking tetracycline. To reduce the rare risk of esophageal inflammation and ulceration, tetracycline should be taken with a large glass of water while standing or sitting upright. Avoid laying down immediately afterwards. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions on how to take this or other medications you are prescribed. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medication without first talking to your doctor.

In general, multivitamin with minerals and tetracycline should not be taken orally at the same time. Products that contain aluminum, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and/or other minerals may interfere with the absorption of tetracycline into the bloodstream and reduce its effectiveness in treating your infection. If possible, it may be best to avoid taking multivitamin with minerals while you are being treated with tetracycline. Otherwise, you should separate their dosing times by as much as possible, usually at least 2 to 4 hours. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are unsure whether your medications contain something that could potentially interact or if you have questions on how to take this or other medications you are prescribed. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD), formerly pseudomembranous colitis, has been reported with almost all antibacterial drugs and may range from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. The most common culprits include clindamycin and lincomycin. Antibacterial therapy alters the normal flora of the colon, leading to overgrowth of C difficile, whose toxins A and B contribute to CDAD development. Morbidity and mortality are increased with hypertoxin-producing strains of C difficile; these infections can be resistant to antimicrobial therapy and may require colectomy. CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhea after antibacterial use. Since CDAD has been reported to occur more than 2 months after antibacterial use, careful medical history is necessary. Therapy with broad-spectrum antibacterials and other agents with significant antibacterial activity should be administered cautiously in patients with history of gastrointestinal disease, particularly colitis; pseudomembranous colitis (generally characterized by severe, persistent diarrhea and severe abdominal cramps, and sometimes associated with the passage of blood and mucus), if it occurs, may be more severe in these patients and may be associated with flares in underlying disease activity. Antibacterial drugs not directed against C difficile may need to be stopped if CDAD is suspected or confirmed. Appropriate fluid and electrolyte management, protein supplementation, antibacterial treatment of C difficile, and surgical evaluation should be started as clinically indicated.

Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD), formerly pseudomembranous colitis, has been reported with almost all antibacterial drugs and may range from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. The most common culprits include clindamycin and lincomycin. Antibacterial therapy alters the normal flora of the colon, leading to overgrowth of C difficile, whose toxins A and B contribute to CDAD development. Morbidity and mortality are increased with hypertoxin-producing strains of C difficile; these infections can be resistant to antimicrobial therapy and may require colectomy. CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhea after antibacterial use. Since CDAD has been reported to occur more than 2 months after antibacterial use, careful medical history is necessary. Therapy with broad-spectrum antibacterials and other agents with significant antibacterial activity should be administered cautiously in patients with history of gastrointestinal disease, particularly colitis; pseudomembranous colitis (generally characterized by severe, persistent diarrhea and severe abdominal cramps, and sometimes associated with the passage of blood and mucus), if it occurs, may be more severe in these patients and may be associated with flares in underlying disease activity. Antibacterial drugs not directed against C difficile may need to be stopped if CDAD is suspected or confirmed. Appropriate fluid and electrolyte management, protein supplementation, antibacterial treatment of C difficile, and surgical evaluation should be started as clinically indicated.

The administration of amoxicillin-clavulanate has infrequently been associated with hepatotoxicity such as elevations in serum transaminases, bilirubin, and/or alkaline phosphatase. The histologic findings on liver biopsy have consisted of predominantly cholestatic and/or hepatocellular changes. Symptoms may occur during or several weeks after therapy. The hepatotoxicity is generally reversible, although deaths have been reported on rare occasions, mostly in patients with serious underlying diseases or concomitant use of other medications. Liver enzyme abnormalities have also been observed with the use of amoxicillin or ampicillin alone. According to the manufacturer, therapy with amoxicillin-clavulanate should be administered cautiously in patients with evidence of hepatic dysfunction. Periodic monitoring of liver function is recommended during prolonged therapy. The use of amoxicillin-clavulanate is contraindicated in patients with a history of cholestatic jaundice or hepatic dysfunction associated with the drug.

High urine concentrations of ampicillin may result in false-positive reactions when testing for the presence of glucose in urine using Clinitest®, Benedict's Solution or Fehling's Solution. Since this effect may also occur with amoxicillin, it is recommended that glucose tests based on enzymatic glucose oxidase reactions (such as Clinistix®) be used.

The use of oral tetracycline capsules and tablets has been associated with esophageal irritation and ulceration in patients who ingested the drug without sufficient fluid shortly before bedtime. Therapy with solid formulations of tetracyclines should preferably be avoided in patients with esophageal obstruction, compression or dyskinesia. If the drugs are used, patients should be advised not to take the medication just before retiring and to drink fluids liberally.

Penicillin antibiotics (except for agents in the penicillinase-resistant class) are removed by hemodialysis. Doses should either be scheduled for administration after dialysis or supplemental doses be given after dialysis.

The use of tetracyclines has rarely been associated with hepatotoxicity. Histologic fatty changes of the liver, elevated liver enzymes, and jaundice have been reported, primarily in patients treated with large doses of intravenous tetracycline hydrochloride (no longer available in the U.S.) but also in patients receiving high oral doses of these drugs. Therapy with tetracyclines should be administered cautiously in patients with preexisting liver disease or biliary obstruction. Reduced dosages may be appropriate, particularly with minocycline and doxycycline, since the former is metabolized by the liver and the latter undergoes enterohepatic recycling. Liver function tests are recommended prior to and during therapy, and the concomitant use of other potentially hepatotoxic drugs should be avoided.

Patients with mononucleosis treated with an aminopenicillin antibiotic, may develop a pruritic erythematous maculopapular skin rash. The rash is usually self-limiting and resolves within days of discontinuing the offending agent. An altered drug metabolism or an immune-mediated process unrelated to drug hypersensitivity has been proposed as the underlying mechanism. Therapy with aminopenicillin antibiotics should not be administered in patients with mononucleosis.

Some amoxicillin chewable tablets and suspensions products contain phenylalanine. The phenylalanine content should be considered when these products are used in patients who must restrict their intake of phenylalanine (i.e. phenylketonurics).

Tetracyclines (except doxycycline) are eliminated by the kidney to various extent. Patients with renal impairment may be at greater risk for tetracycline-associated hepatic and/or renal toxicity (increased BUN with consequent azotemia, hyperphosphatemia, and acidosis) due to decreased drug clearance. Therapy with tetracyclines should be administered cautiously at reduced dosages in patients with renal impairment. Clinical monitoring of renal and liver function is recommended, and serum tetracycline levels may be necessary during prolonged therapy.

Most beta-lactam antibiotics are eliminated by the kidney as unchanged drug and, in some cases, also as metabolites. The serum concentrations of beta-lactam antibiotics and their metabolites may be increased and the half-lives prolonged in patients with impaired renal function. Dosage adjustments may be necessary and modifications should be based on the degree of renal impairment as well as severity of infection in accordance with the individual product package labeling. Renal function tests should be performed periodically during prolonged and/or high-dose therapy, since nephrotoxicity and alterations in renal function have occasionally been associated with the use of these drugs.