Tetracycline

Aka: Tetracycline, Minocycline, Minocin, Nuzyra, Omadacycline, Minocycline-Induced Hyperpigmentation, Tetracyclines

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II. Indications

  1. Skin disorders
    1. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Skin Infections
    2. Acne Vulgaris
    3. Acne Rosacea
  2. Gastrointestinal disorders
    1. Helicobacter Pylori (part of quadruple therapy protocol)
  3. Tick-borne illness
    1. Lyme Disease
    2. Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis (Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis)
    3. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
  4. Miscellaneous disorders
    1. Community Acquired Pneumonia
    2. Malaria Prophylaxis
  5. Sexually Transmitted Disease
    1. Chlamydia trachomatis
    2. Lymphogranuloma venereum

III. Contraindications

  1. Pregnancy
    1. Pregnancy category D
  2. Children under age 8 years old
    1. AAP now approves Doxycycline for ANY age up to 21 day duration
    2. Unlike Tetracycline, Doxycycline is unlikely to cause visible tooth staining
    3. For severe infections (e.g. Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever), Doxycycline is a first-line agent

IV. Mechanism

  1. Bacteriostatic
  2. Tetracyclines are Protein synthesis inhibitors, binding the 30S ribosomal subunit of susceptible Bacteria
  3. Prevents elongated peptide chains from forming from Amino Acid residues
    1. Inhibits Amino Acid-linked tRNA from binding at the Ribosomal A Site

V. Preparations: Tetracycline

  1. Acne Vulgaris: 1 gram orally daily given in 2-4 divided doses

VI. Preparations: Doxycycline

  1. See Doxycycline
  2. Typical dose: 100 mg orally twice daily
  3. Low doses, such as 50 mg daily, are often as effective for acne
  4. Avoid substituting low-dose Doxycycline (Periostat, Oracea) products for systemic infections
  5. May substitute other Doxycycline salts
    1. Doxycycline hyclate (Vibramycin, Doryx)
    2. Doxycycline monohydrate (Monodox)
    3. (2013) Presc Lett 20(5):26
  6. Other formulations
    1. Doxycyline Hyclate Delayed-Release (Doryx MPC)
      1. Expensive ($10/pill) formulated to by-pass the esophagus for less side effects
      2. Alternatively, take the doxycyline with 8 oz water and food
      3. (2016) Presc Lett 23(11)

VII. Preparations: Minocycline (Minocin)

  1. Oral
    1. Acne Vulgaris: 50-200 mg/d orally in divided doses
  2. Topicals
    1. Acne Vulgaris: Minocycline 4% Foam (Amzeeq)
    2. Rosacea: Minocycline 1.5% Foam (Zilxi)
      1. Very expensive (nearly $500 for 30 grams)
      2. No evidence of benefit over other Rosacea topicals
      3. (2021) Presc Lett 28(6): 36 [PubMed]

VIII. Preparations: Intravenous

  1. Eravacycline (Xerava)
  2. Nuzyra (Omadacycline)
    1. Load: 200 mg IV for one dose (or divided 100 mg IV every 12 hours for 2 doses)
    2. Maintenance: 100 mg IV once daily (or 300 mg orally once daily)
    3. Once daily agent indicated for Community Acquired Pneumonia and Skin Infections
    4. Released in 2018 at $400 per pill, and likely less effective than standard agents for CAP
    5. (2019) presc lett 26(1):4

IX. Drug Interactions: Food Related

  1. Tetracycline
    1. Milk and Calcium-rich food decrease absorption
    2. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal
  2. Doxycycline and Minocycline
    1. Can be taken with milk or food (unlike Tetracycline)

X. Drug Interactions

  1. Warfarin
    1. Increases INR

XI. Precautions

  1. Use Sunscreen with these agents due to Drug-induced Photosensitivity
  2. Pill Esophagitis
    1. Take with a full glass of water

XII. Adverse Effects

  1. General
    1. Pseudotumor Cerebri (rare)
  2. Tetracycline
    1. Photosensitivity
    2. Interferes with OCP action
    3. Tooth Discoloration (Children under age 8 years)
      1. Tooth enamel hypoplasia
      2. Rare with Doxycycline
  3. Doxycycline
    1. Photosensitivity
    2. Abdominal Pain
    3. Diarrhea
    4. Pill Esophagitis (see above)
  4. Minocycline
    1. Generally well tolerated
    2. Does not generally cause photosensitivity
    3. Minocycline-Induced Hyperpigmentation
      1. Blue-gray or muddy brown Hyperpigmentation resulting from Minocycline-iron complex skin deposition
      2. Distribution: Face, arms, legs (esp. shins)
      3. Highest risk in long-term dosing for chronic infection or Rheumatoid Arthritis (risk increases with longer duration)
      4. Uncommon with low dose Acne Vulgaris use
      5. Hyperpigmentation often persists even after Minocycline is discontinued (limited therapies, e.g. laser)
      6. Jain (2019) Am Fam Physician 100(4): 239-240 [PubMed]
    4. Rare adverse effects
      1. Lupus-Like Syndrome (1:20,000)
      2. Vertigo
      3. Oral Mucosa pigmentation (blue-black pigmentation)
      4. Hypersensitivity Syndrome within 1-3 months
      5. Delayed Arthralgias or Polyarthritis
  5. Omadacycline (Nuzyra)
    1. Nausea and Vomiting are most common (>10% of patients)

XIII. References

  1. (2019) Tarascon Pharmacopeia, accessed 3/31/2019
  2. LoVecchio (2019) Crit Dec Emerg Med 33(3): 28

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Related Studies

Cost: Medications

tetracycline (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
TETRACYCLINE 250 MG CAPSULE Generic $0.66 each
TETRACYCLINE 500 MG CAPSULE Generic $0.95 each
minocycline (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
MINOCYCLINE 100 MG CAPSULE Generic $0.36 each
MINOCYCLINE 50 MG CAPSULE Generic $0.18 each
MINOCYCLINE 75 MG CAPSULE Generic $0.35 each
MINOCYCLINE HCL 100 MG TABLET Generic $1.29 each
MINOCYCLINE HCL 50 MG TABLET Generic $1.17 each
FPNotebook does not benefit financially from showing this medication data or their pharmacy links. This information is provided only to help medical providers and their patients see relative costs. Insurance plans negotiate lower medication prices with suppliers. Prices shown here are out of pocket, non-negotiated rates. See Needy Meds for financial assistance information. GoodRx is another tool for finding lower drug prices.

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