Oxytetracycline is a tetracycline antibiotic which is an active substance with antibacterial action. It may be used to treat a wide range of infections caused by bacteria. Few are mentioned below:
- Lung infections like pneumonia, bronchitis
- Urinary tract infections
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Skin infections like acne
- Eye infections like conjunctivitis
- Q fever or tick fever
- Other infections
Do not take Oxytetracycline if you are allergic to any ingredients of the medicine. The allergic reaction can commonly be categorized as itching, swelling of lips and face or difficulty in breathing. Also, if you are intolerant to sugar or are suffering from severe kidney or liver problems, you are not supposed to consume Oxytetracycline. Make sure you tell the doctor if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant before taking the medication. The medicine is not recommended for children below the age of 12.
http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/PIL.26648.latest.pdf
Like all other medicines, Oxytetracycline might also cause some side effects. One must take special care while using these tablets and tell your doctor if you are suffering from myasthenia gravis or from reduced kidney or liver function. Myasthenia gravis is a condition where the patient experiences muscle weakness, difficulty in swallowing, difficulty in chewing and slurred speech.
One must stop using these tablets if you face severe allergic reactions, suffer from a severe headache, visual problem, become sensitive to sunlight or artificial light.
Some of the common side effects are:
- Gastric upsets
- Watery diarrhoea , fever, cramps
- Infections
- Skin rashes
- Swelling of the pancreas
The dosage must be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Oxytetracycline must be taken orally and must be swallowed as a whole with water either one hour before food or two hours after. These tablets are suitable for adults, the elderly and children above 12 years of age. Consumption of dairy products will affect the absorption of the medicine. The usual dosage is at least for ten days unless it is prescribed differently by the doctor. For general infections, two tablets of 500 mg strength can be prescribed. For specific infections like skin infections, one or two tablets of 250-500 mg strength is prescribed daily. For Brucellosis, two tablets of 500mg strength are prescribed daily with streptomycin. For sexually transmitted diseases, two tablets of 500mg strength for four times is prescribed daily for 7 days to one month. Children under 12 years of age should not take Oxytetracycline capsules else it might affect the bone development or lead to permanent discoloration of tooth enamel. In case you have consumed more Oxytetracycline tablets than required, visit a nearby hospital immediately and inform your doctor. In case you miss a dose, do not take double doses to make it up for the missed dose.
Oxytetracycline is an antibiotic with antibacterial action. It is used to fight wide varieties of bacterial infection. The antibiotic in Oxytetracycline inhibits the growth of bacteria due to the infection.
