Tetracycline interactions

Tetracycline (Sumycin, Achromycin), a tetracycline antibiotic has 42 documented interactions across the FDA labels and fact sheets we index: 11 major, 17 moderate, 13 minor, and 1 where a label reports no significant interaction. Each entry below quotes the sentence behind it. This drug page is a starting point, not a verdict for your situation.

Major interactions (11)

  • AdapaleneretinoidMajor

    Concomitant use of isotretinoin and tetracycline should be avoided because isotretinoin, a systemic retinoid, is also known to cause pseudotumor cerebri. (Tetracycline label, Warnings)

  • Amoxicillinpenicillin antibioticMajor

    Drug Interactions Since bacteriostatic drugs may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillin, it is advisable to avoid giving tetracycline in conjunction with penicillin or other bactericidal antibacterials. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • Amoxicillin and clavulanatepenicillin antibioticMajor

    Drug Interactions Since bacteriostatic drugs may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillin, it is advisable to avoid giving tetracycline in conjunction with penicillin or other bactericidal antibacterials. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • Ampicillinpenicillin antibioticMajor

    Drug Interactions Since bacteriostatic drugs may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillin, it is advisable to avoid giving tetracycline in conjunction with penicillin or other bactericidal antibacterials. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • Dicloxacillinpenicillin antibioticMajor

    Drug Interactions Since bacteriostatic drugs may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillin, it is advisable to avoid giving tetracycline in conjunction with penicillin or other bactericidal antibacterials. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • Doxycyclinetetracycline antibioticMajor

    Doxycycline hyclate are contraindicated in persons who have shown hypersensitivity to any of the tetracyclines. (Doxycycline label, Contraindications)

  • IsotretinoinretinoidMajor

    Concomitant use of isotretinoin and tetracycline should be avoided because isotretinoin, a systemic retinoid, is also known to cause pseudotumor cerebri. (Tetracycline label, Warnings)

  • Minocyclinetetracycline antibioticMajor

    EMROSI is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to any of the tetracyclines [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. (Minocycline label, Contraindications)

  • Penicillin Gpenicillin antibioticMajor

    Drug Interactions Since bacteriostatic drugs may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillin, it is advisable to avoid giving tetracycline in conjunction with penicillin or other bactericidal antibacterials. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • Penicillin Vpenicillin antibioticMajor

    Drug Interactions Since bacteriostatic drugs may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillin, it is advisable to avoid giving tetracycline in conjunction with penicillin or other bactericidal antibacterials. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • TretinoinretinoidMajor

    Concomitant use of isotretinoin and tetracycline should be avoided because isotretinoin, a systemic retinoid, is also known to cause pseudotumor cerebri. (Tetracycline label, Warnings)

Moderate interactions (17)

  • ApixabananticoagulantModerate

    Because the tetracyclines have been shown to depress plasma prothrombin activity, patients who are on anticoagulant therapy may require downward adjustment of their anticoagulant dosage. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • Atovaquone and proguanilantimalarialModerate

    Tetracycline may reduce atovaquone concentrations; parasitemia should be closely monitored. (Atovaquone and proguanil label, Drug interactions)

  • CalciumVitamin and mineralModerate

    Calcium binds these drugs in the gut and can sharply cut how much is absorbed; separate the doses. (NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Calcium)

  • Cholestyraminebile acid sequestrantModerate

    Drug Interactions Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension USP may delay or reduce the absorption of concomitant oral medication such as phenylbutazone, warfarin, thiazide diuretics (acidic), or propranolol (basic), as well as tetracycline, penicillin G, phenobarbital, thyroid and thyroxine preparations, estrogens and progestins, and digitalis. (Cholestyramine label, Drug interactions)

  • DabigatrananticoagulantModerate

    Because the tetracyclines have been shown to depress plasma prothrombin activity, patients who are on anticoagulant therapy may require downward adjustment of their anticoagulant dosage. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • EdoxabananticoagulantModerate

    Because the tetracyclines have been shown to depress plasma prothrombin activity, patients who are on anticoagulant therapy may require downward adjustment of their anticoagulant dosage. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • EnoxaparinanticoagulantModerate

    Because the tetracyclines have been shown to depress plasma prothrombin activity, patients who are on anticoagulant therapy may require downward adjustment of their anticoagulant dosage. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • FondaparinuxanticoagulantModerate

    Because the tetracyclines have been shown to depress plasma prothrombin activity, patients who are on anticoagulant therapy may require downward adjustment of their anticoagulant dosage. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • GlimepiridesulfonylureaModerate

    …antagonists, fibrates, propoxyphene, pentoxifylline, somatostatin analogs, anabolic steroids and androgens, cyclophosphamide, phenyramidol, guanethidine, fluconazole, sulfinpyrazone, tetracyclines, clarithromycin, disopyramide, quinolones, and those drugs that are highly protein-bound, such as fluoxetine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, salicylates, sulfonamides,… (Glimepiride label, Drug interactions)

  • HeparinanticoagulantModerate

    Because the tetracyclines have been shown to depress plasma prothrombin activity, patients who are on anticoagulant therapy may require downward adjustment of their anticoagulant dosage. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • IronVitamin and mineralModerate

    Iron binds these drugs in the gut and reduces their absorption; separate the doses. (NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Iron)

  • MagnesiumVitamin and mineralModerate

    Magnesium-containing supplements and antacids reduce absorption of these drugs; separate the doses by at least two hours. (NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Magnesium)

  • QuinaprilACE inhibitorModerate

    Tetracycline and other drugs that interact with magnesium Simultaneous administration of tetracycline with quinapril hydrochloride reduced the absorption of tetracycline by approximately 28% to 37%, possibly due to the high magnesium content in quinapril tablets. (Quinapril label, Drug interactions)

  • RivaroxabananticoagulantModerate

    Because the tetracyclines have been shown to depress plasma prothrombin activity, patients who are on anticoagulant therapy may require downward adjustment of their anticoagulant dosage. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • SucralfateModerate

    Drug Interactions Some studies have shown that simultaneous sucralfate administration in healthy volunteers reduced the extent of absorption (bioavailability) of single doses of the following: cimetidine, digoxin, fluoroquinolone antibiotics, ketoconazole, l-thyroxine, phenytoin, quinidine, ranitidine, tetracycline, and theophylline. (Sucralfate label, Drug interactions)

  • WarfarinanticoagulantModerate

    Because the tetracyclines have been shown to depress plasma prothrombin activity, patients who are on anticoagulant therapy may require downward adjustment of their anticoagulant dosage. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • ZincVitamin and mineralModerate

    Zinc reduces absorption of quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics; take the antibiotic at least two hours before or four to six hours after zinc. (NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Zinc)

Minor mentions (13)

  • Antacids (Tums, Maalox, Mylanta)OTC productMinor

    Absorption of tetracyclines is impaired by antacids containing aluminum, calcium or magnesium and preparations containing iron, zinc, or sodium bicarbonate. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • Conjugated estrogensestrogenMinor

    Concurrent use of tetracycline may render oral contraceptives less effective. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • Drospirenone and ethinyl estradioloral contraceptiveMinor

    Concurrent use of tetracycline may render oral contraceptives less effective. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • EstradiolestrogenMinor

    Concurrent use of tetracycline may render oral contraceptives less effective. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • LevonorgestrelprogestinMinor

    Concurrent use of tetracycline may render oral contraceptives less effective. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • Levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradioloral contraceptiveMinor

    Concurrent use of tetracycline may render oral contraceptives less effective. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • MedroxyprogesteroneprogestinMinor

    Concurrent use of tetracycline may render oral contraceptives less effective. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • MegestrolprogestinMinor

    Concurrent use of tetracycline may render oral contraceptives less effective. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • NorethindroneprogestinMinor

    Concurrent use of tetracycline may render oral contraceptives less effective. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • Norethindrone and ethinyl estradioloral contraceptiveMinor

    Concurrent use of tetracycline may render oral contraceptives less effective. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • Norgestimate and ethinyl estradioloral contraceptiveMinor

    Concurrent use of tetracycline may render oral contraceptives less effective. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • ProgesteroneprogestinMinor

    Concurrent use of tetracycline may render oral contraceptives less effective. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

  • Sodium bicarbonateantacidMinor

    Absorption of tetracyclines is impaired by antacids containing aluminum, calcium or magnesium and preparations containing iron, zinc, or sodium bicarbonate. (Tetracycline label, Drug interactions)

No significant interaction reported (1)

  • TheophyllinemethylxanthineNo interaction

    …ranitidine famotidine rifabutin felodipine roxithromycin finasteride Sorbitol (purgative doses do not inhibit hydrocortisone theophylline absorption) isoflurane sucralfate isoniazid terbutaline, systemic isradipine terfenadine influenza vaccine tetracycline ketoconazole tocainide lomefloxacin * Refer to PRECAUTIONS , Drug Interactions for information regarding table. (Theophylline label, Drug interactions)

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Not medical advice. Severity reflects the label's wording, not your circumstances. A "major" flag can be routine under supervision and a "minor" one can matter at high doses. Ask a pharmacist.