Shop products for Tetracyclines 
Also indexed as: Declomycin®, Demeclocycline, Ledermycin®, Lymecycline, Oxymycin®, Oxytetracycline, Oxytetramix®, Terramycin®
Tetracyclines are a family of antibiotics used to treat a broad spectrum of bacterial infections occurring in many areas of the body. Each drug within the family prevents the growth of specific bacteria; therefore, healthcare practitioners prescribe tetracyclines based on the individual’s current needs.
There are interactions that are common to antibacterial drugs, interactions common to tetracyclines in general, and interactions involving specific tetracyclines. Interactions that are common to all tetracyclines are described below. For interactions involving specific tetracycline, refer to the highlighted drugs listed below.
- Demeclocycline (Declomycin®)
- Doxycycline (Monodox®, Periostat®, Vibramycin®, Vibra-Tabs®)
- Minocycline (Dynacin®, Minocin®, Vectrin®)
- Oxytetracycline (Terramycin®)
- Tetracycline (Sumycin®, Tetracyn®)
Summary of
Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, an herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem
contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized
interactions.
 May be Beneficial: Depletion or
interference—The medication may deplete or interfere with the absorption or
function of the nutrient. Taking these nutrients may help replenish them. |
Vitamin K* |
| May be Beneficial: Side effect
reduction/prevention—Taking these supplements may help reduce the likelihood and/or
severity of a potential side effect caused by the medication. |
Bifidobacterium longum* Lactobacillus acidophilus* Lactobacillus casei* Probiotics* Saccharomyces boulardii* Saccharomyces cerevisiae* Vitamin K* |
| May be Beneficial: Supportive
interaction—Taking these supplements may support or otherwise help your medication
work better. |
Saccharomyces boulardii* |
 Avoid: Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability—Avoid
these supplements when taking this medication since the supplement may decrease the absorption
and/or activity of the medication in the body. |
Aluminium Calcium Dairy products Food Iron Magnesium Sodium bicarbonate Zinc |
| Adverse interaction |
None known |
| Interactions common to many, if not all, Tetracycline preparations are described in this article. Interactions reported for only one or several drugs in this class may not be listed in this article. Some drugs listed in this article are linked to articles specific to that respective drug; please refer to those individual drug articles. The information in this article may not necessarily apply to drugs in this class for which no separate article exists. If you are taking a Tetracycline preparation for which no separate article exists, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. | |
An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.
Interactions with Dietary Supplements
Minerals
Taking mineral supplements or antacids that contain
aluminium, calcium, iron, magnesium, or zinc at the same
time as tetracyclines inhibits the absorption of the drug.1 Therefore, individuals
should take tetracyclines at least two hours before or after products containing minerals.
Probiotics
A common side effect of antibiotics is diarrhoea, which
may be caused by the elimination of beneficial bacteria normally found in the colon.
Controlled studies have shown that taking probiotic microorganisms—such as
Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum,
or Saccharomyces boulardii—helps prevent antibiotic-induced
diarrhoea.2
The diarrhoea experienced by some people who take antibiotics also might be due to an overgrowth of the bacterium Clostridium difficile, which causes a disease known as pseudomembranous colitis. Controlled studies have shown that supplementation with harmless yeast—such as Saccharomyces boulardii3 or Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s or brewer’s yeast)4 —helps prevent recurrence of this infection. In one study, taking 500 mg of Saccharomyces boulardii twice daily enhanced the effectiveness of the antibiotic vancomycin in preventing recurrent clostridium infection.5 Therefore, people taking antibiotics who later develop diarrhoea might benefit from supplementing with saccharomyces organisms.
Treatment with antibiotics also commonly leads to an overgrowth of yeast (Candida albicans) in the vagina (candida vaginitis) and the intestines (sometimes referred to as “dysbiosis”). Controlled studies have shown that Lactobacillus acidophilus might prevent candida vaginitis.6
Vitamin K
Several cases of excessive bleeding have been reported in people who take
antibiotics.7 8 9 10 This side effect may be the
result of reduced vitamin K activity and/or reduced vitamin K production by bacteria in the
colon. One study showed that people who had taken broad-spectrum antibiotics had lower liver
concentrations of vitamin K2 (menaquinone), though vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) levels remained
normal.11 Several antibiotics appear to exert a strong effect on vitamin K
activity, while others may not have any effect. Therefore, one should refer to a specific
antibiotic for information on whether it interacts with vitamin K. Doctors of natural medicine
sometimes recommend vitamin K supplementation to people taking antibiotics. Aditional research
is needed to determine whether the amount of vitamin K1 found in some multivitamins is
sufficient to prevent antibiotic-induced bleeding. Moreover, most multivitamins do not contain
vitamin K.
Interactions with Foods and Other Compounds
Food
The absorption of tetracycline, demeclocycline, and
oxytetracycline is reduced when taken with a meal or with dairy products, such as
milk, yoghurt, and cheese.12 Therefore, these drugs should be taken an
hour before or two hours after eating a meal or dairy products. However, food and diary
products do not reduce the absorption of doxycycline and
minocycline.13
Taking tetracyclines with sodium bicarbonate might inhibit the absorption and/or the excretion of the drug.14 Therefore, to avoid alterations in clinical effect, tetracyclines should be taken an hour before or two hours after products containing sodium bicarbonate.
References
1. Olin BR, ed. Anti-infectives, Antibiotics, Tetracyclines. In Drug Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons, 1993, 1811–22.
2. Elmer GW, Surawicz CM, McFarland LV. Biotherapeutic agents. A neglected modality for the treatment and prevention of selected intestinal and vaginal infections. JAMA 1996;275:870–6 [review].
3. Elmer GW, Surawicz CM, McFarland LV. Biotherapeutic agents. A neglected modality for the treatment and prevention of selected intestinal and vaginal infections. JAMA 1996;275:870–6 [review].
4. Schellenberg D, Bonington A, Champion CM, et al. Treatment of Clostridium difficile diarrhoea with brewer’s yeast. Lancet 1994;343:171–2.
5. Surawicz CM, Elmer GW, Speelman P, et al. Prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea by Saccharomyces boulardii: A prospective study. Gastroenterol 1989;96:981–8.
6. Elmer GW, Surawicz CM, McFarland LV. Biotherapeutic agents. A neglected modality for the treatment and prevention of selected intestinal and vaginal infections. JAMA 1996;275:870–6 [review].
7. Suzuki K, Fukushima T, Meguro K, et al. Intracranial hemorrhage in an infant owing to vitamin K deficiency despite prophylaxis. Childs Nerv Syst 1999;15:292–4.
8. Huilgol VR, Markus SL, Vakil NB. Antibiotic-induced iatrogenic hemobilia. Am J Gastroenterol 1997;92:706–7.
9. Bandrowsky T, Vorono AA, Borris TJ, Marcantoni HW. Amoxicllin-related postextraction bleeding in an anticoagulated patient with tranexamic acid rinses. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 1996;82:610–2.
10. Kaiser CW, McAuliffe JD, Barth RJ, Lynch JA. Hypoprothrombinemia and hemorrhage in a surgical patient treated with cefotetan. Arch Surg 1991;126:524–5.
11. Conly J, Stein K. Reduction of vitamin K2 concentration in human liver associated with the use of broad spectrum antimicrobials. Clin Invest Med 1994;17:531–9.
12. Olin BR, ed. Anti-infectives, Antibiotics, Tetracyclines. In Drug Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons, 1993, 1811–22.
13. Olin BR, ed. Anti-infectives, Antibiotics, Tetracyclines. In Drug Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons, 1993, 1811–22.
14. Olin BR, ed. Anti-infectives, Antibiotics, Tetracyclines. In Drug Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons, 1993, 1811–22.
