Declomycin

Product Information Change Font Size The following information is a summary about Declomycin. It is not intended to replace a doctor's instructions. What is demeclocycline? Demeclocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic. It fights bacteria in the body. Demeclocycline is used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, acne, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and others. Demeclocycline may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. What is the most important information I should know about demeclocycline? Do not use this medication if you are pregnant. It could cause harm to the unborn baby, including permanent discoloration of the teeth later in life. Demeclocycline can make birth control pills less effective. Use a second method of birth control while you are taking demeclocycline to keep from getting pregnant. Demeclocycline passes into breast milk and may affect bone and tooth development in a nursing baby. Do not take this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give demeclocycline to a child younger than 8 years old. Demeclocycline can cause permanent yellowing or graying of the teeth, and it can affect a child's growth. Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Demeclocycline can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun. Do not take iron supplements, multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives within 2 hours before or after taking demeclocycline. These products can make demeclocycline less effective. Throw away any unused demeclocycline when it expires or when it is no longer needed. Do not take any demeclocycline after the expiration date on the label has passed. Expired demeclocycline can cause a dangerous syndrome resulting in damage to the kidneys. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking demeclocycline? Do not use this medication if you are allergic to demeclocycline, or to similar medicines such as doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn, Vectrin), or tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap). Before taking demeclocycline, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease. You may not be able to take demeclocycline, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during therapy. If you are using demeclocycline to treat gonorrhea, your doctor may test you to make sure you do not also have syphilis, another sexually transmitted disease. FDA pregnancy category D. This medication can cause harm to an unborn baby, including permanent discoloration of the teeth later in life. Do not use demeclocycline without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Demeclocycline can make birth control pills less effective. Use a non-hormonal method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while you are taking demeclocycline. Demeclocycline passes into breast milk and may affect bone and tooth development in a nursing infant. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Children younger than 8 years old should not take demeclocycline. Demeclocycline can cause permanent tooth discoloration and can also affect a child's growth. How should I take demeclocycline? Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Take demeclocycline with a full glass of water (8 ounces). Take this medication on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. Do not take demeclocycline with milk or other dairy products, unless your doctor has told you to. Dairy products can make it harder for your body to absorb the medicine. Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Demeclocycline will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu. Do not give this medicine to another person, even if they have the same condition you have. If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking demeclocycline. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time. Throw away any unused demeclocycline when it expires or when it is no longer needed. Do not take any demeclocycline after the expiration date printed on the label. Using expired demeclocycline can cause damage to your kidneys. Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat. What happens if I miss a dose? Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. What happens if I overdose? Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a demeclocycline overdose may include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. What should I avoid while taking demeclocycline? Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to. Avoid taking this medicine just before lying down. It may cause heartburn or ulcers in your esophagus (food pipe). Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Demeclocycline can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun. Do not take iron supplements, multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives within 2 hours before or after taking demeclocycline. Demeclocycline side effects Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using demeclocycline and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects: severe headache, dizziness, blurred vision; fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; urinating less than usual or not at all; pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness; severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate; loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness. Continue using demeclocycline and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects: sores or swelling in your rectal or genital area; mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach upset; white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips; swollen tongue, trouble swallowing; or vaginal itching or discharge. Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. What other drugs will affect demeclocycline? Before taking demeclocycline, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs: cholesterol-lowering medications such as cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran) or colestipol (Colestid); isotretinoin (Accutane); tretinoin (Renova, Retin-A, Vesanoid); an antacid such as Tums, Rolaids, Milk of Magnesia, Maalox, and others; a product that contains bismuth subsalicylate such as Pepto-Bismol; minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and over-the-counter vitamin and mineral supplements; a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); or a penicillin antibiotic such as amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox, others), penicillin (BeePen-VK, Pen-Vee K, Veetids, others), dicloxacillin (Dynapen), carbenicillin (Geocillin), oxacillin (Bactocill), and others. If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use demeclocycline, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment. There may be other drugs not listed that can affect demeclocycline. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Where can I get more information? Your pharmacist has information about demeclocycline written for health professionals that you may read. What does my medication look like? Demeclocycline is available with a prescription under the brand name Declomycin. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you. Declomycin 150 mg--round, convex, red, film-coated tablets Declomycin 300 mg--round, convex, red, film-coated tablets Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.