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Everything you need to know about taking a course of oxytetracycline for acne, rosacea or bacterial infections
09/05/2018Oxytetracycline is a tetracycline-type antibiotic that is most often prescribed to treat acne (spots) and rosacea.
It's also used to treat certain bacterial infections, for example chest infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia and mycoplasma infections, mouth infections and some sexually-transmitted infections. Additionally, it is used to treat infections transmitted by ticks, lice, fleas and mites, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus group, Q fever and Coxiella endocarditis and tick fevers.
Oxytetracycline works by stopping bacteria from growing and increasing in numbers. To make sure the bacteria causing an infection are susceptible to oxytetracycline your doctor may take a tissue sample, for example a swab from the infected area, or a urine, sputum or blood sample.
Oxytetracycline is mainly used to treat acne because it's active against the bacteria associated with acne, Propionebacterium acnes. This is a common type of bacteria that feeds on sebum produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. It produces waste products and fatty acids that irritate the sebaceous glands, making them inflamed and causing spots. By controlling bacterial numbers, oxytetracycline brings the inflammation of the sebaceous glands under control and allows the skin to heal.
Oxytetracycline is not suitable for:
Some people might need a lower oxytetracycline dose or extra monitoring. Make sure your doctor knows if you have:
Oxytetracycline tablets should be taken on an empty stomach. This means an hour before food or two hours after food. Do not take the tablets at the same time as food, milk or dairy products, as these can stop the medicine being absorbed into the body properly and make it less effective.
Swallow the tablets whole with plenty of water while you are sitting or standing to avoid the medicine irritating the throat. Avoid taking a dose just before going to bed.
Don't take indigestion remedies or medicines containing aluminium, calcium, iron, magnesium or zinc in the two hours before or after taking oxytetracycline tablets. These can reduce the absorption of oxytetracycline from the gut and make it less effective.
If you forget to take an oxytetracycline dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next dose. In this case just leave out the missed dose and take your next dose as usual. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Dosage and length of treatment varies depending on what you're taking it for:
To treat acne and rosacea:
A typical dose is 500mg (two tablets) taken twice a day, morning and evening. For rosacea you'll need to take it for 6 to 12 weeks. For acne you'll need to continue treatment for at least three months. Follow the instructions given by your doctor.
To treat infections:
One or two tablets are taken four times a day. Take your doses spaced evenly throughout the day, ideally every six hours. Dosage and length of treatment depends on the type and severity of your infection. Always follow your doctor's instructions, which will be printed on the dispensing label that your pharmacist has put on the packet of medicine.
Finish the prescribed course of oxytetracycline even if you feel better or it seems the infection has cleared up. Stopping the course early increases the chance that the infection will return and that the bacteria will grow resistant to the antibiotic.
There is no 'do not drink alcohol' warning that applies to taking oxytetracycline because it doesn't specifically affect the medicine itself.
However, just be aware that if you feel unwell with an infection or find oxytetracycline gives you a headache or upset stomach then this might be made worse by drinking alcohol. It's also possible that drinking excessive amounts of alcohol with oxytetracycline could increase the risk of getting side effects on your liver.
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with oxytetracycline. Just because a side effect is stated here doesn't mean that all people taking this antibiotic will experience that or any side effect.
Common side effects
Other possible side effects
If you take oxytetracycline for long periods of time your doctor may want to see you regularly to monitor for any possible side effects of the medicine.
Read the leaflet that comes with the medicine or talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you want any more information about the possible side effects of oxytetracycline. If you think you have experienced a side effect, did you know you can report this using the yellow card website?
Before you take oxytetracycline, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're already taking any medicines, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines. Similarly, always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while you're taking oxytetracycline.
Painkillers
If you need to take a painkiller while you're taking oxytetracycline it's fine to take paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Contraception
Oxytetracycline doesn't affect hormonal contraceptives such as the pill. However, if you experience vomiting or diarrhoea while taking this antibiotic, this can potentially make your pill less effective at preventing pregnancy. If this happens to you, follow the instructions for vomiting and diarrhoea described in the leaflet provided with your pills.
Anticoagulants
Oxytetracycline may increase the anti-blood-clotting effects of coumarin anticoagulant medicines such as warfarin. If you're taking warfarin your doctor may want to check your blood clotting time (INR) after you start and finish treatment with oxytetracycline.
Medicines to avoid
Don't take medicines containing any of the following ingredients in the two hours before or after taking your oxytetracycline dose. They may reduce the absorption of oxytetracycline from the gut and make it less effective:
Retinoid medicines such as acitretin, alitretinoin, isotretinoin or tretinoin shouldn't be taken with oxytetracycline. The combination may increase the risk of developing raised pressure within the skull (benign intracranial hypertension).
Vivotif, the oral typhoid vaccine, should not be taken until at least three days after you have finished a course of oxytetracycline. The antibiotic could make this vaccine less effective.