Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Tetracycline
What TETRACYCLINE is used for:
- TETRACYCLINE is used to treat infections that are caused by certain types of bacteria.
- Antibacterial drugs like TETRACYCLINE treat only bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections.
How TETRACYCLINE works:
TETRACYCLINE works to:
- Stop growth of bacteria.
- Kill the bacteria.
- Reduce the infection in your body.
The ingredients in TETRACYCLINE are:
Medicinal ingredients: Tetracycline Hydrochloride
Non-medicinal ingredients: D&C YELLOW #10, D&C Yellow 10 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Yellow#6, FD&C BLUE #1, FD&C BLUE #2 Indigo Carmine Aluminum Lake, FD&C RED #40, gelatin, iron oxide black, propylene glycol, stearic acid, talc and titanium dioxide.
TETRACYCLINE comes in the following dosage form:
Capsules: 250 mg
Do not use TETRACYCLINE if:
- you are allergic to this drug or to any ingredient in TETRACYCLINE.
- you are allergic to other similar antibiotics (i.e. minocycline or doxycycline).
- you have liver or severe kidney disease.
you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
your child is under 12 years old
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take TETRACYCLINE. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- have kidney disease.
- have allergies, hives, hay fever or asthma.
Other warnings you should know about:
- TETRACYCLINE may increase your sensitivity to sunlight and may cause exaggerated sunburns. Avoid exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet light while taking TETRACYCLINE.
- TETRACYCLINE may cause tooth discolouration (yellow, gray, brown) in children with developing teeth. TETRACYCLINE may also cause other issues with the enamel (the hard protective layer) of your child’s teeth.
- Your healthcare professional may request lab tests for you to see how well your kidney and liver are working while taking TETRACYCLINE.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
The following may interact with TETRACYCLINE:
- Anti-coagulants used to stop the blood clotting (e.g. warfarin).
- Penicillin used to treat bacterial infections.
- Medicines that reduce the amount of stomach acid (containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium and iron salts). These medicines will reduce the amount of TETRACYCLINE that your body absorbs.
- Medicines used to treat acne such as retinoids.
- Methoxyflurane used to relieve pain.
- Do not take the TETRACYCLINE capsules at the same time as milk or food, as they can make the medicine less effective.
- Tetracycline may reduce the effect of oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
How to take TETRACYCLINE:
- Although you may feel better early in treatment, TETRACYCLINE should be used exactly as directed.
- Misuse or overuse of TETRACYCLINE could lead to the growth of bacteria that will not be killed by TETRACYCLINE (resistance). This means that TETRACYCLINE may not work for you in the future.
- Do not share your medicine.
Take TETRACYCLINE 1 hour before or 2 hours after meal.
Usual dose:
Adults
1 to 2 capsules 4 times per day.
Overdose:
If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much TETRACYCLINE, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, regional poison control center or Health Canada’s toll-free number, 1-844 POISON-X (1-844-764-7669) immediately, even if there are no signs or symptoms.
Missed dose:
If you forget to take TETRACYCLINE capsules, take the dose as soon as you remember and then take the next dose at the right time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
Possible side effects from using TETRACYCLINE:
These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking TETRACYCLINE. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.
Side effects include:
- Black hairy tongue
- Discoloration of the nails
- Increase sensitivity to sunlight
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hives
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Sore throat
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom/ Side Effect/Symptom | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking this drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Symptom/ Side Effect/Symptom | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking this drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Symptom/ Side Effect/Symptom | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking this drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Symptom/ Side Effect/Symptom | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking this drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Uncommon | |||
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Exfoliative dermatitis (severe redness and scaling of skin). | √ | ||
| Rare | |||
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Loosening or separation of a fingernail or toenail, discoloration of the nails. | √ | ||
| Unknown | |||
Blood and lymphatic system disorders:
| √ | ||
irregular heartbeats, pale skin, shortness of breath, weakness.
| |||
| Cardiac disorders: Pericarditis (sharp pain in chest, cough, swelling in hands, legs, and abdomen, shortness of breath). | √ | ||
Gastrointestinal disorders:
| √ | ||
Gastrointestinal disorders: Indigestion and heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, pain in the upper abdomen, black hairy tongue, anal itching. | √ | ||
Liver and pancreas disorders:
| √ | ||
| |||
| Immune system disorders: Itchy, raised red areas on the skin, swelling of the deeper layers of the skin caused by a build-up of fluid, purple or red skin lesions, fever, rash, joint pain, dry skin, severe flaking or peeling of the skin. | √ | ||
| Anaphylaxis (allergic reaction): difficulty swallowing or breathing, wheezing; hives or rash; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, rapid swelling under the skin. This can be serious and cause death. | √ | ||
| Metabolism and nutrition disorders: anorexia (abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of weight). | √ | ||
| Lupus (an autoimmune disease your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs): fatigue, fever, joint pain, stiffness and swelling, rash on the face or rashes elsewhere on the body, skin lesions, shortness of breath, chest pain, dry eyes, headaches, confusion and memory loss. | √ | ||
| Bulging fontanels: fluid build up in the brain or the brain swells, causing increased pressure inside the skull of young infants. | √ | ||
| Dysphonia: hoarseness or difficulty making sounds when trying to speak | √ | ||
Skin disorders:
| √ | ||
| redder than normal. | |||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.
Reporting side effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
- Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting (canada.ca/drug-device-reporting) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
- Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.
NOTE: Contact your healthcare professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.
Storage:
Store at room temperature 15°C to 30°C, preserve in tight, light-resistant containers.
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about TETRACYCLINE:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes the Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada Drug Product Database website (Drug Product Database: Access the database); the manufacturer’s website (https://www.aapharma.ca/en/); or by calling 1-877-998-9097.
Date of Authorization: 2026-03-17