Tetracyclines (Topical)
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do.
This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For topical tetracyclines,
the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to topical tetracyclines or to any related antibiotics,
such as chlortetracycline for the eye (e.g., Aureomycin); demeclocycline (e.g.,
Declomycin); doxycycline (e.g., Vibramycin); methacycline (e.g., Rondomycin);
minocycline (e.g., Minocin); oxytetracycline (e.g., Terramycin); or tetracycline
by mouth or by injection (e.g., Achromycin). In addition, if you are to use
the cream form of meclocycline, tell your doctor if you have ever had any
unusual or allergic reaction to formaldehyde. Also tell your health care professional
if you are allergic to any other substances, such as preservatives or dyes.
Pregnancy - Studies have not been done in humans. In studies
in rats and rabbits, chlortetracycline and tetracycline topical preparations
have not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems. However, studies
in rabbits have shown meclocycline to cause a slight delay in bone formation.
Breast-feeding - It is not known whether tetracycline topical preparations
pass into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small
amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who
are using any of these medicines and who wish to breast-feed should discuss
this with their doctor.
Children - Tetracycline topical solution has been tested on
a limited number of children 11 years of age or older and has not been shown
to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.
Although there is no specific information about the use of topical chlortetracycline
or topical meclocycline in children, they are not expected to cause different
side effects or problems in children than they do in adults.
Older adults - Many medicines have not been tested in older people.
Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they
do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in
older people. There is no specific information about the use of topical tetracyclines
in the elderly.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are using
topical tetracyclines, it is important that your health care professional
knows if you are using any other topical prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter
[OTC]) medicine that is to be applied to the same area of the skin.
|