Tetracycline
Tetracycline is an oral antibiotic which is used to treat various types of infections. These infections range from acne, cholera, brucellosis, plague, malaria, to syphilis. The antibiotic is commonly sold under the brand name of Sumycin, however, it is also available as a generic medication.
Some of the most common side effects can include vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and the loss of an appetite. Other side effects can include the poor development of teeth when used by children under eight, kidney issues, and an increased sensitivity to the sun. Tetracycline should not be used during pregnancy as it can cause harm to the baby. Tetracycline is included within the tetracyclines family of medications and works by blocking the ability for bacteria to create proteins.
In 1953 tetracycline was patented, but it came into commercial use in 1978. This antibiotic is included on the List of Essential Medicines created by the World Health Organization. Originally, tetracycline was created from Streptomyces bacteria.
Activity has also been observed by the tetracyclines against certain eukaryotic parasites, such as those which are responsible for diseases including dysentery from an amoeba, malaria, and balantidiasis.
With tetracycline being absorbed directly into the bone, it can be used as a marker of bone growth when a biopsy is being completed. Tetracycline labeling helps to determine how much bone growth has taken place within a certain period of time. The measurement time frame is typically 21 days. Because tetracycline is incorporated into mineralizing bone, it can be detected by its fluorescence. In double tetracycline labeling, a second dose of the antibiotic is provided about 11–14 days following the first dose. The amount of bone which is formed during this interval is calculated by measuring the distance between the two fluorescent labels.
Some of the side effects associated with tetracycline are summarized below:
- Consuming expired tetracyclines can result in fanconi syndrome
- Discolored permanent teeth which can occur from the prenatal period through childhood or adulthood. When children receive tetracycline, they may develop permanent brown tooth discoloration
- Drug-induced lupus and hepatitis
- Impact bone growth of the fetus and should be avoided during pregnancy
- Medication can be inactivated by calcium ions. It should not be consumed with milk, yogurt, or any other types of dairy products
- Medication can be inactivated by aluminum, iron, and zinc ions. It should not to be taken with indigestion remedies such as common antacids and over-the-counter heartburn medicine
- Microvesicular fatty liver
- Results in skin photosensitivity. Patients should avoid direct exposure to the sun or intense light
- Tinnitus
- While uncommon, it can result in complications with breathing and anaphylactic shock
The tetracyclines, a large group of antibiotics, were initially discovered in 1948 by Benjamin Minge Duggar as natural products. They were first prescribed that same year. The first tetracycline antibiotic, chlortetracycline, was first discovered in 1945.
In 1950, the Harvard University professor R.B. Woodward collaborated with a group at Pfizer to determine the chemical structure of the related substance, oxytetracycline or Terramycin. The patent protection for the fermentation and production of the substance was also issued that year,
The following brand names are commonly used to market tetracycline: Sumycin, Tetracyn, and Panmycin. Actisite is a thread-like fiber formula which is commonly used in the dental field.