Tetracycline
Tetracycline is an antibiotic used for bacterial infections including those spread by ticks and mites, and for acne. Sold as Sumycin 250mg and 500mg capsules and Tetracycline 500mg capsules.
Tetracycline
Tetracycline
500mg
Tetracycline 500mg capsules are an antibiotic used for acne and for some bacterial chest and urinary tract infections, sold in packs of 60 or 90 capsules.
What tetracycline is used for
Tetracycline is one of the older antibiotics still in everyday use, and it is used for a wide range of bacterial infections: chest and respiratory infections, urinary infections, skin infections, and infections carried by ticks, lice and mites. It also treats chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections. Acne that has not settled with creams and washes is another common reason people are given it. Colds and flu are not on the list — those are viral, and antibiotics do nothing for them.
How tetracycline works
Tetracycline jams the protein-making machinery inside bacteria. Without new proteins they cannot grow or divide, and the immune system deals with what remains. It halts growth rather than killing outright, so the level in the body has to be kept up, which is why doses come two to four times a day instead of once. In acne it does double duty: fewer bacteria in blocked pores, and less of the skin oil they live on.
Milk, antacids and iron
A capsule works best on an empty stomach with a full glass of water, at least an hour before or two hours after a meal or snack. Dairy is the classic problem: the calcium in milk, yoghurt and cheese binds tetracycline in the gut into a compound the body cannot take up, and antacids, magnesium, iron and zinc do the same. Leave several hours between any of those and a dose. Capsules are swallowed whole.
Two capsule products
Both products are plain tetracycline in capsule form, so the choice comes down to strength. Sumycin comes in 250mg and 500mg capsules; Tetracycline comes as 500mg capsules. Both sit in antibiotics and in skin care, because the same medicine is bought for infections and for acne, and the 250mg capsule is there when a lower dose is wanted.
Side effects and clashes
Upset stomach is the usual complaint: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and a sore throat, sometimes itching around the anus or vagina, or a swollen, black or hairy tongue. Skin burns more easily in sunlight, so cover up and use sunscreen. A few reactions are serious: a swollen face, lips or throat with difficulty breathing; unusual bleeding or bruising; stiff or swollen joints; headache with blurred or double vision, or vision loss. Isotretinoin and other vitamin A-type acne medicines taken alongside tetracycline can raise the pressure inside the skull, and tetracycline can strengthen warfarin. It permanently stains developing teeth, so it is not used in pregnancy or in children under eight, and it can make lupus (an immune-system condition that affects skin, joints and kidneys) and kidney disease worse. Keep the pack out of warm, damp places, and bin capsules that are past their date.
Sources
- Tetracycline: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Medicines containing the active ingredient tetracycline hydrochloride - (emc) — UK Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC)
Where can I order Tetracycline for delivery in Hong Kong?
Tetracycline can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The range here is Sumycin (250/500mg capsules) and Tetracycline (500mg capsules). Tracked courier delivery to Hong Kong takes 5 to 9 business days and comes with online tracking.
What is the price of Tetracycline?
Each of the two tetracycline products has its own price per pack, shown on its page in HKD or your selected currency; larger packs usually cost less per unit.
Do I need a prescription to order Tetracycline?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order tetracycline. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What is another name for tetracycline?
Sumycin is a brand name of tetracycline, which is also sold as Achromycin. Here, tetracycline can be bought online as generic Sumycin and tetracycline capsules. These are generics, not the original brand.
Is Sumycin the same as tetracycline?
Yes — Sumycin is a brand name for tetracycline, the same antibiotic in the same capsule form. The difference is what is on offer here: Sumycin comes in 250mg and 500mg capsules, while the product simply named Tetracycline is sold as 500mg capsules only.
How long is a course of tetracycline?
It depends on what is being treated. A course for a bacterial infection usually runs from several days to a couple of weeks, while acne is treated for weeks or months. Symptoms often ease before the last capsule, but the course is usually taken to the end so surviving bacteria do not regroup.
What is the difference between tetracycline and doxycycline?
They are separate antibiotics in the same family, and both work by stopping bacteria from making proteins. Doxycycline is taken once or twice a day and is less affected by food and minerals; tetracycline is taken more often and needs an empty stomach with dairy, antacids, iron and zinc kept well apart.
Does tetracycline stop the contraceptive pill working?
No. Only enzyme-inducing antibiotics such as rifampicin make the pill, patch or ring less reliable, and tetracycline is not one of them. Vomiting or severe diarrhoea around the time a pill is due is a different matter, because the pill may not be absorbed.
Does tetracycline work for colds and flu?
No. Colds and flu are caused by viruses and tetracycline acts only on bacteria, so it cannot shorten them. Using an antibiotic when it is not needed also encourages bacteria to become resistant, which makes later infections harder to treat.