Demeclocycline (By mouth)

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using an anticoagulant medicine, such as warfarin (Coumadin®). Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using penicillin or penicillin-based medicine, such as amoxicillin (Amoxil®), amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augumentin®), Trimox®, or Veetids®.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also taking antacids containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium. Examples of these medicines include aluminum carbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, milk of magnesia, Basalgel®, Gaviscon®, Maalox®, Pepcid®, Pepto-Bismol®, Rolaids®, or Tums®.

Introduction

Demeclocycline (dem-e-kloe-SYE-kleen)

Treats infections caused by certain microorganisms.

Brand Name(s)

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

How to Use This Medicine

Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• Keep using this medicine for the full treatment time, even if you feel better after the first few doses. Your infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon.
• It is best to take this medicine on an empty stomach. Take your medicine one hour before you eat, or two hours after you eat.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Warnings While Using This Medicine

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding, or if you have kidney problems. Make sure your doctor knows if you have a history of diabetes insipidus (water diabetes), or if your skin or eyes are overly sensitive to sunlight. Make sure your doctor knows if you have syphilis.
• Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.
• Birth control pills may not work while you are using this medicine. To keep from getting pregnant, use another form of birth control. Other forms include condoms, a diaphragm, or contraceptive foam or jelly.
• You could get a serious sunburn while using this medicine. Carefully follow all instructions from your doctor.
• Stay out of the sunlight while you are taking this medicine. This includes avoiding sunlight that comes in through a window. Also be aware that even when the sky is cloudy, the UV light can still reach your skin. If you must be in the sun, wear clothing that covers all of your skin. This includes sunglasses, a hat, and gloves. You can also apply sunscreen that has a SPF (sun protection factor) of greater than 15.
• If you have severe diarrhea, ask your doctor before taking any medicine to stop the diarrhea.
• Your doctor may need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Blurred vision.
• Chest pain.
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
• Feeling unusually tired or weak, or unusually thirsty.
• Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and body aches.
• Headache.
• Increase in how much or how often you urinate.
• Lightheadedness or dizziness.
• Loss of appetite.
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that may contain blood.
• Pain, redness, or swelling of your tongue.
• Ringing in your ears.
• Skin rash or redness.
• Sores near your anus.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088