omadacycline vs tetracycline
Side-by-side comparison of omadacycline and tetracycline Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Nuzyra
Sumycin
Nuzyra is an antibiotic medicine. It fights certain bacteria to treat infections.
Tetracycline is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacteria in your body to treat different types of infections.
Nuzyra treats community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP), a lung infection. It also treats acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). Use Nuzyra only to treat infections proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria. This helps reduce drug-resistant bacteria.
Tetracycline treats many kinds of infections caused by bacteria. This includes infections of the lungs, skin, urinary tract, and some sexually transmitted infections. It can also treat acne and other less common infections like brucellosis, tularemia, or cholera. Your doctor will decide if tetracycline is right for your infection.
Nuzyra is a tetracycline antibiotic. It stops bacteria from growing by interfering with their protein production. This helps your body fight off the infection.
Tetracycline works by stopping bacteria from growing and multiplying. It prevents the bacteria from making proteins they need to survive. This helps your body's immune system fight off the infection.
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Reactions where the IV was given
- • Increased liver enzyme levels
- • High blood pressure
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Diarrhea
- • Loss of appetite
- • Stomach upset
- Off Label Use 405
- Nausea 245
- Vomiting 152
- Drug Ineffective 113
- Diarrhoea 107
- Off Label Use 213
- Drug Hypersensitivity 151
- Hypersensitivity 123
- Pneumonia 103
- Intentional Product Use Issue 97
Nuzyra may cause an imbalance in the number of deaths in patients with pneumonia. The cause of this is not known, so your doctor will watch you closely. Nuzyra can also cause tooth discoloration and affect bone growth in children under 8 and unborn babies. Diarrhea can occur, so tell your doctor if you have diarrhea while taking Nuzyra.
Tetracycline can cause permanent tooth discoloration if used during tooth development. This means it should not be used in pregnant women or children under 8 years old. Tetracycline can also make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so avoid prolonged sun exposure.
Nuzyra can cause tooth discoloration and bone problems in unborn babies. Breastfeeding is not recommended while using Nuzyra.
Tetracycline can harm an unborn baby. You should not take tetracycline if you are pregnant. Tetracycline can also pass into breast milk and may affect the baby. Talk to your doctor about safe alternatives if you are breastfeeding.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
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How to Read This omadacycline vs tetracycline Comparison
omadacycline is classified in the Tetracycline Antibiotic drug class, while tetracycline sits within the Tetracycline Antibiotic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, omadacycline has 1,022 submissions while tetracycline has 687. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between omadacycline and tetracycline — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.