tetracycline vs theophylline
Side-by-side comparison of tetracycline and theophylline. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
major Known Drug Interaction
albuterol, systemic and inhaled mebendazole amoxicillin medroxyprogesterone ampicillin, with or without sulbactam methylprednisolone atenolol metronidazole azithromycin metoprolol caffeine, dietary ingestion nadolol cefaclor nifedipine co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) nizatidine diltiazem norfloxacin dirithromycin ofloxacin enflurane omeprazole famotidine prednisone, prednisolone felodipine ranitidine finasteride rifabutin hydrocortisone roxithromycin isoflurane Sorbitol (purgative doses do not inhibit theophylline absorption) isoniazid sucralfate isradipine terbutaline,...
Recommendation: No dose adjustment is usually needed, but your doctor may still monitor your blood levels to ensure they stay in a safe range.
Sumycin
Theo-24, Elixophyllin
Tetracycline is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacteria in your body to treat different types of infections.
Theophylline is a medicine that helps you breathe easier. It treats the symptoms of asthma and other lung problems.
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.
Theophylline treats the symptoms of long-term asthma and other lung diseases. These include emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which make it hard to breathe. This medicine helps to open up your airways so you can breathe easier.
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.
Theophylline is a bronchodilator. It works by relaxing the muscles in your airways. This allows more air to flow in and out of your lungs.
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Diarrhea
- • Loss of appetite
- • Stomach upset
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Headache
- • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Drug Hypersensitivity 151
- Hypersensitivity 123
- Pneumonia 103
- Pain In Extremity 93
- Arthralgia 90
- Difficulty breathing 2,273
- Asthma 1,942
- Pneumonia 1,317
- Wheezing 1,306
- Vomiting 1,101
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.
If your theophylline levels get too high in your blood, it can cause serious side effects. These include severe vomiting, irregular heartbeats, and seizures. These can be life-threatening.
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.
It is not known if theophylline can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if theophylline passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This tetracycline vs theophylline Comparison
tetracycline is classified in the Tetracycline Antibiotic drug class, while theophylline sits within the Methylxanthine Bronchodilator class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. 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, tetracycline has 560 submissions while theophylline has 7,939. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known major interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to this antibiotic does not significantly change how fast your liver breaks down theophylline, so the drug levels in your blood should stay the same.. 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 tetracycline and theophylline - 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.