tetracycline
Brand names: Sumycin
Tetracycline is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacteria in your body to treat different types of infections.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.53/unit
Generic Available
Yes (5 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Tetracycline treats many kinds of infections caused by bacteria.
Common side effects
Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
Key warnings
Tetracycline can cause permanent tooth discoloration if used during tooth development.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Take tetracycline exactly as your doctor tells you. The usual dose for adults is 500 mg twice a day or 250 mg four times a day. Swallow the capsules with plenty of water to prevent irritation of your throat. Avoid taking tetracycline with food, dairy products, antacids, or iron supplements, as they can reduce how well your body absorbs the medicine.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take two doses at once.
Storage
Store tetracycline at room temperature, between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C), away from light and moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 1,131 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 741 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
741
Death-Related Reports
199
Hospitalization Reports
268
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OFF LABEL USE | 213 |
| 2 | DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY | 151 |
| 3 | HYPERSENSITIVITY | 123 |
| 4 | PNEUMONIA | 103 |
| 5 | INTENTIONAL PRODUCT USE ISSUE | 97 |
| 6 | PAIN IN EXTREMITY | 93 |
| 7 | ARTHRALGIA | 90 |
| 8 | MOBILITY DECREASED | 89 |
| 9 | NECK PAIN | 88 |
| 10 | HEPATITIS | 84 |
| 11 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 83 |
| 12 | VOMITING | 83 |
| 13 | URTICARIA | 82 |
| 14 | FALL | 81 |
| 15 | MUSCULAR WEAKNESS | 81 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
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, s...
Mechanism: This antibiotic does not significantly change how fast your liver breaks down theophylline, so the drug levels in your blood should stay the same.
What to do: No dose adjustment is usually needed, but your doctor may still monitor your blood levels to ensure they stay in a safe range.
Drug Interactions Because tetracyclines have been shown to depress plasma prothrombin activity, patients who are on anticoagulant therapy may require downward adjustment of their anticoagulant dosage. Since bacteriostatic drugs may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillin, it is advisable to avoid giving tetracyclines in conjunction with penicillin. Absorption of tetracyclines is impaired by antacids containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium, and iron-containing preparations.
Mechanism: Both of these medicines belong to the same family of antibiotics, which can increase the risk of side effects without helping you get better faster.
What to do: Avoid taking these two antibiotics together unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Drug Interactions Because tetracyclines have been shown to depress plasma prothrombin activity, patients who are on anticoagulant therapy may require downward adjustment of their anticoagulant dosage. Since bacteriostatic drugs may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillin, it is advisable to avoid giving tetracyclines in conjunction with penicillin. Absorption of tetracyclines is impaired by antacids containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium, and iron-containing preparations.
Mechanism: These drugs are very similar and work in the same way, so taking them together can lead to too much medicine in your system and more side effects.
What to do: Check with your doctor or pharmacist before using these two medications at the same time.
Drug Interactions Because tetracyclines have been shown to depress plasma prothrombin activity, patients who are on anticoagulant therapy may require downward adjustment of their anticoagulant dosage. Since bacteriostatic drugs may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillin, it is advisable to avoid giving tetracycline-class drugs in conjunction with penicillin. Absorption of tetracyclines is impaired by antacids containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium, and iron-containing preparations.
Mechanism: Both of these medications are in the same antibiotic family and work the same way. Taking them together increases the risk of side effects without helping to fight the infection any better.
What to do: Avoid taking these two antibiotics at the same time. Your doctor should prescribe only one medication from this class.
Absorption of tetracyclines is impaired by antacids containing aluminum, calcium or magnesium and preparations containing iron, zinc, or sodium bicarbonate.
Mechanism: Zinc can bind to the antibiotic in your stomach and prevent it from being soaked up by your body. This makes the antibiotic less effective at fighting infections.
What to do: Do not take these two products at the same time. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you how many hours to wait between doses.
Common Questions
Can I take tetracycline with food?
What should I do if I experience stomach upset while taking tetracycline?
Can tetracycline affect my birth control?
How long should I take tetracycline?
Can I drink alcohol while taking tetracycline?
What if I am allergic to tetracycline?
Can tetracycline cause yeast infections?
Does tetracycline interact with other medications?
What happens if I take too much tetracycline?
Can tetracycline make me more sensitive to the sun?
What are the common side effects of tetracycline?
Does tetracycline interact with other medications?
What drug class is tetracycline?
Is tetracycline safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Tetracycline Antibiotic
Other drugs grouped near tetracycline — same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
Compare with tetracycline →
amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
Compare with tetracycline →
amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with tetracycline →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with tetracycline →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Compare with tetracycline →
Medication Guides
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Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
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Common Drug Interactions
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Related Health & Safety Data
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What the FDA Data Shows for tetracycline
The FDA label for tetracycline (sold under brand names such as Sumycin) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Tetracycline Antibiotic class. Tetracycline treats many kinds of infections caused by bacteria. Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 1,131 voluntary reports. The database also lists 12 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.53.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: June 19, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages