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Other brands with the same active ingredient
These brands contain the same active ingredient (Tetracycline Hydrochloride). Strength and form may differ — confirm substitution with your doctor or pharmacist before switching.
Indications & Uses
Atron is indicated for:
Dosage Reference
Reference Information Only
Dosages shown are general references from official sources. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized dosing.
Adults:
Usual adult dosage is 250 mg or 500 mg every 6 hours by mouth, preferably taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Higher doses of up to 3 or 4 gm daily have occasionally been given in resistant infections. Specific dosage recommendations are as follows. Brucellosis: 500 mg every 6 hours for 3 weeks. Chlamydial infections: 500 mg every 6 hours for at least 2 weeks. Non-specific urethritis: 500 mg every 6 hours for 7 days. Severe acne: 1 gm per day for 2 to 3 weeks, followed by 1 capsule daily for 3 to 4 months. Gonorrhoea: an initial oral dose of 1.5 gm, followed by 500 mg every 6 hours for 4 days; the total dose should be 9 gm. Syphilis: 500 mg every 6 hours for 15 days, but therapy should be continued for 30 days if the disease has been present for longer than 1 year. Endocervical infections: 500 mg every 6 hours for 7 days. Children over 12 years of age: 25 to 50 mg/kg divided into 2 or 4 equal doses. The maximum dose should not exceed the recommended adult dose. Children below 12 years of age: not recommended. Administration: Tetracycline should be taken orally, an hour before or two hours after a meal, and therapy should be continued for up to three days after the characteristic symptoms of the infection have subsided. It should be used with caution in the treatment of elderly patients, in whom accumulation is a possibility.
Side Effects
Tetracycline can upset the digestive system, causing problems such as glossitis (inflamed tongue), stomatitis (sores in the mouth), vaginitis, or staphylococcal enterocolitis (a bowel infection). Sensitivity to sunlight and skin reactions are rare. Bulging of the soft spot on the head (fontanelle) in infants and benign intracranial hypertension (raised pressure inside the skull) in adults have been reported. If intracranial pressure rises, treatment should be stopped. Hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions may occur, including purpura (purple spots on the skin), pericarditis (inflammation of the lining around the heart), angioneurotic oedema (swelling under the skin), anaphylaxis, anaphylactoid purpura, and a flare-up of systemic lupus erythematosus. Haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia (low platelets), neutropenia (low white blood cells), and eosinophilia have also been reported.
Cautions & Contraindications
Warnings & Precautions
Absorption of tetracycline is reduced when it is taken together with milk, or with calcium, magnesium, iron and especially aluminium salts, which are commonly found in antacids. Tetracycline lowers plasma prothrombin activity, so patients taking anticoagulants at the same time may need a reduced anticoagulant dose. In patients with impaired kidney function, lower doses are indicated to prevent excessive build-up of the drug in the body, and if treatment is prolonged, serum level monitoring is advisable. Oral tetracycline taken alongside oral contraceptives or penicillins may make these less effective, and breakthrough bleeding may occur more often. It should be used only with great caution together with other drugs that can damage the liver.
Contraindications
Tetracycline should not be used by anyone with a known allergy to tetracycline, by people with significant kidney failure, by children under 12 years of age, or by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.