Minocycline Description

Generic Name : MINOCYCLINE

Pronunciation : (mi noe sye' kleen)

Trade Name(s) : Cynomycin

Why it is prescribed: Minocycline, an antibiotic, eliminates bacteria that cause pneumonia, acne, and infections of the bladder, central nervous system, eye, and prostate.

When it is to be taken: Follow the instructions on your prescription label, and ask your doctor to explain any part that you do not understand. Doses should be taken as far apart as possible throughout the day. For example, if your doctor tells you to take this drug twice a day, take a dose every 12 hours.

How it should be taken: Minocycline comes in the form of capsules, tablets, and oral liquid. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose. Minocycline should be taken on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after meals. Capsules and tablets should be taken with a full glass of water. Liquid minocycline should be shaken well before each use to mix the medication evenly. Liquid doses should be measured with a specially marked measuring spoon

Special Instruction :
1. Take all of the medication prescribed, even after the infection appears to have gone away. Failure to do so could allow the infection to return.
2. Minocycline may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate dangerous machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
3. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. If you have diabetes, minocycline can cause false results in some tests for sugar in the urine.
4. Check with your doctor before changing your diet or the dosage of your diabetes medicine.
5. Take minocycline at least one hour before or two hours after consuming dairy products such as milk and cheese.
6. Take it as soon as you remember and take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals.

Side Effects :
1. Nausea. Disregard the instruction to take this medication on an empty stomach. Take it with crackers or a snack, but no dairy products.
2. Skin rash, itching of the rectum or vagina, diarrhea. If any of these problems are severe or persist for longer than two days, contact your doctor.
3. Dizziness, drowsiness, darkening or black discoloration of the tongue. These problems will go away when you stop taking minocycline.
4. Unusual bleeding or bruising, painful mouth, throat sores, chills, fever. Contact your doctor.

Other Precautions :
1. If you have used all of the medication prescribed but still have symptoms, contact your doctor.
2. If your doctor tells you to stop taking minocycline, throw away any unused medication. Minocycline may lose its effectiveness and should not be saved to treat another infection.
3. Minocycline should not be taken by children under eight years of age, pregnant women, or women who are breast-feeding. Women who become pregnant while taking minocycline should inform their doctors.
4. Tell your doctor if you have liver disease or allergies. Because certain medications affect how the body responds to minocycline, they should not be taken at the same time.
5. Minocycline should be taken two hours before or three hours after iron preparations. It should be taken at least one hour before or two hours after antacids, laxatives, and calcium supplements.
6. Tell your doctor about all prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking.

Storage Conditions : Keep this medication in the container it came in and out of the reach of children. Store it, tightly closed, at room temperature.