Tetracycline ointment is an antibiotic with a wide spectrum of action from the group of tetracyclines, which has a bacteriostatic effect.
Many people know the drug well. Its main advantages are high efficiency and low cost.
Consider the instructions for applying to it in more detail.
What is the composition of the drug?
The main active ingredient in the composition of the drug is tetracycline in a concentration of 1% or 3%.
In the composition of the eye ointment (1 percent), lanolin and petrolatum are additionally added. You can find it on sale in aluminum tubes of 3, 7 or 10 g.
In a 3% ointment, Vaseline, ceresin, lanolin, paraffin and sodium disulfite act as auxiliary substances. It can be purchased in tubes of 5, 10, 30 and 50 g.
Instructions for use with ocular tetracycline ointment are very detailed.
Pharmacological effect of the drug
The drug "Tetracycline" is an antibiotic active against Chlamydia spp., Rickettsia spp., Spirochaetaceae, Mycoplasma spp., As well as gram-negative bacteria Bordetella pertussis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spppp., Salmon bacteria ,pppp. Salmon .pppp. Salmon. , Shigella spp., Aerobic gram-positive bacteria Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. (including penicillinase causing strains).
Tetracycline is not effective against Proteus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia spp., Most fungi and small viruses, as well as many strains of Bacteroides fragilis and group A beta-hemolytic streptococci.
The bacteriostatic effect of the antibiotic is achieved by suppressing the formation of pathogen protein at the level of ribosomes.
Indications for the use of a drug
Tetracycline ointment is used to combat various skin diseases. The tool effectively treats acne, purulent inflammation of the epidermis (furunculosis), folliculitis (inflammatory processes of the hair follicles), inflammation of the epidermis with microbial infection, trophic ulcers, streptostaphyloderma. Also, a 3 percent ointment can serve as a disinfectant and wound healing agent.
1% tetracycline ointment is used for infectious diseases of the eye (barley, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, trachoma).
How to use the drug
The method of use and the frequency of use of tetracycline ointment depend on the disease.
Ophthalmic ointment for conjunctivitis and other infections of the eyes is placed with a sterile cotton swab in the conjunctival sac and neatly distributed with massaging movements on the outside of the eyelid. Apply ointment should be three to five times a day, a course of five to seven days.
For the treatment of skin pathologies, the ointment is applied to the affected areas once or twice a day. A sterile dressing can be applied on top, which must be changed every 12-24 hours. The duration of therapy is from several days to three weeks.
If the tool is used to get rid of acne, then it must be applied pointwise.
Side effects
Most often, the use of tetracycline ointment causes local allergic reactions, manifested in the form of itching, redness or burning. In this case, you should refuse to use the drug.
General reactions of the body are also possible, such as a lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting, pain in the abdomen, constipation, diarrhea, inflammation of the tongue and esophagus. Quincke's edema and increased skin sensitivity to sunlight rarely occur. Prolonged use of the drug can cause candidiasis, dysbiosis, lack of B vitamins, a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood, anemia.
The use of tetracycline ointment for the eyes usually does not have undesirable side effects. In rare cases, reactions similar to the side effects of tetracycline treatment of skin diseases may occur. Allergies, Quincke's edema, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea are possible.
Manifestations of hypersensitivity to the drug and the occurrence of adverse reactions require the cessation of the use of this drug. If necessary, another antibiotic of a similar action can be prescribed.
Is ocular tetracycline ointment always indicated?
Contraindications
The drug can not be used for health problems such as impaired liver function, decreased white blood cells, mycotic (fungal) diseases, increased individual sensitivity to the active substance or auxiliary components. Also, tetracycline ointment is not prescribed for women in late pregnancy (third trimester) and children under eight years of age.
Pregnancy and lactation
Tetracycline ointment 3% is not recommended for use during the last trimester of pregnancy, as well as during breastfeeding. This is due to the ability of tetracycline to penetrate the placental barrier and cause tooth enamel hypoplasia and discoloration, as well as inhibit the growth and development of bones of the skeleton of the fetus and cause fatty liver.
Ointment 1% for the treatment of eye diseases is permissible to use only as prescribed by the doctor after a special analysis. The patient gives a bacterial culture to determine the pathogenic microflora and establish its sensitivity to antibiotics. Tetracycline ointment is indicated for use only if the bacteria are not sensitive to other antibiotics. The potential risk for the unborn child, the gestational age and duration of treatment are also taken into account.
When using the product (even for the intended purpose and under the supervision of a physician), it is important to exercise caution, since tetracycline can disrupt the mineralization of bone tissue, which interferes with the normal development of the skeleton. Therefore, the drug should be used only as a last resort, if the intended benefits to the health of the mother outweigh the possible risks. For example, the use of the drug is justified for conjunctivitis, which causes a bacterial infection in a weakened female body.
Consider what else the instruction for tetracycline ointment reports?
What is the shelf life and method of storage of the drug
When closed, this medication can be stored in jars for no more than two years, and a printed aluminum tube for about 3 months. The most comfortable conditions for storage are rooms with an air temperature of no higher than 20 degrees. It is best to keep the ointment in the refrigerator. But the expiration date should be strictly monitored.
Drug interaction
Tetracycline hydrochloride, reacting with ions of iron, calcium and other metals, forms poorly soluble complex compounds with them, therefore it is contraindicated to use the drug simultaneously with iron preparations, medicines containing magnesium, calcium and aluminum salts, as well as dairy products.
Also, the drug should not be used in conjunction with other local agents intended for the treatment of eye diseases.
The tool is strictly forbidden to be used simultaneously with antibacterial drugs from the penicillin series.
Also, do not use tetracycline ointment during treatment with antacids and in combination with colestyramine or colestipol, since these substances accelerate the absorption of the antibiotic.
When combined with oleandomycin and erythromycin, the therapeutic effect is mutually enhanced.
Drug overdose
To date, there have been no cases of an overdose of tetracycline ointment for the eyes.
The product is stored in a dark, cool place for no more than two months after opening. The shelf life of the drug is 2 years from the date of manufacture.
Analogs
The only structural analogue of a drug with the same active substance is the drug "Tetracycline".
There are several drugs that are similar to tetracycline ointment in pharmacological action, for example, Gentamicin, Colbiocin, Levomycetin, Torbeks.
Recommendations for use
This medication is not contraindicated when wearing contact lenses. However, experts recommend that they be used only an hour after the introduction of tetracycline ointment. Information on the effectiveness of the drug while taking alcoholic beverages is not available.
Against eye infections in newborns
Ointment 1% in some cases is used to treat ophthalmic diseases in newborns. The decision on the appropriateness of using this tool for a child is made only by the attending pediatrician, having previously excluded the hypersensitivity of the child's body to the components of the composition. The doctor determines the dosage, treatment regimen and its duration.
We reviewed the instructions for ophthalmic tetracycline ointment.
Reviews
The tool is very popular. About tetracycline ointment, you can find many positive reviews.
Patients rarely report unpleasant adverse reactions. Many people note the rapid onset of the positive effect of using the drug. It is often used to treat skin and eye diseases. Usually, one percent ointment is used in this way. In addition, sometimes it is used as a veterinary drug. Also noted is the low cost of tetracycline ointment, which is its undoubted advantage.
The only drawback of the drug, according to patients, is its pronounced unpleasant odor.