Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%

Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% is a bacteriostatic broad-spectrum antibiotic, active against a wide variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms.

Infections caused by Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%-sensitive organisms include:

1) Respiratory tract infections: Pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections due to susceptible strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae and other organisms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. Treatment of chronic bronchitis (including the prophylaxis of acute exacerbations) and whooping cough.

2) Urinary tract infections: Caused by susceptible strains of the Klebsiella species. Enterobacter species, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis and other organisms.

3) Sexually transmitted diseases: Infections due to Chlamydia trachomatis including uncomplicated urethral, endocervical or rectal infections. Non-gonococcal urethritis caused by Ureaplasma urealyticum. Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% is also indicated in chancroid, granuloma inguinale and lymphogranuloma venereum.

Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% is an alternative drug in the treatment of penicillin resistant gonorrhoea and syphilis.

4) Skin Infections: Acne vulgaris when antibiotic therapy is considered necessary and severe rosacea.

5) Ophthalmic infections: Trachoma, although the infectious agent, as judged by immunofluorescence, is not always eliminated. Inclusion conjunctivitis may be treated with oral Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% alone or in combination with topical agents.

6) Rickettsial infections: Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus group, Q fever and Coxiella endocarditis and tick fevers.

7) Other infections: Stagnant loop syndrome. Psittacosis, brucellosis (in combination with streptomycin), cholera, bubonic plague, louse and tick-borne relapsing fever, tularaemia, glanders, melioidosis and acute intestinal amoebiasis (as an adjunct to amoebicides).

Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% is an alternative drug in the treatment of leptospirosis, gas-gangrene and tetanus.

Posology

Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% should be given one hour before or two hours after meals, since food and some dairy products interfere with absorption. Therapy should be continued for up to three days after symptoms have subsided.

All infections due to Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci should be treated for at least 10 days.

Adults (including the elderly) and children over 12 years: The minimum recommended dosage is 250mg every six hours. Therapeutic levels are attained more rapidly by the administration of 500mg initially, followed by 250mg every six hours. For severe infections, the dosage may be increased to 500mg every six hours.

Children under 12 years: Contraindicated in this age group.

Elderly: Usual adult dose. Caution should be observed as subclinical renal insufficiency may lead to drug accumulation.

Renal impairment: In general Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%s are contraindicated in renal impairment and the dosing recommendations only apply if use of this class of drug is deemed absolutely essential. Total dosage should be decreased by reduction of recommended individual doses and/or by extending time intervals between doses.

Dosage recommendations in specific infections:

Skin infections: 250-500mg daily in single or divided doses should be administered for at least three months in the treatment of acne vulgaris and severe rosacea.

Streptococcal infections: A therapeutic dose of Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% should be administered for at least 10 days.

Brucellosis: 500mg Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% four times daily accompanied by streptomycin.

Sexually transmitted diseases: 500mg four times daily for seven days is recommended in the following infections: Uncomplicated gonococcal infections (except anorectal infections in man); uncomplicated urethral, endocervical or rectal infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis; non-gonococcal urethritis caused by Ureaplasma urealyticum. Acute epididymo-orchitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, or Neisseria gonorrhoea, 500mg four times daily for 10 days. Primary and secondary syphilis: 500mg four times daily for 15 days. Syphilis of more than one year's duration, (latent syphilis of uncertain or more than one year's duration, cardiovascular or late benign syphilis) except neurosyphilis, should be treated with 500mg, four times daily for 30 days. Patient compliance with this regimen may be difficult so care should be taken to encourage optimal compliance. Close follow-up including laboratory tests, is recommended.

Method of Administration

For oral administration.

- Chronic renal/hepatic dysfunction;

- Renal impairment, particularly if severe;

- Systemic lupus erythematosus;

- Children under 12 years ;

- Pregnancy and breastfeeding women.

- Benign intracranial hypertension has been reported following the concomitant use of Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%s and Vitamin A or retinoids and therefore concurrent use should be contraindicated.

- Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% drugs may cause permanent tooth discolouration (yellow-grey-brown), if administered during tooth development, in the last half of pregnancy and in infancy up to twelve years of age. Enamel hypoplasia has also been reported. This adverse reaction is more common during long-term use of the drug but has been observed following repeated short-term courses.

- The anti-anabolic action of Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%s may cause an increase in BUN. While this is not a problem in those with normal renal function, in patients with significantly impaired renal function, higher serum levels of Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% may lead to azotaemia, hyperphosphataemia and acidosis.

- When treating venereal disease, where co-existent syphilis is suspected, proper diagnostic procedures should be utilised. In all such cases, monthly serological tests should be made for at least four months.

- The use of antibiotics may occasionally result in the overgrowth of nonsusceptible organisms including Candida. Constant observation of the patients is essential. If a resistant organism appears, the antibiotic should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted.

- Diarrhoea, particularly if severe, persistent and/or bloody, during or after treatment (including several weeks after treatment) with Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% tablets, may be symptomatic of Clostridium difficile- associated disease (CDAD). CDAD may range in severity from mild to life threatening, the most severe form of which is pseudomembranous colitis. It is therefore important to consider this diagnosis in patients who develop serious diarrhoea during or after treatment with Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% tablets. If CDAD is suspected or confirmed Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% tablets should be stopped immediately and appropriate therapy initiated without delay. Anti-peristaltic drugs are contraindicated in this clinical situation.

- In longterm therapy, periodic laboratory evaluation of organ systems, including haematopoietic, renal and hepatic studies should be performed.

- High doses of Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%s have been associated with a syndrome involving fatty liver degeneration and pancreatitis.

- The use of Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% in general is contraindicated in renal impairment due to excessive systemic accumulation and used with caution in patients with hepatic impairment or those receiving drugs which may have hepatotoxic effects; high doses should be avoided.

- Photosensitivity reactions may occur in hypersensitive persons and such patients should be warned to avoid direct exposure to natural or artificial sunlight and to discontinue therapy at the first sign of skin discomfort.

- SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) can be exacerbated by the use of Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%s.

- Care is advised when administered to patients with myasthenia gravis.

Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% tablets contain sunset yellow (E110), which can cause allergic - type reactions.

None known.

The following convention has been utilised for the classification of frequency. Very common (> 1/10); common( > 1/100 and < 1/10); uncommon (> 1/1000 and < 1/100); rare (> 1/10,000 and < 1/1000); very rare (< 1/10,000); Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Infections and infestations:

Frequency not known: overgrowth of resistant organisms (Candida albicans, in particular); this may cause glossitis, stomatitis, pseudomembranous colitis (Clostridium difficile overgrowth), enterocolitis (caused by resistant staphylococci), rectal and vaginal irritation, inflammatory lesions (with candidial overgrowth) in the anogenital regions

Blood and lymphatic system disorders:

Rare: haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, eosinophilia, agranulocytosis, aplastic anaemia.

Immune system disorders:

Frequency not known: hypersensitivity reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, angioedema, toxic epidermal necrolysis, urticaria, anaphylaxis, anaphylactoid purpura, pericarditis, and exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus , fixed drug eruptions, exfoliative dermatitis.

Endocrine disorders:

Frequency not known: brown-black microscopic discolouration of thyroid tissue. No abnormalities of thyroid function are known to occur.

Nervous system disorders:

Frequency not known: headache.

Eye disorders:

Frequency not known: visual disturbances, permanent visual loss.

Vascular disorders:

Frequency not known: bulging fontanelles in infants; benign intracranial hypertension in juveniles and adults. Presenting features were headache, dizziness, tinnitus and visual disturbances including blurring of vision, scotomata and diplopia. Treatment should cease if evidence of raised intracranial pressure develops.

Gastrointestinal disorders:

Rare: dysphagia, oesophagitis and oesophageal ulceration (most of these patients took medication immediately before going to bed)

Frequency not known: gastrointestinal irritations, nausea, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia, pancreatitis, permanent tooth discolouration and enamel hypoplasia in children. Tooth discolouration has also been seen in adults. If gastric irritation occurs, tablets should be taken with food.

Hepatobiliary disorders:

Rare: transient increases in liver function tests, hepatitis, jaundice, hepatic failure.

Frequency not known: hepatotoxicity associated with fatty liver.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:

Frequency not known: erythematous and maculo-papular rashes, photosensitivity (Patients exposed to direct sunlight or ultraviolet light should be advised to discontinue treatment if any skin reaction occurs), pruritis, bullous dermatoses, skin discolouration.

Musculoskeletal, connective tissue and bone disorders:

Frequency not known: increased muscle weakness in patients with myasthenia gravis.

Renal & urinary disorders:

Rare: acute renal failure, nephritis.

Frequency not known: raised serum urea, renal dysfunction, especially in patients with pre-existing renal impairment.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme; website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

Symptoms

- There may be nausea and vomiting.

- Crystalluria and haematuria may occur following very large doses.

- Hypersensitivity reactions may occur.

Treatment

There is no specific antidote.

- Gastric decontamination is not necessary.

- Give oral fluids for severe vomiting and diarrhoea if required.

- Manage anaphylaxis reactions conventionally.

- Single brief convulsions do not require treatment. If frequent or prolonged control with intravenous diazepam or lorazepam.

- General symptomatic therapy as indicated by the patient's clinical condition.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% hydrochloride is a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic.

ATC code: D06AA04

Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%s are taken up into sensitive bacterial cells by an active transport process. Once within the cell they bind reversibly to the 30S subunit of the ribosome, preventing the binding of aminoacyl transfer RNA and inhibiting protein synthesis and hence cell growth. Although Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%s also inhibit protein synthesis in mammalian cells they are not actively taken up, permitting selective effects on the infecting organism.

Absorption

Most Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%s are incompletely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, about 60-80% of a dose of Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% usually being available. The degree of absorption is diminished by the presence of divalent and trivalent metal ions with which Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%s form stable insoluble complexes and to a variable degree by milk or food. Formulation with phosphate may enhance the absorption of Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%.

Plasma concentrations will depend upon the degree of absorption. Administration of Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% 500mg every 6 hours generally produces steady-state concentrations of 4-5µg/ml. Peak plasma concentrations occur about 1-3 hours after ingestion. Higher concentrations can be achieved after intravenous administration; concentrations may be higher in women than in men.

Distribution

In the circulation 20-65% of Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% is bound to plasma proteins.

They are widely distributed throughout the body tissues and fluids. Concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid are relatively low, but may be raised if the meninges are inflamed. Small amounts appear in saliva, and the fluids of the eye and lung. Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%s appear in the milk of nursing mothers where concentrations may be 60% or more of those in the plasma. They diffuse across the placenta and appear in the foetal circulation in concentrations of about 25 to 75% of those in the maternal blood. Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%s are retained at sites of new bone formation and recent calcification and in developing teeth.

The Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%s have been classified in terms of their duration of action in the body, although the divisions appear to overlap somewhat.

Elimination

The Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%s are excreted in the urine and in the faeces. Renal clearance is by glomerular filtration. Up to 55% of a dose is eliminated unchanged in the urine; concentrations in the urine of up to 300µg/ml of Tetracycline eye's ointment 1% may be reached two hours after a usual dose is taken and be maintained for up to 12 hours. Urinary excretion is increased if urine is alkalinised. The Tetracycline eye's ointment 1%s are excreted in the bile where concentrations 5-25 times those in plasma can occur. Since there is some enterohepatic reabsorption complete elimination is slow. Considerable quantities occur in the faeces after administration.

Not applicable.

None known.

Not applicable.