Vibramycin

• The Rickettsial Infections 
• Transmission of sexually transmitted diseases 
• Infections of the respiratory tract 
• Specific bacteria-related infection 
• Ophthalmic diseases 
• Anthrax Inhalational Anthrax (post-exposure)
• Alternative treatment for specific infections where penicillin is not recommended 
• Adjunctive treatment to treat acute intestinal amebiasis as well as extremely skin acne 
• Malaria prevention 

Tooth Development

• Use of the drugs in the tetracycline-class in the period of the development of teeth (last part of pregnancy, from infancy to childhood until the age of 8 years) could cause permanent discoloration of teeth (yellow-gray-brown). This type of reaction is more prevalent when the use is long-term. drugs, however, it has also been noticed following repeated short-term treatments. The condition of enamel hypoplasia is also documented. Use Vibramycinfor pediatric patients aged 8 years or less age or less, only if there are benefits that could be believed to outweigh the risk for life-threatening or severe circumstances (e.g. anthrax and Rocky Mountain spotted fever) in particular when there is no alternative treatment options.

Clostridium difficile Associated Diarrhea

• Clostridium difficile-related diarrhea (CDAD) has been identified by using nearly all antibacterial medications such as Vibramycin. The condition can be mild diarrhea to death from colitis. The treatment with antibacterial drugs alters the colon’s normal flora which can lead to an increase in C. difficile.
• C. difficile is a bacterium that produces toxin B and A that aid in developing CDAD. C. difficile that produces hyper toxin-producing strains C. difficile are associated with increased mortality and morbidity as the infections may be resistant to treatment with antibacterials and could necessitate colectomy. CDAD should be considered in any patient who presents with diarrhea after antibacterial treatment. A thorough medical history is required because CDAD is reported to develop over a period of two months following the treatment with antibacterial agents.
• In the event that CDAD can be confirmed as a possibility, any treatment with antibacterials that are not targeted at C. difficile might have to be stopped. The appropriate management of electrolytes and fluids, as well as protein supplementation for treatment for antibacterial infections of C. difficile as well as the need for surgical evaluation, must be implemented according to the clinical indications.

Photosensitivity

• The over-exaggerated sunburn reaction was observed in some people who are taking tetracyclines. Patients who are exposed to ultraviolet or direct sunlight must be aware that this reaction may be caused by tetracycline medications and should be stopped at the first indication for skin erythema.

Possibility of Microbial Overgrowth

• Vibramycin may result in the overgrowth of non-susceptible bacteria, such as fungi. If you notice any of these infections stop use and implement appropriate treatment.

Extreme skin reactions

• Severe skin reactions like exfoliative dermatitis Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, erythema multiform and toxic epidermal necrolysis, and eosinophilia as a drug reaction and other manifestations (DRESS) are observed in patients who receive Doxycycline. If skin reactions are severe it is recommended to stop doxycycline immediately and the appropriate therapy is implemented.

Intracranial Hypertension

• Intracranial hypertension (IH also known as pseudotumor cerebri) is associated with treatment with tetracyclines such as Vibramycin. Clinical signs of IH include blurred vision, headache diplopia, headache, and loss of vision; papilledema is seen on fundoscopy. Women that are obese or have a previous history of IH are at a higher risk of developing tetracycline-related IH. The use of isotretinoin in conjunction with Vibramycinmust be avoided as isotretinoin is also linked to the development of pseudotumor cerebri.
• While IH usually resolves following removal of treatment, the risk of permanent visual loss is present. If there is a visual disturbance in the course of treatment, an immediate ophthalmologic assessment is recommended. Because intracranial pressure is high for several weeks following discontinuation of medication, patients need to be observed until they settle.

 Delayed Skeletal Growth

• All tetracyclines are stable calcium complexes within any bone-forming tissue. A reduction in the growth rate is observed in premature who are given oral tetracycline at amounts of around 25 mg/kilogram every 6 hours. The reaction was found to be reversible after the drug was removed.
• Studies on animals have shown that tetracyclines pass through the placenta and are found in the fetal tissues and may have harmful effects on the growing fetus (often due to a delay in the development of the skeletal system). Evidence of embryotoxicity has been observed when animals are treated early in pregnancy. Tetracycline-class medications can cause harm to the fetus if used on pregnant women however, the data on the drug doxycycline is insufficient. If any tetracycline drug is taken during pregnancy or if a patient is pregnant while taking these medications, they must be informed of the risk to the fetus.

 Antianabolic Action

• The antianabolic effects of tetracyclines could result in an elevation in the number of BUN. Research has shown that this is not the case when doxycycline is used in patients suffering from impaired kidney function.

 Complete Suppression of Malaria

• Doxycycline provides significant but not complete suppression of sexual Blood stages in Plasmodium strains.
• Doxycycline doesn’t suppress P. falciparum’s gametocytes of the sexual blood stage. People who take this regimen could still transmit the disease to mosquitoes that are not in the endemic zones.

The Development of Drug-resistant Bacteria

• Prescription of Vibramycinwithout a documented or suspected bacterial infection or a prophylactic indication is not likely to bring benefits for the patient and may increase the chance of developing antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Laboratory Monitoring of Long-Term Therapy

• In the long-term treatment, regular examination of organ systems in the laboratory including hematopoietic and liver and renal studies must be conducted.

What do I do if I miss a dose?