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In this Article

• What is demeclocycline (Declomycin)?
• What are the possible side effects of demeclocycline (Declomycin)?
• What is the most important information I should know about demeclocycline (Declomycin)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking demeclocycline (Declomycin)?
• How should I take demeclocycline (Declomycin)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Declomycin)?
• What happens if I overdose (Declomycin)?
• What should I avoid while taking demeclocycline (Declomycin)?
• What other drugs will affect demeclocycline (Declomycin)?
• Where can I get more information?

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking demeclocycline (Declomycin)?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to demeclocycline, or to similar medicines such as doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn, Vectrin), or tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap).

Before taking demeclocycline, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease. You may not be able to take demeclocycline, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during therapy.

If you are using demeclocycline to treat gonorrhea, your doctor may test you to make sure you do not also have syphilis, another sexually transmitted disease.

FDA pregnancy category D. This medication can cause harm to an unborn baby, including permanent discoloration of the teeth later in life. Do not use demeclocycline without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Demeclocycline can make birth control pills less effective. Use a non-hormonal method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while you are taking demeclocycline.

Demeclocycline passes into breast milk and may affect bone and tooth development in a nursing infant. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Children younger than 8 years old should not take demeclocycline. Demeclocycline can cause permanent tooth discoloration and can also affect a child's growth.

How should I take demeclocycline (Declomycin)?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take demeclocycline with a full glass of water (8 ounces).

Take this medication on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.

Do not take demeclocycline with milk or other dairy products, unless your doctor has told you to. Dairy products can make it harder for your body to absorb the medicine.

Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Demeclocycline will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu. Do not give this medicine to another person, even if they have the same condition you have.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking demeclocycline. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Throw away any unused demeclocycline when it expires or when it is no longer needed. Do not take any demeclocycline after the expiration date printed on the label. Using expired demeclocycline can cause damage to your kidneys.

Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.