Tooth Development
THE USE OF DRUGS OF THE TETRACYCLINE CLASS DURING TOOTH DEVELOPMENT (LAST HALF
OF PREGNANCY, INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD TO THE AGE OF 8 YEARS) MAY CAUSE PERMANENT
DISCOLORATION OF THE TEETH (YELLOW-GRAY-BROWN). This adverse reaction is more
common during long-term use of the drugs but it has been observed following
repeated short-term courses. Enamel hypoplasia has also been reported. TETRACYCLINE
DRUGS, THEREFORE, SHOULD NOT BE USED IN THIS AGE GROUP, EXCEPT FOR ANTHRAX,
INCLUDING INHALATIONAL ANTHRAX (POST-EXPOSURE), UNLESS OTHER DRUGS ARE NOT LIKELY
TO BE EFFECTIVE OR ARE CONTRAINDICATED.
Pseudomembranous Colitis
Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with
use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including DORYX Tablets, and may range
in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Treatment with antibacterial
agents alters the normal flora of the colon leading to overgrowth of C. difficile.
C. difficile produces toxins A and B which contribute to the development
of CDAD. Hypertoxin producing strains of C. difficile cause increased
morbidity and mortality, as these infections can be refractory to antimicrobial
therapy and may require colectomy. CDAD must be considered in all patients who
present with diarrhea following antibiotic use. Careful medical history is necessary
since CDAD has been reported to occur over two months after the administration
of antibacterial agents.
If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, ongoing antibiotic use not directed against
C. difficile may need to be discontinued. Appropriate fluid and electrolyte
management, protein supplementation, antibiotic treatment of C .difficile
, and surgical evaluation should be instituted as clinically indicated.
Photosensitivity
Photosensitivity manifested by an exaggerated sunburn reaction has been observed
in some individuals taking tetracyclines. Patients apt to be exposed to direct
sunlight or ultraviolet light should be advised that this reaction can occur
with tetracycline drugs, and treatment should be discontinued at the first evidence
of skin erythema.
Superinfection
As with other antibiotic preparations, use of this drug may result in overgrowth
of nonsusceptible organisms, including fungi. If superinfection occurs, the
antibiotic should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted.
Benign Intracranial Hypertension
Bulging fontanels in infants and benign intracranial hypertension in adults
have been reported in individuals receiving tetracyclines. These conditions
disappeared when the drug was discontinued.
Growth and Development
All tetracyclines form a stable calcium complex in any bone-forming tissue.
A decrease in fibula growth rate has been observed in prematures given oral
tetracycline in doses of 25 mg/kg every six hours. This reaction was shown to
be reversible when the drug was discontinued.
Results of animal studies indicate that tetracyclines cross the placenta, are
found in fetal tissues, and can have toxic effects on the developing fetus (often
related to retardation of skeletal development). Evidence of embryotoxicity
also has been noted in animals treated early in pregnancy. If any tetracycline
is used during pregnancy or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking these
drugs, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus.
Antianabolic Action
The antianabolic action of the tetracyclines may cause an increase in BUN.
Studies to date indicate that this does not occur with the use of doxycycline
in patients with impaired renal function.
Incision and Drainage
Incision and drainage or other surgical procedures should be performed in conjunction
with antibiotic therapy, when indicated.
Malaria
Doxycycline offers substantial but not complete suppression of the asexual
blood stages of Plasmodium strains.
Doxycycline does not suppress P. falciparum's sexual blood stage gametocytes.
Subjects completing this prophylactic regimen may still transmit the infection
to mosquitoes outside endemic areas.
Development of Drug Resistant Bacteria
Prescribing DORYX in the absence of a proven or strongly suspected bacterial
infection or a prophylactic indication is unlikely to provide benefit to the
patient and increases the risk of the development of drug-resistant bacteria.
Syphilis Testing
In venereal disease when coexistent syphilis is suspected, dark-field examinations
should be done before treatment is started and the blood serology repeated monthly
for at least 4 months.
Laboratory Monitoring for Long-Term Therapy
In long-term therapy, periodic laboratory evaluation of organ systems, including
hematopoietic, renal, and hepatic studies should be performed.
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
Long-term studies in animals to evaluate carcinogenic potential of doxycycline
have not been conducted. However, there has been evidence of oncogenic activity
in rats in studies with the related antibiotics, oxytetracycline (adrenal and
pituitary tumors) and minocycline (thyroid tumors). Likewise, although mutagenicity
studies of doxycycline have not been conducted, positive results in in vitro
mammalian cell assays have been reported for related antibiotics (tetracycline,
oxytetracycline).
Doxycycline administered orally at dosage levels as high as 250 mg/kg/day had
no apparent effect on the fertility of female rats. Effect on male fertility
has not been studied.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Teratogenic Effects. Pregnancy Category D
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies on the use of doxycycline
in pregnant women. The vast majority of reported experience with doxycycline
during human pregnancy is short-term, first trimester exposure. There are no
human data available to assess the effects of long-term therapy of doxycycline
in pregnant women such as that proposed for the treatment of anthrax exposure.
An expert review of published data on experiences with doxycycline use during
pregnancy by TERIS - the Teratogen Information System - concluded that therapeutic
doses during pregnancy are unlikely to pose a substantial teratogenic risk (the
quantity and quality of data were assessed as limited to fair), but the data
are insufficient to state that there is no risk.1
A case-control study (18,515 mothers of infants with congenital anomalies and
32,804 mothers of infants with no congenital anomalies) shows a weak but marginally
statistically significant association with total malformations and use of doxycycline
anytime during pregnancy. Sixty-three (0.19%) of the controls and 56 (0.30%)
of the cases were treated with doxycycline. This association was not seen when
the analysis was confined to maternal treatment during the period of organogenesis
(i.e., in the second and third months of gestation) with the exception of a
marginal relationship with neural tube defect based on only two-exposed cases.2
A small prospective study of 81 pregnancies describes 43 pregnant women treated
for 10 days with doxycycline during early first trimester. All mothers reported
their exposed infants were normal at 1 year of age.3
Nonteratogenic effects
[See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Nursing Mothers
Tetracyclines are excreted in human milk, however, the extent of absorption
of tetracyclines including doxycycline, by the breastfed infant is not known.
Short-term use by lactating women is not necessarily contraindicated; however,
the effects of prolonged exposure to doxycycline in breast milk are unknown.4
Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from
doxycycline, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to
discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the
mother. [See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS.]
Pediatric use
Because of the effects of drugs of the tetracycline class on tooth development
and growth, DORYX should not be used in pediatric patients to the age of 8 years,
except for inhalational anthrax (post-exposure), unless other drugs are not
likely to be effective or are contraindicated. [See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION.]
Geriatric use
Clinical studies of DORYX did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged
65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects.
Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses
between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an
elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing
range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac
function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.
DORYX 75 mg tablets contain 4.5 mg (0.196 mEq) of sodium.
DORYX 100 mg tablets contain 6 mg (0.261 mEq) of sodium.
DORYX 150 mg tablets contain 9 mg (0.392 mEq) of sodium.
Renal Impairment
Administration of doxycycline at the usual recommended dose does not result
in excessive accumulation in patients with renal impairment. Dosage adjustment
is not necessary in patients with renal impairment [see CLINICAL
PHARMACOLOGY].
REFERENCES
1. Friedman JM, Polifka JE. Teratogenic Effects of Drugs.
A Resource for Clinicians (TERIS). Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University
Press: 2000: 149-195.
2. Cziezel AE and Rockenbauer M. Teratogenic study of doxycycline.
Obstet Gynecol 1997; 89: 524-528.
3. Horne HW Jr. and Kundsin RB. The role of mycoplasma among
81 consecutive pregnancies: a prospective study. Int J Fertil 1980; 25:315-317.
4. Hale T. Medications and Mothers Milk. 9th. edition.
Amarillo, TX: Pharmasoft Publishing 2000; 225-226.
Last updated on RxList: 7/22/2008