Oxytetracycline: Uses, Side Effects, Dosage - Drugvu

ℹ️ Compiled from public regulatory records · Last regulator revision: May 15, 2026

Oxytetracycline

Active ingredient · 5 therapeutic classes

GB MHRA

Drug class: Antibiotics
Availability: See label
Markets covered: 1
Products on record: 11

G01AAAntibiotics J01AATetracyclines A01ABAntiinfectives and Antiseptics For Local Oral Treatment D06AATetracycline and Derivatives S01AAAntibiotics

Overview

Oxytetracycline is an active pharmaceutical ingredient in the Antibiotics group (G01AA). The information below is compiled per regulator from the product labels on record, with direct links to the original documents.

Regulatory status by market

Market	Regulator	Products	Last revision
GB United Kingdom	MHRA	11	May 15, 2026

GBUnited Kingdom· MHRA

11 products

Uses

GBOfficial regulatory label· revised May 15, 2026[1]

Oxytetracycline tablets are indicated in the treatment of infections caused by oxytetracycline-sensitive organisms. These include chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, brucellosis, pertussis, rickettsial fevers and psittacosis.

How to take

Drug interactions

Known interactions involving Oxytetracycline. Select one for details. This list is informational and not a complete interaction checker.

Acitretin Isotretinoin Lomitapide Mipomersen Pexidartinib Tretinoin Vibrio Cholerae CVD 103-HGR Strain Live Antigen Vitamin A Activated Charcoal Aluminum Hydroxide Aminolevulinic Acid Aminophylline Amoxicillin Ampicillin Asparaginase Atracurium Balsalazide Bedaquiline Bismuth Subgallate Bismuth Subsalicylate Calaspargase Pegol Calcium Acetate Calcium Carbonate Calcium Chloride Calcium Citrate Calcium Gluconate Calcium Lactate Calcium Phosphate Carbenicillin Cisatracurium Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum Dicloxacillin Digoxin Dihydroergotamine Ergotamine Ethinyl Estradiol Ferrous Fumarate Ferrous Gluconate Idelalisib Insulin Degludec Insulin Detemir Insulin Glargine Insulin Lispro Iron Iron Sucrose Kaolin Lactobacillus Acidophilus Lanthanum Carbonate Magnesium Carbonate Magnesium Chloride Magnesium Citrate Magnesium Gluconate Magnesium Hydroxide Magnesium Oxide Magnesium Sulfate Mestranol Methotrexate Methoxsalen Methysergide Mivacurium Mycophenolate Mofetil Mycophenolic Acid Nafcillin Oxacillin Pancuronium Pegaspargase Piperacillin Potassium Citrate Quinapril Remdesivir Rocuronium Sodium Acetate Sodium Bicarbonate Sodium Citrate Succinylcholine Sucralfate Theophylline Ticarcillin Tromethamine Vecuronium Verteporfin Warfarin Zinc Acetate Zinc Chloride Zinc Gluconate Zinc Sulfate Acetazolamide Amiloride Bumetanide Chlorothiazide Chlorthalidone Colestipol Didanosine Ethacrynate Furosemide Glycerin Hydrochlorothiazide Hydroflumethiazide Indapamide Lithium Carbonate Mannitol Methazolamide Metolazone Polythiazide Spironolactone Torsemide Triamterene Albuterol Allopurinol Cephalexin Ciprofloxacin Dexamethasone Diazepam Erythromycin Lansoprazole Mirtazapine Omeprazole Prednisolone Risperidone Simvastatin Trimethoprim

Interaction data compiled from DDInter (academic, CC-BY). Severity classification only - this is not a complete interaction checker and not medical advice.

Sources & citations

[1]MHRA (UK) · PL203950134 · revised May 15, 2026

Information on this page is compiled from public regulatory records. Drugvu is not affiliated with any regulator or pharmaceutical manufacturer. This is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Side effects & warnings

GBOfficial regulatory label· Adverse reactions· revised May 15, 2026[1]

Very common (≥1/10); common (≥1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100); rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000); Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
Blood and lymphatic disorders:
Frequency not known: Haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and eosinophilia.
Endocrine disorders:
Frequency not known: Brown-black microscopic discolouration of thyroid tissue in use over prolonged periods. (No abnormalities of thyroid function are known to occur).
Nervous system disorders:
Frequency not known: Bulging fontanelles in infants, benign intracranial hypertension If raised intracranial pressure occurs treatment with oxytetracycline should be stopped.
Cardiac disorders:
Frequency not known: Pericarditis.
Gastro-intestinal disorders:
Rare: Oesophagitis and oesophageal ulceration (reported in patients taking capsules or tablets forms of drugs in the tetracyclines class. Most of these patients took medication immediately before going to bed.
Frequency not known:
Gastro-intestinal irritation giving rise to nausea, abdominal discomfort vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia, dysphagia (if GI irritation occurs, tablets should be taken with food), Pseudomembranous colitis, intestinal overgrowth of resistant organisms (Candida albicans, in particular), may occur and cause glossitis, rectal and vaginal irritation and inflammatory lesions (with candidial overgrowth) in the anogenital regions.
Similarly, resistant staphylococci may cause enterocolitis. Tooth discolouration, pancreatitis.
Hepatobiliary disorders:
Frequency not known: Hepatotoxicity (hepatitis, jaundice and hepatic failure), fatty liver degeneration.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:
Uncommon: Exfoliative dermatitis.
Frequency not known:
Macropapular and erythematous rashes, photo- erythema (Patients exposed to direct sunlight or ultraviolet light should be advised to discontinue treatment if any skin reaction occurs), Hypersensitivity reactions: urticaria, angioneurotic oedema, anaphylaxis, anaphylactoid purpura, pericarditis, exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Renal and urinary disorders:
Frequency not known: Renal dysfunction.
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. uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

GBOfficial regulatory label· Warnings and precautions· revised May 15, 2026[1]

Tetracycline drugs may cause permanent tooth discoloration (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 tetracyclines 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 Oxytetracycline may lead to azotaemia, hyperphosphataemia and acidosis.
Absorption is adversely affected by milk, antacids and aluminium, calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc salts. Tetracyclines depress plasma prothrombin activity, therefore reduced dosages of concurrent anticoagulants may be required. 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 non- susceptible organisms including Candida. Constant observation of the patients is essential.
If a resistant organism appears, the antibiotic should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted. In long term therapy, periodic laboratory evaluation of organ systems, including haematopoietic, renal and hepatic studies should be performed.
High doses of tetracyclines have been associated with a syndrome involving fatty liver degeneration and pancreatitis. The use of tetracyclines 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.
Care is advised when administering to patients with myasthenia gravis. g. headache and visual disturbance) develop. 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.

This is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview

Regulatory status by market

GBUnited Kingdom· MHRA

Drug interactions

Drugs in the same class

Sources & citations