Comparison of Tetracycline and Vibramycin

Tetracycline

Topical ointment forms are available without a prescription

Vibramycin

Topical ointment forms are available without a prescription

Upsides and Downsides
+ Inexpensive

– Tetracycline is poorly absorbed when taken with food or certain medications. Should not be taken simultaneously with dairy products.

– May increase sun sensitivity; prolonged sun exposure should be avoided.

– With prolonged use, may affect the function of the kidneys, liver, and hematopoietic organs.

 + Minor differences favor the

+ use of doxycycline over tetracycline in most cases.

+ Vibramycin is more effective than tetracycline. Significantly smaller doses are required for treatment.

+ Vibramycin has a longer effect and can be taken less often.

+ Unlike other tetracyclines, Vibramycin does not disrupt the normal intestinal microflora.

+ It is easily absorbed and characterized by good bioavailability. More than 90% of the active substance penetrates into the blood.

– Slightly more expensive.

Dosage forms
  • Capsules
  • Water Soluble Powder
  • Eye Ointment
  • Skin Ointment
  • Capsules
  • Tablets

Indications
For oral use: infectious diseases caused by sensitive pathogens: pneumonia and respiratory tract infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae; respiratory tract infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae and Klebsiella spp.; bacterial infections of the urinary organs, infections of the skin and soft tissues, necrotizing ulcerative gingivostomatitis, actinomycosis, intestinal amoebiasis, anthrax, brucellosis, bartonellosis, chancroid, cholera, chlamydia, uncomplicated gonorrhea, inguinal granuloma, venereal lymphogranuloma, listeriosis, plague, psittacosis, vesicular rickettsiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus, relapsing fever, syphilis, tularemia, yaws.

Ointment for external use: acne vulgaris, bacterial skin infections.

Eye ointment: bacterial eye infections: blepharitis, blepharoconjunctivitis, keratitis, keratoconjunctivitis, meibomitis, trachoma, eye damage with rosacea.

 Infectious and inflammatory diseases caused by sensitive pathogens:

  • acute and chronic bronchitis, pharyngitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, lung abscess, etc.
  • infectious processes in the ENT organs (with tonsillitis, otitis media, etc.)
  • infectious processes of the gastrointestinal tract and biliary tract (cholangitis, bacterial dysentery, cholecystitis, gastroenterocolitis)
  • infectious diseases of soft tissues (abscesses, panaritiums, phlegmons, wounds, furunculosis, etc.)
  • infectious processes of the genitourinary system (with ureaplasma, pyelonephritis, urethritis, prostatitis, urethrocystitis, endometritis, acute orchiepididymitis, gonorrhea, etc.)
  • infectious eye diseases
  • legionellosis
  • typhus, cholera, dysentery, malaria

Contraindications
You should not take tetracycline in the following cases:

  • with an increased level of sensitivity to tetracycline and other antibiotics from the tetracycline group
  • pregnancy (tetracycline use in the second half of pregnancy is strictly prohibited)
  • breastfeeding period
  • age less than 8 years
  • kidney insufficiency
  • severe liver failure
  • porphyria
 Doxycycline (Vibramycin) has similar contraindications. However, it does not require dose reduction in the presence of renal insufficiency, since it is excreted mainly through the gastrointestinal tract.

Side Effects
Nervous system: increased intracranial pressure with vomiting, headache, loss of appetite, swelling of the optic disc, dizziness due to toxic effects on the central nervous system;

Hearing: ringing in the ears;

Metabolic disorders: anorexia;

Vision: diplopia and scotoma as a result of ICP, blurred vision;

Allergic manifestations: skin itching, rash, angioedema, dermatitis, urticaria, anaphylactic shock, drug lupus erythematosus, etc.;

Digestive system: diarrhea, nausea, constipation, abdominal pain, dysphagia, glossitis, gastritis, esophagitis, enterocolitis, etc.;

Hematopoietic organs: thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, eosinophilia, leukopenia, neutropenia, etc.;

Cardiovascular system: decrease in blood pressure, erythema multiforme, pericarditis, tachycardia;

Hepatobiliary system: increased levels of hepatic transaminases, impaired liver function, cholestasis, autoimmune hepatitis;

Functions of muscles and skeleton: myalgia, arthralgia; increase in the level of residual urea nitrogen.

Other side effects include: superinfection, photosensitivity, inflammation in the anogenital zone, candidiasis, dysbacteriosis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, discoloration of tooth enamel.

 Doxycycline (Vibramycin) has similar side effects. However, it is generally better tolerated.