Tetracycline

Tetracycline can interfere with the activity of Reference folic acid, Reference potassium, and Reference vitamin B2, Reference vitamin B6, Reference vitamin B12, Reference vitamin C, and Reference vitamin K.¹ This is generally not a problem when taking tetracycline for two weeks or less. People taking tetracycline for longer than two weeks should ask their doctor about vitamin and mineral supplementation. Taking 500 mg vitamin C simultaneously with tetracycline was shown to increase blood levels of tetracycline in one study.² The importance of this interaction is unknown.

Taking large amounts of niacinamide, a form of Reference vitamin B3, can suppress inflammation in the body. According to numerous preliminary reports, niacinamide, given in combination with tetracycline or Reference minocycline, may be effective against bullous pemphigoid, a benign, autoimmune blistering disease of the skin.^{3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9} Preliminary evidence also suggests a similar beneficial interaction may exist between tetracycline and niacinamide in the treatment of Reference dermatitis herpetiformis.^{10 , 11}

Tetracycline can interfere with the activity of Reference folic acid, Reference potassium, and Reference vitamin B2, Reference vitamin B6, Reference vitamin B12, Reference vitamin C, and Reference vitamin K.¹² This is generally not a problem when taking tetracycline for two weeks or less. People taking tetracycline for longer than two weeks should ask their doctor about vitamin and mineral supplementation. Taking 500 mg vitamin C simultaneously with tetracycline was shown to increase blood levels of tetracycline in one study.¹³ The importance of this interaction is unknown.

Taking large amounts of niacinamide, a form of Reference vitamin B3, can suppress inflammation in the body. According to numerous preliminary reports, niacinamide, given in combination with tetracycline or Reference minocycline, may be effective against bullous pemphigoid, a benign, autoimmune blistering disease of the skin.^{14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20} Preliminary evidence also suggests a similar beneficial interaction may exist between tetracycline and niacinamide in the treatment of Reference dermatitis herpetiformis.^{21 , 22}

Tetracycline can interfere with the activity of Reference folic acid, Reference potassium, and Reference vitamin B2, Reference vitamin B6, Reference vitamin B12, Reference vitamin C, and Reference vitamin K.²³ This is generally not a problem when taking tetracycline for two weeks or less. People taking tetracycline for longer than two weeks should ask their doctor about vitamin and mineral supplementation. Taking 500 mg vitamin C simultaneously with tetracycline was shown to increase blood levels of tetracycline in one study.²⁴ The importance of this interaction is unknown.

Tetracycline can interfere with the activity of Reference folic acid, Reference potassium, and Reference vitamin B2, Reference vitamin B6, Reference vitamin B12, Reference vitamin C, and Reference vitamin K.²⁵ This is generally not a problem when taking tetracycline for two weeks or less. People taking tetracycline for longer than two weeks should ask their doctor about vitamin and mineral supplementation. Taking 500 mg vitamin C simultaneously with tetracycline was shown to increase blood levels of tetracycline in one study.²⁶ The importance of this interaction is unknown.

Tetracycline can interfere with the activity of Reference folic acid, Reference potassium, and Reference vitamin B2, Reference vitamin B6, Reference vitamin B12, Reference vitamin C, and Reference vitamin K.²⁷ This is generally not a problem when taking tetracycline for two weeks or less. People taking tetracycline for longer than two weeks should ask their doctor about vitamin and mineral supplementation. Taking 500 mg vitamin C simultaneously with tetracycline was shown to increase blood levels of tetracycline in one study.²⁸ The importance of this interaction is unknown.

Taking large amounts of niacinamide, a form of Reference vitamin B3, can suppress inflammation in the body. According to numerous preliminary reports, niacinamide, given in combination with tetracycline or Reference minocycline, may be effective against bullous pemphigoid, a benign, autoimmune blistering disease of the skin.^{29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35} Preliminary evidence also suggests a similar beneficial interaction may exist between tetracycline and niacinamide in the treatment of Reference dermatitis herpetiformis.^{36 , 37}

A common side effect of antibiotics is Reference diarrhea, which may be caused by the elimination of beneficial bacteria normally found in the colon. Controlled studies have shown that taking probiotic microorganisms—such as Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, or Saccharomyces boulardii—helps prevent antibiotic-induced diarrhea.³⁸

The diarrhea experienced by some people who take antibiotics also might be due to an overgrowth of the bacterium Clostridium difficile, which causes a disease known as pseudomembranous colitis. Controlled studies have shown that supplementation with harmless yeast—such as Saccharomyces boulardii ³⁹ or Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s or brewer’s yeast)⁴⁰—helps prevent recurrence of this infection. In one study, taking 500 mg of Saccharomyces boulardii twice daily enhanced the effectiveness of the antibiotic vancomycin in preventing recurrent clostridium infection.⁴¹ Therefore, people taking antibiotics who later develop diarrhea might benefit from supplementing with saccharomyces organisms.

Treatment with antibiotics also commonly leads to an overgrowth of yeast (Candida albicans) in the vagina (Reference candida vaginitis) and the intestines (sometimes referred to as “dysbiosis”). Controlled studies have shown that Lactobacillus acidophilus might prevent candida vaginitis.⁴²

A common side effect of antibiotics is Reference diarrhea, which may be caused by the elimination of beneficial bacteria normally found in the colon. Controlled studies have shown that taking probiotic microorganisms—such as Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, or Saccharomyces boulardii—helps prevent antibiotic-induced diarrhea.⁴³

The diarrhea experienced by some people who take antibiotics also might be due to an overgrowth of the bacterium Clostridium difficile, which causes a disease known as pseudomembranous colitis. Controlled studies have shown that supplementation with harmless yeast—such as Saccharomyces boulardii ⁴⁴ or Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s or brewer’s yeast)⁴⁵—helps prevent recurrence of this infection. In one study, taking 500 mg of Saccharomyces boulardii twice daily enhanced the effectiveness of the antibiotic vancomycin in preventing recurrent clostridium infection.⁴⁶ Therefore, people taking antibiotics who later develop diarrhea might benefit from supplementing with saccharomyces organisms.

Treatment with antibiotics also commonly leads to an overgrowth of yeast (Candida albicans) in the vagina (Reference candida vaginitis) and the intestines (sometimes referred to as “dysbiosis”). Controlled studies have shown that Lactobacillus acidophilus might prevent candida vaginitis.⁴⁷

Many minerals can decrease the absorption of tetracycline, thus reducing its effectiveness. These minerals include aluminum (in antacids), Reference calcium (in antacids, dairy products, and supplements), Reference magnesium (in antacids and supplements), Reference iron (in food and supplements), Reference zinc (in food and supplements), and others.

Many minerals can decrease the absorption of tetracycline, thus reducing its effectiveness. These minerals include aluminum (in antacids), Reference calcium (in antacids, dairy products, and supplements), Reference magnesium (in antacids and supplements), Reference iron (in food and supplements), Reference zinc (in food and supplements), and others.

Many minerals can decrease the absorption of tetracycline, thus reducing its effectiveness. These minerals include aluminum (in antacids), Reference calcium (in antacids, dairy products, and supplements), Reference magnesium (in antacids and supplements), Reference iron (in food and supplements), Reference zinc (in food and supplements), and others.

Many minerals can decrease the absorption of tetracycline, thus reducing its effectiveness. These minerals include aluminum (in antacids), Reference calcium (in antacids, dairy products, and supplements), Reference magnesium (in antacids and supplements), Reference iron (in food and supplements), Reference zinc (in food and supplements), and others.

Berberine, a chemical extracted from Reference goldenseal(Hydrastis canadensis), Reference barberry(Berberis vulgaris), and Reference Oregon grape(Berberis aquifolium), has been shown to have antibacterial activity. One double-blind study found that giving 100 mg of berberine at the same time as 500 mg of tetracycline four times daily led to a reduction of the efficacy of tetracycline in people with cholera.⁴⁸ Berberine may have decreased the absorption of tetracycline in this study. Another double-blind trial did not find that berberine interfered with tetracycline in cholera patients.⁴⁹ Until more studies are completed to clarify this issue, berberine-containing herbs should not be taken simultaneously with tetracycline.

Berberine, a chemical extracted from Reference goldenseal(Hydrastis canadensis), Reference barberry(Berberis vulgaris), and Reference Oregon grape(Berberis aquifolium), has been shown to have antibacterial activity. One double-blind study found that giving 100 mg of berberine at the same time as 500 mg of tetracycline four times daily led to a reduction of the efficacy of tetracycline in people with cholera.⁵⁰ Berberine may have decreased the absorption of tetracycline in this study. Another double-blind trial did not find that berberine interfered with tetracycline in cholera patients.⁵¹ Until more studies are completed to clarify this issue, berberine-containing herbs should not be taken simultaneously with tetracycline.

Berberine, a chemical extracted from Reference goldenseal(Hydrastis canadensis), Reference barberry(Berberis vulgaris), and Reference Oregon grape(Berberis aquifolium), has been shown to have antibacterial activity. One double-blind study found that giving 100 mg of berberine at the same time as 500 mg of tetracycline four times daily led to a reduction of the efficacy of tetracycline in people with cholera.⁵² Berberine may have decreased the absorption of tetracycline in this study. Another double-blind trial did not find that berberine interfered with tetracycline in cholera patients.⁵³ Until more studies are completed to clarify this issue, berberine-containing herbs should not be taken simultaneously with tetracycline.