Overview Of Tetracycline

Tetracycline, an antibiotic, was first patented in the 1950s. It has a molecular structure consisting of four rings and is used to treat several types of bacterial infections. Doctors refer to tetracycline as a broad-spectrum antibiotic. It can be taken orally as a capsule and as a syrup.

Patients will take oral antibiotics, particularly tetracycline, as a severe acne treatment. As mentioned, this medication is also an effective bacterial infection treatment. Some doctors also prescribe it as a pneumonia treatment. Of course, before taking this medication, patients need to understand it, including how it works and its possible side effects. Get familiar with tetracycline now.

How It Works

Tetracycline interferes with bacteria's ability to make protein. Ultimately, this stops bacteria from producing infections in the body. Specifically, this antibiotic blocks charged aminoacyl-tRNA from attaching to the A site on the ribosome of the cell. It binds to the 30S and 50S subunits of the microbial ribosomes and prevents new amino acids from being introduced to the existing peptide chain. Humans and other mammals are less responsive to the effects of tetracycline than other animals are, and some types of bacteria are becoming resistant to it. Resistance usually occurs due to a horizontal gene transfer that encodes a ribosomal protection protein or an efflux pump.

Learn about the class of medication that tetracycline belongs to next.

Class Of Medication

Tetracycline is part of a class of antibiotics known as tetracyclines. As discussed previously, this antibiotic works by stopping bacteria from creating protein. This applies to other antibiotics in this class. Although these antibiotics work in much the same way, there are some differences in terms of the form they come in, the dosage recommendations, and whether or not patients can take them with food. Some even have a lower risk of the side effects seen on tetracycline. The other common tetracycline antibiotics that are available to patients in the United States are minocycline, doxycycline, and demeclocycline.

Keep reading to learn about the major uses for tetracycline next.