AA Pharma Minocycline Special Precautions

The administration of AA PHARMA MINOCYCLINE (minocycline hydrochloride) to children under 13 years of age is not recommended.
Bulging fontanels have been reported in young infants following full therapeutic dosage of tetracyclines including minocycline.
Benign intracranial hypertension (or pseudotumour cerebri) has very rarely been reported in adults. These signs disappeared rapidly when the drug was discontinued.
Administration of isotretinoin or other systemic retinoids or retinol should be avoided shortly before, during, and shortly after minocycline therapy. Each of these agents used alone has been associated with benign intracranial hypertension.
Patients should be warned to avoid exposure to direct sunlight and/or ultraviolet light while under treatment with minocycline or other tetracycline drugs, and treatment should be discontinued at the first evidence of skin erythema or discomfort. Photosensitivity manifested by an exaggerated sunburn reaction has been observed in some individuals taking tetracyclines. Studies to date indicated that photosensitivity is rarely reported with minocycline.
Patients treated with minocycline may suffer from headaches, light-headedness, dizziness or vertigo. Administration of minocycline in excess of the recommended dosage can increase the frequency and severity of these CNS symptoms. Patients should be cautioned about driving vehicles or using hazardous machinery while on minocycline therapy. These symptoms may disappear during therapy and usually disappear rapidly when the drug is discontinued.
As with other antibiotics, minocycline therapy may result in overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms (including fungi). If super-infection occurs, minocycline should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted.
The development of cross-resistance to many antibiotics can develop rapidly in several species of microorganisms. The clinician should bear this in mind if therapy with minocycline is not achieving expected results.
The frequency of resistance to minocycline in hemolytic streptococci is highest in strains from infections of the ear, wounds and skin. Culture and sensitivity studies should be performed whenever feasible and routinely in suspected streptococcal infections.
Since sensitivity reactions are more likely to occur in persons with a history of allergy, asthma, hay fever, or urticarial, minocycline should be used with caution in such individuals.
Before treating patients with gonorrhea, a darkfield examination should be made from any lesion suggestive of concurrent syphilis. Serological tests for syphilis should be repeated monthly for at least 4 months.
Minocycline should be used with caution in patients with hepatic dysfunction and in conjunction with alcohol or other hepatotoxic drugs.
In long-term therapy with minocycline, periodic laboratory evaluation of organ systems, including hematopoietic, renal and hepatic studies should be performed.
Minocycline has been shown to depress plasma prothrombin activity. Therefore, patients who are on anticoagulant therapy should be monitored regularly and may require downward adjustment of their anticoagulant dosage. Interference with vitamin K synthesis by microorganisms in the gut has been reported.
Antacids containing aluminum, calcium or magnesium and oral iron preparations impair absorption and should not be given to patients taking oral minocycline.
Dairy products can delay absorption. Studies to date have indicated that the absorption of minocycline is not notably influenced by foods.