Lymecycline

These indications are based on manufacturer information for both originator and generic products. For product specific registered indications, please refer to product specific manufacturer information

Registered South African indications:

• Upper and lower respiratory tract infections: Sinusitis, pharyngitis, mycoplasma pneumonia, psittacosis and chronic bronchitis
• Genitourinary tract infections: Non-specific urethritis (only if strain sensitive), lympogranuloma venereum, chancroid and granuloma inguinale, gonococcal salpingitis, epididymitis, acute epididymo-orchitis, endocervical infections, syphillis and gonorrhoea (in cases of penicillin allergy)
• Soft tissue: Acne
• Ophthalmic infections: Trachoma and inclusion conjunctivitis
• Intestinal infections: Cholera, Whipple's disease and tropical sprue
• Miscellaneous infections: Rickettsial infections, brucellosis, tularemia, actinomycosis, Lyme disease, yaws, relapsing fever, leptospirosis during the infective phase

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of its excipients
• Hypersensitivity to any other tetracyclines
• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Renal impairment
• Children younger than 12 years
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Concurrent treatment with oral retinoids

Cautions

• Hepatic impairment
• Prolonged use
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Myasthenia gravis

Forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: cap

Infections caused by: Some Gram-negative aerobic organisms (Excluding P. aeruginosa, E. coli and Shigella); Others, including: P. acnes, Mycoplasma, Chlamydia spp, Borrelia spp., T. pertenue

General dosing range

• Oral (cap): 300mg, dly

Specific doses based on individual indications

Please note that the dosages below should be used in combination with regional guidelines, taking into account local antibiotic sensitivities

Acne

• Oral (cap): 300mg, dly; Treatment duration: 8 weeks; Max: 3g/24hrs

Paed. forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: cap

Infections caused by: Some Gram-negative aerobic organisms (Excluding P. aeruginosa, E. coli and Shigella); Others, including: P. acnes, Mycoplasma, Chlamydia spp, Borrelia spp., T. pertenue

General dosing range

Younger than 12 years

• Contraindicated

Older than 12 years

• See adult dosage

Pregnancy

• Contraindicated
• Tetracyclines readily cross the placental barrier. Therefore, lymecycline should not be administered to pregnant women

Breastfeeding

• Contraindicated
• Tetracyclines are distributed into milk. Therefore, lymecycline should not be administered to breastfeeding women (risk of enamel hypoplasia or dental dyschromia in the infant)

Renal Impairment

• Contraindicated

Hepatic Impairment

• Caution; no dose adjustment recommended

Elderly

• No dose adjustment recommended

Porphyria Information

• Probably not porphyrinogenic (PNP)

Drugs in Sport

• Permitted - No warnings

Central Nervous System Disorders

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Intracranial hypertension

Gastrointestinal Disorders

• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhoea
• Epigastric pain
• Glossitis
• Enterocolitis

Hepatobiliary Disorders

• Jaundice
• Hepatitis

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders

• Erythematous rash
• Photosensitivity
• Pruritus
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Immune, Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders

• Neutropenia
• Thrombocytopenia
• Anaphylactic reactions
• Hypersensitivity
• Urticaria
• Angioneurotic oedema

Sensory Disorders

• Visual disturbances

• Calcium
• Aluminium
• Magnesium
• Bismuth
• Zinc salts
• Antacids
• Bismuth containing agents
• Iron preparations
• Quinapril
• Milk
• Oral retinoids
• Anticoagulants
• Diuretics

None routine. Specific cases may require

• Renal function

Tetracyclines are bacteriostatic. Their mechanism of action is based on an inhibition of ribosomal protein synthesis. Tetracyclines block the access of the bacterial aminoacyl-tRNA to the mRNA-ribosome complex by binding to the 30S subunit of the ribosome, thus preventing the addition of amino acids to the growing peptide chain in protein synthesis.

Spectrum of activity: Some Gram-negative aerobic organisms (Excluding P. aeruginosa, E. coli and Shigella); Others, including: P. acnes, Mycoplasma, Chlamydia spp, Borrelia spp., T. pertenue

Capsule 150mg

• Tetralysal (Galderma) originator

Capsule 300mg

• Lymac 300mg (Austell Pharmaceuticals)
• Tetralysal (Galderma) originator