TETRALYSAL 300MG HARD CAPSULES

Tetralysal

®

300 mg Hard Capsules

lymecycline

CAPSULES

PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Tetralysal® 300 mg Hard Capsules
Lymecycline
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Tetralysal is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Tetralysal
3. How to take Tetralysal
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Tetralysal
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Tetralysal is and what it is used for
Tetralysal belongs to a group of medicines called tetracycline antibiotics.
The main use of Tetralysal is to treat acne. Acne appears as blackheads and whiteheads which people often refer to as pimples or spots.
Tetralysal attacks the bacteria that are one of the main causes of acne. The name of these bacteria is propionibacterium acnes.
This medicine can also be used to treat many other infections caused by bacteria. If you are not sure why you have been prescribed this medicine, talk to your doctor.

2. What you need to know before you take Tetralysal
Do not take Tetralysal if:
• you are allergic to lymecycline or to other tetracycline antibiotics such as doxycycline or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). An allergic reaction
may include either a rash or itching
• you have ever had kidney disease
• you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding
Tetralysal must not be given to children under 12 years of age.
Tetralysal must not be taken at the same time as medicines which contain oral retinoids (these include some other medicines used to treat acne).
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Tetralysal.
Tell your doctor before taking Tetralysal if you
• have hepatic impairment or renal insufficiency (failure of liver and kidney function)
• suffer from systemic lupus erythematosus (an allergic condition that causes joint pain, skin rashes or fever) or Myasthenia Gravis (a disease that weakens the muscles).
Overdosing might result in liver problems.
You should avoid direct exposure to sunlight or artificial sunlight from sunbeds. If you experience skin discomfort then stop taking this medicine and seek advice from your doctor.
Do not use this medicine if the expiry date has passed, expired Tetralysal can cause kidney disorder.
As with other antibiotics, treatment with tetracycline can cause secondary bacterial or mycotic infections (fungal). There is in particular the possibility of resistant
staphylococcal enterocolitis (inflammation of the small intestine and colon due to bacteria that are resistant to the therapeutic action of the drug).
Should you undergo cycles of prolonged treatment with Tetralysal, your doctor will prescribe regular checks of blood composition and liver and kidney function.
Take the medicine with adequate amounts of water to avoid irritation or ulceration of the esophagus.
Children
Tetralysal should not be used in children under 12 years because of the risk of permanent alterations of tooth and enamel discoloration.
Other medicines and Tetralysal
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
• medicines to thin your blood e.g. warfarin
• diuretics (used to treat kidney disease, heart disease or high blood pressure)
• other medicines to treat acne.
Do not take the following medicines at the same time as your Tetralysal as these could affect how well your acne medicine works. Wait at least two hours after taking Tetralysal
before you take these types of products.
• indigestion remedies
• ulcer healing drugs
• quinapril (for high blood pressure)
• supplements containing calcium, aluminium, magnesium, zinc or iron.
Avoid use with penicillins (another type of antibiotics), for the possible interference between the two products.
Do not take antacids containing aluminum, calcium or magnesium and products containing iron salts with Tetralysal, because these products reduce the absorption of
tetracycline taken by mouth.
This medicinal product should not be used in combination with oral retinoids (medicinal products used for certain skin conditions) or doses of more than 10 000 IU/day of
vitamin A.
Should not be used with methoxyflurane (risk of fatal renal toxicity)
Tetralysal with food and drink
Absorption of Tetralysal is not affected by moderate amounts of milk. Tetralysal capsules should always be taken with a glass of water.
Fertility, pregnancy and breast-feeding
Tetracyclines readily cross the placental barrier and are distributed into milk.Tetralysal must not be taken if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
Use of medicines such as Tetralysal may affect the proper growth of developing teeth and lead to permanent discolouration.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
Tetralysal is not known to affect the ability to drive or use machines.

3. How to take Tetralysal
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. The correct dose will be shown on the label which your pharmacist has placed on the container. Check with
your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Please tear the aluminium strip carefully to remove capsule.

Adults and children over 12 years
Acne
The normal dose is one Tetralysal capsule once a day (300 mg/day), preferably in the morning. Tetralysal capsules should always be taken with a glass of water.
How long you will have to take Tetralysal for will depend on how quickly your condition improves. For acne, this will normally be at least 8 weeks.
Infections
The normal dose is one Tetralysal capsule twice a day (600 mg/day). Your doctor may recommend a lower or higher dose depending on the severity and type of infection.
Ask your doctor if you are unsure.
Tetralysal capsules should always be taken with a glass of water.
Do not give Tetralysal to children below the age of 12, it could harm them.
If you take more Tetralysal than you should
If you, or anyone else, take too many Tetralysal capsules phone your doctor for advice or go to your nearest hospital so that medical staff are made aware of the problem.
Don’t forget to take the container with you. This could indicate how many capsules have been taken.
If you forget to take Tetralysal
Do not worry if you forget to take your Tetralysal at the right time. Take it when you remember and carry on as before unless it is time for the next dose. Do not double up
the dose to make up for a forgotten capsule. You should never take more capsules than your doctor recommends.
If you stop taking Tetralysal
Acne responds slowly to antibiotics. It is important that you take all the Tetralysal that your doctor has prescribed for you. If you stop taking Tetralysal too soon, your acne
or infection could get worse or come back.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you experience any of the following stop taking these tablets immediately and see a doctor:
- swollen face, lips, tongue and throat,
- difficulty in breathing,
- hives,
- blistering or peeling of large areas of skin,
- ulcerations or lesions on the mouth, lips, genital or anal regions,
- severe or persistent headaches or visual disturbances.
Tetralysal may cause the following side effects.
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- nausea (feeling sick)
- abdominal pain
- diarrhoea
- headache
Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data
- allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction causing swelling of the eyes, lips or tongue
- blistering or peeling of large areas of the skin
- ulcerations or lesions on the mouth, lips, genital or anal regions
- disturbances of eyesight
- dizziness
- vomiting (being sick)
- yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
- increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
- increased pressure in the brain
- changes in the number or type of certain blood cells
- pain in the upper part of the abdomen
- changes in some blood tests (tests of liver function)
- fever
- itchiness, skin rash or hives
- inflammation of the intestine
The following side effects may occur during treatment with the class of medicines to which Tetralysal belongs (the tetracyclines):
- inflammation or ulceration of the gullet, causing pain or difficulty swallowing or painful heartburn.
- difficulty in swallowing
- inflammation of the pancreas
- liver damage
- teeth discolouration
- inflammation or soreness of the tongue, mouth, cheeks, gums or lips
- soreness or itching of the genital area
- yeast infection around the anus or genitals
- infection of the colon
- permanent visual loss
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via
www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Tetralysal
• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original container.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect
the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

P2XXXX-X

What Tetralysal contains
The active substance is lymecycline. Each capsule contains 408mg of lymecycline. The other ingredients are magnesium stearate and colloidal hydrated silica.
The capsule shells contain gelatin, titanium dioxide (E171), erythrosine (E127), quinoline yellow (E104) and indigotine (E132).
What Tetralysal looks like and contents of the pack
Tetralysal capsules are red and yellow. Tetralysal is available in a carton containing 28 or 56 capsules packed in polyethylene/foil blisters. Each blister strip contains 4 capsules
and there are 7 or 14 blister strips in each carton.
A carton containing 28 capsules in PVC/foil blisters (14 capsules in two calendar strips) is also approved. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorisation Holder: Galderma (UK) Limited, Meridien House, 69-71 Clarendon Road, Watford, Herts. WD17 1DS. UK (PL 10590/0019)
Manufacturer: Laboratoires Sophartex, B.P. 129, 28501 Vernouillet, France
or Laboratoires Galderma, ZI-Montdésir, 74540 Alby-sur-Chéran, France
This leaflet was last revised in 05/2017.