Oxytetracycline

Oxytetracycline is known as a broad-spectrum antibiotic due to its activity against such a wide range of infections. It was the second of the Tetracyclines to be discovered. more...

History

It was first found near Pfizer laboratories in a soil sample yielding the soil bacillus, Streptomyces rimosus. In 1953, a celebrated American biochemist, Robert B Woodward, son of a Scottish immigrant woman, worked out the chemical structure of Oxytetracycline, enabling Pfizer to mass produce the drug under the tradename, Terramycin. This discovery by Woodward was a major advancement in Tetracycline research and eventually lead to the synthesis of an Oxytetracycline derivative, Doxycycline, probably the most commonly used Tetracycline nowadays.

Indications

Oxytetracycline, like other Tetracyclines, is used to treat many infections common and rare (see Tetracycline antibiotics group). Its better absorption profile makes it preferable to tetracycline for moderately severe acne at a dosage of 250-500mg four times a day for usually 6-8 weeks at a time, but alternatives sould be sought if no improvement occurs by 3 months.

It is often used to treat Spirochaetal infection and Clostridium wound infection in patients sensitive to Penicillin.

The standard dose is 250-500mg six hourly by mouth. In particularly severe infections this dose may be increased accordingly. Occasionally, Oxytetracycline is given by intramuscular injection or topically in the form of cream or eyedrops.

Vetenary indications

Oxytetracycline is used to control the outbreak of American Foulbrood and European Foulbrood in honeybees.

Formulation

Tablets containing 250mg Tablets of Oxytetracycline as the dihydrate.

Read more at Wikipedia.org