Sometimes doctors prescribe medicine for our illnesses, right? You may have heard of antibiotics, which are used to treat bacterial infections. They kill harmful bacteria that have entered our bodies and help us heal. Today, we are going to talk about one such strong, special antibiotic. Its name is Eravacycline .
What is Eravacycline?
Simply put, Eravacycline is a drug that belongs to the group of antibiotics called ``tetracycline.'' It is used to treat some serious bacterial infections in the body.
The most important thing is that this medicine only works on bacteria. It does not cure viral infections like the common cold and flu. Therefore, it should only be used if prescribed by a doctor.
This medicine is usually given in a hospital, as an infusion into a vein, like saline.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before deciding to give you Eravacycline, your doctor will ask you a few questions. It is very important that you provide this information accurately, as it will greatly affect your safety.
| Situation you need to report | Why is that? (Simple explanation) |
|---|---|
| If you have liver disease | The liver helps to process the medications in our body. If there is any weakness in the liver, the doctor may have to adjust the dosage of the medication. |
| Allergies | Be sure to tell your doctor if you are allergic to eravacycline, other tetracycline drugs, or any other medicine, food, or dye. |
| If you are pregnant or expecting a baby | These types of medications can affect the fetus during pregnancy, so it's important to talk to your doctor about this. |
| If you are breastfeeding (Breast-feeding) | This medicine can pass to the baby through breast milk. Therefore, the doctor will decide whether it is appropriate/inappropriate to use this medicine during breastfeeding. |
How to use the medicine?
You will usually receive this medicine in a hospital or clinic. It is given as an infusion into a vein by a trained nurse or doctor.
In some rare cases, you may be able to take this treatment at home. If so, you will be given proper training on how to prepare and administer it safely. It is very important to take the correct dose at the correct time. Never take more than your doctor tells you to.
What do you do with used needles?
If you are using this medicine at home, never throw used needles and syringes in the trash. They are very dangerous. They should be placed in a special sharps container. If you don't have one, ask your doctor about how to get one.
Do you give this medicine to children?
Special care is required when using this medicine in children. Therefore, it is imperative to talk to a pediatrician and follow his or her instructions.
What to do if the dose of the medicine increases?
If you think you may have accidentally taken too much medication, don't panic and take action immediately.
- Go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately.
- Alternatively, call the National Poison Information Centre located at the Colombo National Hospital and seek advice.
Other medications that may interact with this medicine
Some medications can cause problems when taken with Eravacycline, so tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking.
| Drug type | Matter of concern |
|---|---|
| Avoid taking these together | |
| Acitretin | This is a medicine for skin diseases. There is a risk of side effects if these two are taken together. |
| Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking these. | |
| Birth control pills | Eravacycline may make birth control pills less effective, so talk to your doctor about using another form of birth control. |
| Medicines that prevent blood clotting (e.g. Warfarin) | These medications may affect their effectiveness. |
| Rifampin | This medicine for tuberculosis can reduce the effectiveness of Eravacycline. |
Remember, this list is not exhaustive. It is important to tell your doctor about any other medications, vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements you are taking.
Other things to consider when taking the medicine
- Pay attention to symptoms: If your illness doesn't improve, or if it seems to get worse, tell your doctor immediately.
- Diarrhea: You may experience diarrhea while taking this medicine. However, if it lasts for more than two days or becomes severe, such as watery diarrhea, do not take the medicine from the pharmacy and talk to your doctor directly.
- Be careful with the sun: Your skin may be very sensitive to the sun while taking this medicine. So avoid strong sunlight as much as possible. If you go outside, wear clothing that covers your body well, use a good sunscreen, and do not use tanning beds.
What are the possible side effects?
Like any medication, Eravacycline can have side effects. Let's break them down into two categories.
| 🚨 Side effects that require immediate medical attention | |
|---|---|
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, severe itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, difficulty breathing. |
| Severe diarrhea | Excessive diarrhea with blood or water. |
| Fever | Fever during treatment may be a sign of an infection. |
| 🙂 Usually not serious (but if it persists, tell your doctor ) | |
| Nausea and vomiting | It can occur during or after the medication is given. |
| Pain at the injection site | Pain, redness, or slight swelling where the medicine was injected. |
This list does not include all possible side effects. If you experience anything unusual, talk to your doctor about it.
Take-Home Message
- Eravacycline is a powerful antibiotic that is only given for bacterial infections .
- Before taking the medicine, be sure to tell your doctor about your allergies, liver disease, pregnancy , and all other medications you are taking.
- Be careful of the sun while taking this medicine.
- Since birth control pills may be less effective, ask your doctor about another safer method.
- If severe diarrhea or allergic symptoms occur, seek medical advice immediately .
- This medicine is for you only. Never share it with anyone else.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න