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From: werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Re: Tetracycline and Antacids
Message-ID: <2279@aecom.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 26-Feb-86 00:05:31 EST
Article-I.D.: aecom.2279
Posted: Wed Feb 26 00:05:31 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Mar-86 01:07:27 EST
References: <801@cylixd.UUCP> <1002@whuxl.UUCP>
Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY
Lines: 32

>> 
>> On many antacids I see the warning "Do not take if you are currently
>> taking any prescription medication containing any form of tetracycline."
>> 
>> What are the side effects from disregarding this warning and taking
>> the two together?
> 
	Also the warning on Tetraycline: Do not take with anything containing
Calcium.   It's very simple. Tetracycline chelates Calcium, the chelate is
not absorbed. The tetracycline is excreted in the feces.  Result: no
antibiotic in the body. Presumably, one is taking Tetracycline for its
antibacterial effect, an effect that requires it to get into the body in
the first place.
	NB: This is not considered a 'Side Effect'. This is a 'Drug
Interaction'.

	Further note: it was recently shown that Antacids(and for that
matter Cimetidine) do no better than a Sugar pill placebo to releive
chronic ingestion.  Of course, it could be argued (and was duly noted) that
those people enrolled in the study probably went to the doctor in the
first place becausetheir home remedies didn't work.

	Second Note: If you are taking the antacid as a Calcium supplement,
there is to date no evidence that calcium supplements actually delay the
development of Osteoporosis -- just very good reasoning to think that it
should.  Hence, for the duration of the Tetracycline, give up the Antacid -
it's not worth it.
-- 

				Craig Werner
				!philabs!aecom!werner
                        "It doesn't even have to be a Pelvis."