Precautions
Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits for any problems or unwanted effects that may be caused by this medicine.
Do not use this medicine if you are also using methoxyflurane or have used disulfiram in the last 2 weeks. Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine and for at least 3 days after your last dose.
Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.
Birth control pills may not work properly if you take them while you are using this medicine. You should use a different or additional means of birth control (eg, condoms, diaphragm, or a contraceptive foam or jelly) while you are using this medicine. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.
Bismuth subcitrate may cause your tongue to become a darker color or even black. It may also make your stools (bowel movements) black. This is only temporary and will not hurt you. Your tongue and stools will go back to normal when you stop using this medicine. Ask your doctor about this if you have any concerns.
Do not drink milk or eat dairy products with this medicine.
Check with your doctor right away if you start to have a stiff neck, drowsiness, fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, painful eye movements, or eye sensitivity to light. These could be symptoms of a serious condition called aseptic meningitis syndrome (AMS).
Check with your doctor right away if you are having burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations in the arms, hands, legs, or feet. These could be symptoms of a condition called peripheral neuropathy.
Tetracycline may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause a rash, itching, redness, or other discoloration of the skin, or a severe sunburn. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.
Serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have black, tarry stools, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chest pain, chills, cough, diarrhea, fever, itching, painful or difficult urination, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, severe acne or skin rash, sore throat, sores or ulcers or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, swollen glands, or unusual tiredness or weakness while you are using this medicine.
Before you have any medical tests or x-rays, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are using this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.
You should not drink alcoholic beverages or take other alcohol-containing preparations while you are using this medicine, and for at least 1 day after stopping it.
If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Portions of this document last updated: July 01, 2024
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