tetracycline and Esophageal-Diseases

We describe nine cases of esophageal injury associated with the ingestion of prescribed medications. Antibiotics were the most commonly implicated drugs. Odynophagia, retrosternal chest pain and dysphagia were the usual presenting symptoms. The typical endoscopic finding was that of discrete ulcers in the mid-esophagus. All patients recovered uneventfully with discontinuation of the offending drug and symptomatic treatment. Drug induced esophageal injury should be considered in patients presenting acutely with the above mentioned symptoms and having discrete esophageal ulcers on endoscopy.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Chest Pain; Deglutition Disorders; Drug Prescriptions; Esophageal Diseases; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Tablets; Tetracycline; Ulcer

Topics: Doxycycline; Esophageal Diseases; Humans; Tetracycline; Ulcer

Topics: Adult; Capsules; Esophageal Diseases; Humans; Male; Tetracycline; Ulcer

Topics: Adult; Capsules; Esophageal Diseases; Humans; Male; Tetracycline; Ulcer

Topics: Adult; Esophageal Diseases; Humans; Male; Tablets; Tetracycline; Ulcer

Topics: Doxycycline; Esophageal Diseases; Humans; Tetracycline; Ulcer

Two cases of tetracycline ulcers of the oesophagus are reported and compared with thirteen other cases from the literature. In most cases, the patients had taken their capsules with little or no fluid just before going to bed. Some hours later they developed retrosternal pain that was intensified by swallowing. Endoscopy showed sharply demarcated greyish-white areas of mucosal damage which represented layers of stratified squamous cells, separated by oedema, and a dense neutrophilic infiltration of the lamina propria and the muscularis mucosa. Roentgenology was unsuitable to detect the lesions. They healed without complications within one to six weeks. Prolonged retention of the capsules in the oesophagus is thought to cause the mucosal damage. Patients on oral tetracycline or doxycyline treatment should therefore be instructed to take their capsules with a meal or with copious water and not just before going to bed.

Topics: Aged; Esophageal Diseases; Esophagoscopy; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Tetracycline; Ulcer

Delayed passage of irritant drugs like tetracycline hydrochloride can cause esophageal ulceration, especially when the medication is taken with only a sip of water before sleeping or by a patient with stricture or motor abnormality of the esophagus. Certain precautions should be taken when prescribing irritant drugs. Patients should be advised to take sufficient quantities of water with the medication and to avoid taking the capsules at bedtime. These drugs should not be given to patients with esophageal obstruction or motility disorders.

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Adolescent; Adult; Esophageal Diseases; Female; Humans; Male; Skin Diseases; Tetracycline; Ulcer

Topics: Adult; Endoscopy; Esophageal Diseases; Humans; Male; Tetracycline; Ulcer

Topics: Adult; Aminopyrine; Dipyrone; Esophageal Diseases; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oxytetracycline; Penicillin V; Tetracycline; Ulcer

Topics: Adult; Esophageal Diseases; Female; Humans; Tetracycline; Ulcer

Topics: Acids; Doxycycline; Esophageal Diseases; Humans; Tetracycline; Ulcer

Esophageal ulceration has rarely been reported secondary to medicinal agents. we have treated three patients with esophageal ulceration associated with the ingestion of tetracycline or its derivative doxycycline. In light of the strong temporal relationship between taking the capsules and the onset of the esophageal ulceration, we believe that the capsules were the cause of the ulcers. We therefore recommend an alternative agent to tetracycline or doxycycline, if possible, for patients with any esophageal obstructive element. We also recommend that patients be cautioned not to take these drugs within one hour of going to bed.

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Adult; Antacids; Doxycycline; Esophageal Diseases; Female; Humans; Tetracycline; Ulcer; Urinary Tract Infections

Topics: Esophageal Diseases; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Solutions; Tetracycline; Ulcer

Topics: Arthritis; Behcet Syndrome; Dentures; Esophageal Diseases; Fistula; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Diseases; Pharyngeal Diseases; Tetracycline

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Child; Empyema; Esophageal Diseases; Extracorporeal Circulation; Female; Humans; Hypothermia, Induced; Inflammation; Infusions, Parenteral; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Spinal; Lung Diseases; Male; Middle Aged; Pleura; Pleural Diseases; Postoperative Care; Suppuration; Tetracycline; Troleandomycin

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Burns, Chemical; Caustics; Child; Chloramphenicol; Esophageal Diseases; Esophagoscopy; Esophagus; Humans; Infant; Injections, Intramuscular; Methylprednisolone; Penicillins; Tetracycline