Tetralysal

What is Tetralysal?

Tetralysal is an antibiotic capsule that’s usually prescribed to treat moderate to severe acne, but it can also help with other types of skin infection.

The recommended dose is usually one pill every day (in the morning), and you’ll likely take it for 8 to 12 weeks.. It’s important to take your full course of Tetralysal, even if your symptoms clear up. This is to stop the bacteria from coming back.

How does Tetralysal work?

Acne is usually caused by one of two things. Hormonal changes or large groups of bacteria clogging up your pores (or both). Genetics and diet may also play a role. Tetralysal works by targeting acne-causing bacteria that live on your skin.

Our skin glands produce a mix of chemicals known as sebum. Sebum helps to keep our hair and skin nice and healthy. Unfortunately, bacteria love sebum. When our sebaceous glands produce too much sebum, bacteria starts to feed on it. The clogging-up of our pores by bacteria can cause spots, redness, swelling and other symptoms of acne.

The main ingredient in Tetralysal is lymecycline. Lymecycline is an antibiotic that targets bacteria and stops it from producing the proteins that it needs to survive. Once lymecycline has starved the bacteria of its much-needed proteins it’s then weakened and killed by your body’s immune system.^[1]

What doses of Tetralysal are there?

There’s only one dose of Tetralysal, which is a 300mg capsule. The usual recommended treatment for acne is one of these pills a day, in the morning, for 8 to 12 weeks.

How to take Tetralysal

You should always follow the instructions of your clinician when taking Tetralysal, as well as paying attention to the leaflet that comes with your treatment.

• Take as advised by your prescriber.
• For acne, this will likely be one capsule per day.
• It’s recommended that you take it in the morning.
• How long you take this treatment for will depend on the severity of your symptoms. This might be around 8 to 12 weeks.
• Swallow capsules whole with a glass of water.
• Don’t take more than the prescribed amount.
• If you forget to take it, do so when you remember and carry on the treatment as normal. However, if it is time for your next dose, skip the one you have missed, and take your next dose at the scheduled time.^[2]

Avoid taking treatments for indigestion or supplements containing iron, calcium, or magnesium at the same time as your capsule, as they can stop the treatment from working properly.

How long does it take Tetralysal to work?

Like with all antibiotics for acne, it can often take several weeks before you notice any difference. The length of time that it takes to treat acne can vary from person to person, and will depend on the severity of your acne as well as your own personal response to the treatment. If you don’t see any benefits from the treatment after eight weeks then have a chat with our clinician. They’ll help you look for alternatives that might work better for you.

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Tetralysal?

Fortunately, overdoses on antibiotics are very rare. That being said, it’s important that you do not take more than your daily prescribed amount. If you do miss a dose just be sure to take it as soon as you can. It’s recommended that you take your capsule in the morning, but so long as one capsule is taken per day it should still be safe and effective.