U.S. flag An official website of the United States government
  1. Home
  2. Drug Databases
  3. Drug Safety-related Labeling Changes

Drug Safety-related Labeling Changes (SrLC)

Get Email Alerts | Guide

TIGECYCLINE (NDA-208744)

(TIGECYCLINE)

Safety-related Labeling Changes Approved by FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)

Download Data

Expand all

03/31/2025 (SUPPL-6)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

5 Warnings and Precautions

5.12 Tetracycline-Class Adverse Effects

Additions and revisions underlined:

Tigecycline for injection is structurally similar to tetracycline-class antibacterial drugs and may have similar adverse effects. Such effects may include: photosensitivity, fixed drug eruption, pseudotumor cerebri, and anti-anabolic action (which has led to increased BUN, azotemia, acidosis, and hyperphosphatemia). Discontinue Tigecycline for Injection if any of these adverse reactions are suspected.

10/21/2020 (SUPPL-3)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

5 Warnings and Precautions

5.7 Monitoring of Blood Coagulation Parameters

(New subsection added)

Hypofibrinogenemia has been reported in patients treated with tigecycline for injection [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)]. Obtain baseline blood coagulation parameters, including fibrinogen, and continue to monitor regularly during treatment with tigecycline for injection.

5.8 Tooth Discoloration and Enamel Hypoplasia

(Subsection revised, additions/revisions underlined)

The use of tigecycline for injection during tooth development (last half of pregnancy, infancy, and childhood to the age of 8 years) may cause permanent discoloration of the teeth (yellowgray- brown). This adverse reaction is more common during long-term use of tetracyclines, but it has been observed following repeated short-term courses. Enamel hypoplasia has also been reported. Advise the patient of the potential risk to the fetus if tigecycline for injection is used during the second or third trimester of pregnancy [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1, 8.4)].

5.9 Inhibition of Bone Growth

(New subsection added)

The use of tigecycline for injection during the second and third trimester of pregnancy, infancy and childhood up to the age of 8 years may cause reversible inhibition of bone growth. All tetracyclines form a stable calcium complex in any bone-forming tissue. A decrease in fibula growth rate has been observed in premature infants given oral tetracycline in doses of 25 mg/kg every 6 hours. This reaction was shown to be reversible when the tetracycline was discontinued. Advise the patient of the potential risk to the fetus if tigecycline for injection is used during the second or third trimester of pregnancy [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1, 8.4)].

7 Drug Interactions

7.2 Calcineurin Inhibitors

(New subsection added)

Concomitant use of tigecycline for injection and calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus or cyclosporine may lead to an increase in serum trough concentrations of the calcineurin inhibitors. Therefore, serum concentrations of the calcineurin inhibitor should be monitored during treatment with tigecycline for injection to avoid drug toxicity.

8 Use in Specific Populations

8.1 Pregnancy

(PLLR conversion)

Risk Summary

 

Tigecycline for injection, like other tetracycline class antibacterial drugs, may cause permanent discoloration of deciduous teeth and reversible inhibition of bone growth when administered during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) (5.7), Data, and Use in Specific Populations (8.4)]. There are no available data on the risk of major birth defects or miscarriage following the use of tigecycline for injection during pregnancy. Administration of intravenous tigecycline in pregnant rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis was associated with reduction in fetal weights and an increased incidence of skeletal anomalies (delays in bone ossification) at exposures of 5 and 1 times the human exposure at the recommended clinical dose in rats and rabbits, respectively. Advise the patient of the potential risk to the fetus if tigecycline for injection is used during the second or third trimester.

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U. S. general population, the estimated background risk in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.

Data

Human Data

The use of tetracycline-class antibacterial drugs, that includes tigecycline for injection, during tooth development (second and third trimester of pregnancy) may cause permanent discoloration of deciduous teeth. This adverse reaction is more common during long-term use of tetracyclines but has been observed following repeated short-term courses. Tigecycline for injection may cause reversible inhibition of bone growth when administered during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. A decrease in fibula growth rate has been observed in premature infants given oral tetracycline in doses of 25 mg/kg every 6 hours.

Animal Data

In embryo-fetal development studies, tigecycline was administered during the period of organogenesis at doses up to 12 mg/kg/day in rats and 4 mg/kg in rabbits or 5 and 1 times the systemic exposure at the recommended clinical dose, respectively. In the rat study, decreased fetal weight and fetal skeletal variations (reduced ossification of the pubic, ischial, and supraoccipital bones and increased incidences of rudimentary 14th rib) were observed in the presence of maternal toxicity at 12 mg/kg/day (5 times the recommended clinical dose based on systemic exposure). In rabbits, decreased fetal weights were observed in the presence of maternal toxicity at 4 mg/kg (equivalent to the human exposure at the recommended clinical dose).

In preclinical safety studies, C- labeled tigecycline crossed the placenta and was found in fetal tissues.

 

8.2 Lactation

(PLLR conversion)

Risk Summary

There are no data on the presence of tigecycline in human milk; however, tetracycline-class antibacterial drugs are present in breast milk. It is not known whether tigecycline has an effect on the breastfed infant or on milk production. Tigecycline has low oral bioavailability; therefore, infant exposure is expected to be low. Tigecycline is present in rat milk with little or no systemic exposure to tigecycline in nursing pups as a result of exposure via maternal milk. When a drug is present in animal milk, it is likely that the drug will be present in human milk.

 

The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for tigecycline for injection and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from tigecycline for injection or from the underlying maternal condition (see Clinical Considerations).

Clinical Considerations

Because of the theoretical risk of dental discoloration and inhibition of bone growth, avoid breastfeeding if taking tigecycline for injection for longer than three weeks. A lactating woman may also consider interrupting breastfeeding and pumping and discarding breastmilk during administration of tigecycline for injection and for 9 days (approximately 5 half-lives) after the last dose in order to minimize drug exposure to a breastfed infant.

17 PCI/PI/MG (Patient Counseling Information/Patient Information/Medication Guide)

PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION

(Additions underlined)

Tooth Discoloration and Inhibition of Bone Growth

Advise pregnant women that tigecycline for injection may cause permanent discoloration of deciduous teeth and reversible inhibition of bone growth when administered during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6, 5.7) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1, 8.4)].

 

Lactation

Advise a woman not to breastfeed for longer than 3 weeks while taking tigecycline for injection because of the lack of data on effects due to prolonged breastfeeding, and the theoretical risk of dental discoloration and inhibition of bone growth. Women may also consider reducing infant exposure through pumping and discarding breastmilk during and for 9 days after the last dose of tigecycline [see Use in Specific Populations (8.2)].