Tetracyclines should be avoided in pregnancy unless unavoidable.
During pregnancy, tetracyclines can cause problems with skeletal development in the unborn foetus as well as liver toxicity in the mother.
The drug is also excreted into breast milk and therefore should be used with extreme caution in breastfeeding mothers. The potential to inhibit adequate bone development in the baby should be explained to the mother and if an alternative product is available then this should be used instead.