Reactions induced by the concurrent use of thimerosal and tetracycline

We examined the reaction to thimerosal which occurred when patients were prescribed tetracyclines simultaneously. Nine patients were identified who had been using a 0.004% thimerosal-containing contact lens solution for over 6 months. All had developed varying degrees of ocular reaction (red eye, irritation, blepharitis) apparently as a result of taking tetracyclines concurrently. The reaction disappeared upon discontinuance of either the thimerosal or the tetracyclines. The hypothesis that the reaction was due to an interaction between thimerosal and tetracyclines was confirmed in rabbits.