Acne.org Products
Oral Antibiotic
Efficacy
54%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Should never be used on its own and for a maximum of 3 months.
Oral Antibiotic
Acne.org’s Real World Take
Antibiotics should be used for a maximum of 3 months, provide only moderate benefit and only to some people, and may lead to side effects and strains of resistant bacteria. Studies do show they can reduce severe acne in the short term, but approach with caution and stay your own advocate.
Oral Antibiotic
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Minocycline? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
October 28, 2008
Cons:
Constantly vomitting and dizzy. Cleared up the face within a week but constantly feeling tired and light headed.
Would not reccomend it! There has to be another and safer alternative to this stuff.
October 26, 2008
Pros:
30 days no results
Cons:
had to go to the e.r. caused tongue and throat to swell. On steriods now trying to keep inflamation at bay.
Hasn't worked for me
October 12, 2008
Pros:
Works very well.
Cons:
At around week 12 it started to make my stomach make weird growling noises. I have yet to find a solution to this so if anyone knows what it might be/what might help it please post...Also you MUST take this for 12 weeks. It did not help till week 12.
You must, and I mean must, take this within 2-3 hours of eating. A schedule I used was 8:15 AM take one 8 0z glass of water, swallow a 100mg minocycline pill, drink another 8 oz of water. At 11:45 am-12:15 pm I at a massive lunch such as vegetables, 2 pieces of chicken, rice, cookies and an 8 oz glass of water. At 8:15 pm I drank one 8 oz glass of water, swallowed a 100 mg minocycline pill and finished off with another 8 oz glass of water. At around 9:30 pm, I would wash my face with a soap, dry my face off, put hot water on a rag and dab it on my face, dry it off (remember to pat your face when drying it). I then put some Gel (the doctor gave me this as well) on the affected areas (be sure to percisely place this it may cause dry skin) and since it doesn't dry all that well, I had a little portable fan on Power 2 and just left it infront of my face/neck for about 5 minutes. Then I went to sleep. (change pillow cases every 3 nights/wash them). Follow this and you will be acne free.
September 23, 2008
Pros:
Cleared up acne in a couple days. Kept my skin from getting so oily and I couldn't make my skin break out if i tried!! I stopped taking it for a while and did break out but only in small amounts. No giant pimples again.
Cons:
I had no bad side effects. Its just expensive if you don't have insurance.
Cant wait to get it refilled!
August 6, 2008
Pros:
It got rid of my acne and made a lot of my redness go away. I had a few problem spots, but it was thousands times better than what I would have without it. However, this was paired with spironolactone, so I'm not sure if that made a difference.
Cons:
It never totally got rid of my acne and I contracted a rare condition as a side effect.
I tell this to everyone I know. Do NOT use minocyline. It is not worth it, at all.
Minocyline has a variety of side effects, but none compare to "Idiomatic Intercranial Hypertension" or "Pseudo Tumor Cerebri" (Check these out on google or Wikipedia if you don't know what I'm talking about.)
I started getting awful headaches about 2 months ago. Then I started having back pain and ear problems about a month ago. Finally, 2 weeks ago I had severe eye issues. I would stand and my vision would black out. I immediately saw my doctor and an eye doctor and they concluded I had IIH/PTC, as well as "papilledemia."
I've had to go through an MRI, lumbar puncture/spinal tap, I'm on new medication to relieve some of my head pressure and I just had a blood patch today to repair a leak the spinal tap had caused, making my headaches last longer than expected. I've been out of it for a month because of this drug.
I may not be the norm, but let me tell you - it sucked.
July 28, 2008
Pros:
None.
Cons:
After approx. 17 days I woke up with a terrible headache in the front and back portion of my head. In addition, the side/back portion of my neck was hurting. I stopped taking it the next day and the pain gradually disappeared over a few days.
Pain is so not worth the possible benefits of this drug for me! So for the past 1.5 months I've been taking Nicomide tablets (basically an Rx vitamin supplement) twice daily and they've helped to reduce the frequency of breakouts and assist in fading old red marks (with the help of Rx Finacea!). All without the possible dangerous side effects of antibiotics. Can be pricey, though!
July 25, 2008
Pros:
Did nothing bad.
Cons:
Did nothing good, either. Felt like taking sugar pills--I didn't have any side effects but I also didn't see any difference in my skin at all. That was a pretty big disappointment.
Other people seem to have miraculous results, but Minocycline did absolutely nothing for me!
May 19, 2008
Pros:
Improved my acne within weeks & prevents cystic acne
Cons:
Yeast infections, poor circulation & sun sensitivity.
I have been taking this anti-biotic for over a year now and it has worked well. But recently I have noticed alot more frequent break-outs and I feel like its not working as well anymore. I dont know what to do next...My doctor tells me birth control? Any advice?
May 15, 2008
Pros:
Cleared up acne the first time.
Cons:
The second time I took it, several years later, it made me incredible itchy and I developed welts all over.
Reading through these replies, I realize that I'm not the only one with this sort of reaction. Like the person from Canada, my allergy didn't develop until the second time I went on it. The first time I took it for facial acne and it worked, although it took about 6 months to my recollection. But the acne didn't come back and my face is clear to this day. The second time I went back on it for back acne, about three years later, and it made me itchy, but ignored the symptoms, until they got so bad I couldn't stand it. I stopped taking it (about a month ago) and I'm still itchy! THE BOTTOM LINE: TRY IT OUT, BUT DON'T IGNORE ANY SYMPTOMS LIKE ITCHINESS. JUST STOP TAKING IT.
May 5, 2008
Pros:
None
Cons:
I had a very rare and extreme allergic reaction. Within just 2 weeks of taking this drug, I had extreme pain in all of my joints. I was unable to lift my arms or drive. Ended up in the ER. This was a very rare case, but I thought I should share :)
I stopped taking it pretty quickly. For obvious reasons.
Pros:
easy to swallow,cheap with insurance