Frequently Asked Questions – Tetracyclines

Disclaimer: The information below is provided as a courtesy to address general questions. As we are not medical professionals, we cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of this information. By reading this information, you agree not to hold us liable for any damages that may result in your use of this information. This information should not replace information that your Doctor or Plastic Surgeon provides you. Please keep in mind that this is for general information only and results will vary for each individual. Always take your medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

-------

Tetracyclines are common antibiotics prescribed to help kill acne-causing bacteria in a patient’s body. There are three different kinds of tetracycline in terms of acne: Minocycline, Doxycycline, and Tetracycline. Side effects and other information regarding the three tetracyclines are generally the same; for this reason, grouping all three into one convenient FAQ is appropriate.

For the purposes of this FAQ, assume that Minocycline is the less potent of the three, Doxycyline is next in line, and Tetracycline is the most potent. So, in terms of strength:

Tetracyclines:
Minocycline -> Doxycyline -> Tetracycline

Also, note that the stronger the tetracycline, the greater the type, severity, and risk of side effects.

In this FAQ, lowercase “tetracycline(s)� refers to any of the above three drugs. Capital “Tetracycline� refers to the specific drug at the end of the above spectrum.

-------

What else are tetracyclines prescribed as?
- Minocycline is often sold as Minocin, Dynacin, Ventrin , Minocin Oral, and generic Minocycline.
- Doxycycline is often sold as Doryx, Doxy Caps, Doxychel Hyclate, Monodox, Periostat, Vibra-Tabs, and Vibramycin
- Tetracycline is often sold as Achromycin V, Panmycin, Robitet Robicaps, Sumycin, Tetracap, and Topicycline
- There is generally no difference each drug brand, except, as some may argue, for “filler ingredients� which affect how the tetracycline is absorbed. Your doctor will prescribe what he or she feels is the most effective brand of the drug.

How do tetracyclines work?
- Tetracyclines are antibiotics absorbed into the bloodstream through the digestive system. They have two acne fighting components. They kill acne-causing bacteria, but they also contain anti-inflammatory agents. This means that tetracyclines CAN help acne, even if they fail to kill the underlying bacteria. In fact, the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology says that Minocycline “is safer than ibuprofen,� which is also an anti-inflammatory.

What is the normal dosage for the drug?
- Depending on your age, weight, the severity of your acne problem, and the professional advice of your doctor, tetracyclines may be prescribed to be taken once a day to up to four times a day in dosages ranging from 50mg to 500mg each.
- Generally, the dosage depends on the strength of the drug. Some doctors increase the dosage as their patients progress through the standard Minocycline > Doxycyline > Tetracycline drug process.

How should I take a tetracycline?
- Tetracyclines come in capsules/tablets (and occasionally syrups) and are to be taken orally. Unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you otherwise, take tetracyclines on an empty stomach. However, if this results in an upset stomach, ask your doctor if it is ok to take it with milk or with food.
- Always take them with a full glass of water.
- Do not lie down until thirty minutes to an hour has elapsed after taking a tetracycline, as doing so may prevent proper absorption.

What else will my doctor prescribe while on a tetracycline?
- It is commonplace for a doctor or dermatologist to also prescribe a topical cream or gel to combat existing acne on the surface, thus maximizing results. Your doctor may also put you on a vitamin supplement that will promote proper skin complexion and overall skin health without conflicting with the tetracycline.
- Your doctor may also take a culture sample of the liquid, or pus, with in a pimple to make sure that your acne is not caused by a parasite-like microorganism within your body

Can tetracyclines come into conflict with other medications if taken at the same time?
- Yes. Tetracyclines may decrease the effectiveness of another antibiotic if taken simultaneously. Inform your doctor if you are currently doing so. This drug may also complicate the effectiveness of some antacids, anticoagulants, penicillin, and oral contraceptives.
- It is also suggested that patients avoid taking tetracyclines within one to three hours of taking antacids, calcium supplements, and laxatives containing magnesium. This is because these drugs may prevent the proper absorption of tetracyclines from the digestive system into the blood stream.

What can I expect within the first few weeks of taking a tetracycline?
- Within the first few weeks, your body may experience a breakout. This is normal and to be expected; it is your body’s way of getting used to the tetracycline. Think of it as the tetracycline “pushing� all the dormant acne to the surface – if the particular drug is right for you, clear skin may follow.
- When starting out, headache or dizziness may occur, but these should subside once your body gets used to the antibiotic.

So how long before I start seeing results?
- It depends on the severity of your acne, however, most patients see improvement in about four to six weeks after starting a tetracycline regimen. For some, it may be longer, or never happen at all, in which case you should contact your doctor.

What are the symptoms of a tetracycline overdose? What should I do incase of such an overdose?
- Overdosing on a tetracycline can result in complications, including but not limited to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even the overall ineffectiveness of the medication in the long term.
- For these reasons, the importance of taking the antibiotic exactly as prescribed is paramount.
- If you suspect an overdose, seek immediate medical attention from your doctor, a hospital, or your poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Remember that an overdose may not necessarily yield the aforementioned side effects, but could still be hazardous to your health.

Is it ok to take tetracyclines at different times of the day?
- A tetracycline work best when a consistent amount of the drug is in your body. For this reason, take your drug at regular intervals, as suggested below:

- If prescribed once a day: take once every 24 hours.
- If prescribed twice a day: take once every 12 hours.
- If prescribed three times a day: take once every 8 hours.
- If prescribed four times a day, take once every 6 hours.

And so on. Regardless of what you read online or elsewhere, always take your medicine as directed by your doctor.

Is it ok for my children to take tetracyclines?
- Unless your doctor believes otherwise, generally the answer is no. Tetracyclines may cause permanent yellow discoloration of the teeth and possibly even growth defects in patients eight years or younger.

What lifestyle changes should I make while taking tetracyclines?
- Tanning is not a good idea. The higher your dosage, the more susceptible to the sun’s harmful UV rays your skin becomes. Thus, you will burn easier and quicker. For this reason, you should always wear sun screen and protective clothing to avoid damaging your skin and actually making your acne worse.
- Limit alcoholic beverages as much as possible, as your liver and kidneys may be weakened by the medicine.
- Tell your dentist or surgeon if you are on a tetracycline before getting surgery, since your body is more sensitive to punctures and damage while on the medicine.
- Take caution when operating machinery, as tetracyclines can make you dizzy.
- Since tetracyclines weaken your immune system, it's probably a good idea to avoid smoking cigarettes and getting high as much as possible. Doing so won't make your skin worse, but it could make the post-antibiotic recovery process longer.

My skin is breaking out, and I have some leftover tetracycline. Even though it is expired, can I still take it to suppress my current breakout?
- No. Taking expired tetracyclines can result in a severe kidney condition, so promptly discard it.

I’m afraid I might be allergic to tetracyclines. What side effects should I watch for?
- About 1% of the population is allergic to tetracyclines. If you suspect you may be among this percentage, discontinue taking the antibiotic until you can consult with your doctor.
- Those allergic to tetracyclines may experience a breakout in hives two or three weeks after beginning the treatment. Other side effects related to an allergic reaction may include a sick feeling, swelling of the lips, face, or tongue, difficulty breathing, rash, skin lesions/sores, itching, severe dizziness, new or worsening swelling/pain in the joints, chest pain, and a fast/irregular heartbeat.

Is getting pregnant ok while on a tetracycline?
- Absolutely not. Tetracyclines can harm a fetus in the womb or possibly a breastfed baby, resulting in improper bone and tooth development. If you become pregnant, immediately stop taking the tetracycline and consult your doctor.
- Also, tetracyclines may reduce the effectiveness of certain forms of birth control, such as the pill or patch. For this reason, always use a second form of birth control.

What are some other possible side effects of tetracyclines?
- As with any drug, there are often a wide variety of possible side effects. Some that are not necessarily cause for deep concern include: itching of the rectum or vagina, diarrhea, furry darkening or black discoloration of the tongue, vision changes. discolored eyes, genital sores or itches, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, vaginal yeast infection, confusion, and dizziness.
- If any of these become intolerable, consult your doctor.
-Additionally, your doctor should be informed if you have any of the following side effects: skin rash, unusual bleeding or bruising, pain or discomfort in the mouth, throat sores, fever, chills, nail discoloration, muscle pain, difficult or painful swallowing, change in amount or color (typically a dark color) of urine, brown/gray tooth discoloration, numbness/tingling of the hands/feet, unusual fatigue, persistent or severe headache, vision changes, easy bruising/bleeding, severe stomach/abdominal pain, and yellowing eyes/skin.
- Some of these side effects may be caused by an allergy to sulfites, so it might be a good idea to tell your doctor if you are, in fact, allergic to them.
- Tetracyclines may also cause a rare, but severe intestinal condition known as pseudomembranous colitis. This may even occur weeks after stopping the tetracycline regimen. Persistent diarrhea and/or abdominal or stomach pain/cramping may be signs of this condition, so contacting your doctor immediately if you experience either is imperative.

Are there any permanent side effects associated with tetracyclines?
-Yes. 1 in every 10,000 Minocycline users will develop hypersensitivity-lupus, characterized by severe joint pains. This form of lupus is unique to Minocycline users, and may appear up to three years AFTER the last dose of Minocycline is taken.
- 1 in every 10,000 tetracycline users may also experience psychological problems, or even “pseudotumor cerebri,� which is an accumulation of fluid around the brain, causing progressively worsening headaches and vision problems.
- While the odds that the average tetracycline user will get these side effects are low, it should be noted that they DO exist, and that these risks should be assessed by you and your doctor.

What are the risks of being on a tetracycline for over a year or more?
- An accumulation of tetracyclines in the body may cause one’s skin to develop a purplish tint. They look like bruises, and can take up to a year to fade away. Routine doctor visits and Vitamin C 500mg twice daily can reduce this risk.
- The longer you are on an antibiotic, the less effective it becomes. This is because the acne-causing bacteria becomes immune to the antibiotic by mutating into “super bacteria,� making your acne worse and possibly untreatable. Further, if you get another kind of infection while on a tetracycline (for example, pneumonia), antibiotics may not be an effective treatment option. This is a serious cause for concern. Antibiotics can also cause Candida, a condition where white patches form on one’s tongue. This is because the acne antibiotic also kills beneficial bacteria found on the tongue that fights off a naturally-occurring yeast infection. Other side effects still exist, but tetracycline users should always work with their doctors to find alternatives to antibiotic use.

-------
"Doxycycline." RxList Monographs. 08 December 2004. RxList. 03 August 2005. <http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/doxycyc_ids.htm>.

"Minocycline." Dermatologic Disease Database. 2004. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. 06 July 2005. <http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_dise...ycline.html>.

"Minocycline." Drugs.com 2005 version. 14 February 2003. Micromedex Physicians Desk Reference. 06 July 2005. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginf...er/a682101.html>.

"Minocycline." RxList Monographs. 08 December 2004. RxList. 06 July 2005.
<http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/minocycline.htm>.

"Minocycline Oral." MedlinePlus Drug Information. 01 April 2003. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. 06 July 2005. <http://www.drugs.com/minocycline.html>.

"Questions and Answers for Consumers on Doxycycline." Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. 02 November 2001. FDA. 03 August 2005. <http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/penG_doxy/QA_doxy.htm>.

"Tetracycline." Drugs.com 2005 version. 01 April 2003. Micromedex Physicians Desk Reference. 03 August 2005.
<http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginf...er/a682098.html>.

-------

I myself have taken Minocycline, Doxycycline, and Tetracycline for my skin at different times (I have since been off all medications). At one point I was taking 500mg Tetracycline twice a day – that’s an entire gram of antibiotics daily. I did this research to inform myself and others about what these drugs do, and what the risks are. I want to keep this guide accurate, up to date, and helpful, so if you have any questions, comments, or corrections, please message me and I will edit this post. Thank you and good luck.

-------

Change/Edit Log:
08-05-05: Added advice regarding smoking while on tetracyclines.
08-12-05: Added a question addressing how long it takes for a tetracycline regimen to yield results.

If you want or need an acne prescription, see a doctor and get it legally. If you get prescriptions illegally online you could easily hurt yourself or waste your money.

- Independent studies have been performed on the sale of Internet-bought prescriptions. Often the prescription contains no active ingredient, little active ingredient, or in a worst case scenario toxic amounts of active ingredient.

- Drugs bought without a prescription can actually be a completely different compound from what the buyer intends.

Acne.org prohibits the illegal trade of any form of drug or prescription drug. If you see a post from someone selling a prescription, please report it immediately. Thanks.

Hi-Guys, I just found this site, and its great! All the blogs are so helpful. I have had Acne since 16, and am 31 now. Since turning 30, the acne went from hundreds of pimples to huge cyst. I have tryed so many medicines and OTC medications. Unfortunally, none worked. I went to the Dermatologist on Monday and he prescribed me Bactrim DS 800mg twice a day. I really hope, and pray it works for me. I work with lots of little munchkins, and they always remained me how ugly my bu-bu's are. They don't mean it in a bad way of course, but it has created some low-self esteem. I will keep ya updated!!! So glad to have the opportunity to be open with others who really understand

So I have been taking doxycycline for about a month, and I finish in one more month. My skin is almost completely clear!! I'm not sure if my acne will come back once I stop using it. I'm now using ACV so maybe that could replace doxy in a way?

I'm wondering if, for the last few pills of doxy, should I gradually stop using it? As in taking longer breaks between each consumption?

Something like this:

Pill #1
24 hours
Pill #2
30 hours
pill #3
45 hours
pill #4
60 hours

etc...

Hey guys,

Quick background. Acne for last 10 years. Several years of very severe, face, chest, and back. Back and chest are clear now. Never have had a clear face. Really want to put all this Acne BS in my past. Acne causes me depression and anxiety.

Past treatments:
OTC benzoyl peroxide
OTC salicylic acid
Proactiv
Retin-A
Clindamyacin
Facials
Chemical Peels
Minocycline
Smooth Beam Laser
V beam laser
Accutane
Diet Changes
Vitamin Regimines
Holistic approaches etc...

So I recently moved and went to a new derm. She told me to take Doryx ( Time release Doxycycline) and Epiduo once a day.

So this was 2 weeks ago and the sample packs of both drugs are still just sitting on my desk. Basically, I'm too scared to start a new treatment because of my 10 years of failed treatments, side effects, and irritation.

What should I do?

I'm 23 so this BS has to end 1 day, although, I have been telling myself that for years now.

Should I take the Antibiotic? Is there any chance that this will hurt me more than help me? What about the Epiduo? I've tried benzoyl peroxide and topical retonoids before but they didn't work, should I still try the Epiduo? Can that hurt me?

Basically I am super nervous of my acne getting worse or having side effects. My mom had a theory that now, since my acne is for sure better than it was, the antibiotics may have a real effect. Any opinions on that?

I would say now that my acne is moderate and in the past it has been severe and cystic. Currently, I have widespread black heads and clogged pores. Pretty much my entire nose and all the pores near my nose. Lots of clogged pores/black heads on my chin and forehead area also. On average, if I wanted to, at any given time on any given day there are at least 30-40 pores I could squeeze pus out of that are not inflamed. ( I don't EVER pick at my face anymore though)
Then inflamed acne and or white heads. I would say on average I have between 10-20 lessions that could be popped. And then probably 20-30 red spots that are healing. Pretty much widespread throughout my whole face. Extending a little on my neck below my ears and sometimes under my jawline and under my chin. My acne seems to have gotten better in the sense that I don't get the huge cystic swollen painful acne. But still, I have total acne all over my face and it bothers me severely.

Should I have faith and take the drugs.

Does anyone think how antibiotics work? I mean you take the pill and it gets absorbed into your body but how do the antibiotics get from your bloodstream to the surface of your skin?

How long does the IB breakout last when you start anitbiotics? Can it start on day 4 of starting? Need to know cause my face look worse then it did when i started aweek ago. PLEASE HELP

I'll keep this short and to the point..

Two weeks ago got on mino and after my workout in the gym I had an empty space in my brain and bad started. My brain felt ice cube cold and then would switch to sun burn hot on the brain. vision always slowed when looking at different things. Also my vision kinda has a hazy dark shield over everything I see. Bottom line aweful and thought I was dying!

Called the doc and got off it and put on Doxy. Didnt take doxy over the past week cause I wanted headaches to stop and they did and I was cured. Now took Doxy today and after my workout in the gym again all symptoms are back and there is heavy pressure in my brain. Feels like its being pinched in one spot. but it has moved to another spot in my brain and now back to the main one. Very painful and very scared. not taking my second dose as precribed tonight and will only take one tomorrow as well to see how I do. IS THIS GOOD IDEA? SHOULD I STOP TAKING THIS AS WELL BECAUSE OF DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECTS???

I heard bad things with mino but not anything on whether doxy can also cause all the brain problems.

NEED TO KNOW IF TAKING THIS IS WORTH THE PAIN OR IF IM CAUSEING BRAIN DAMAGE!!!
PLEASE HELP ASAP!!!

Hey everybody. I just recently got some cultured samples of the bacteria from some active pimples as well as a nose sample. I went to the derm again today and he said that its unusual that the bacteria is resistant to tetracycline..... has anyone else experienced this? When I was younger, I am 19 now, I was on all different types of antibiotics...... so I don't know if that's what did it..... but he prescribed me an antibiotic called "cipro" anyways, if anyone has any info on being resistant to tetracyline and possibly why that would be most helpful!

I have been using this for over a week now. First couple of days were really bad. Stomach ache alll the time. Heartburn. Although I don't know whether the heartburn was related. It seems to have settled down now though. I'm taking 250mg twice a day.

Can't notice an improvement as of yet. But this is more appealing to me cos I can take it with food. I was on Oxytetracycline prior to this and it did nothing for me. My doctor pretty much said we'd have to go through all the antibiotics before he would even consider referring me to a dermatologist. Is this usual?

Please share your experience with this.

Been on Amoxi(something) for two months...never did anything for me so my doctor switched me to Doxcy and I've been on it for a month and a half and I'm perfectllyyy clear. Problem is...if I skip taking it for a few days I break out badddddd. So everyday I take one. The problem though, is how long can I take 100mg Doxcy before I get resistant? I know it's different for everyone, but on average?

I can't ask my Derm cause he's an ass and tells me to take them foreverrrrrrr and when I ask about resistance he just shrugs it off and tells me the sameee thing. No topical cream has ever worked on me. Doxcy is the only thing that works. My derm won't give me any other pills but antiobitics and keeps giving me topical treatments even though he knows topical treatments do nothing for me. :/ ( Plus he always gives me something with BP in it even though I'm ALLERGIC)

Are there any other pills BESIDE antibiotics that I can take for acne? Because my derm refuses to discuss it with me and either brings up accutane (NOT DOING THAT) or antibiotics. Obviously, I don't go to him anymore and am currently in the process of looking for another derm.

But until then, anyone have some advice on what I can do? Keep taking the doxcy for longer or try to find some other pills?

Thanks.

So my doctor just prescribed me Clindasol for my acne... which is mild right now!! (just these red marks!! ugh!) well its clindamycin 1% and it has SPF 15 in it. So have any of you guys used it before? please leave reviews or w/e you guys think of it!
THANK YOU!

Just saw the Dermatologist yesterday and he prescribed Lymecycline as my spots are very resistant to Doxy, I have on them for nearly two years. He said it is similar to Doxy but more effective against resistant spots. I also want to know, I will not get my new prescribtions for another few more days and I forgot to ask him whether I should continue wth the doxy until I get them or discontinue Doxy and wait for the new antibiotics. Pl what do you normally do when one antibiotics are discontinued and new ones prescribed? Thanks

has anyone thats been on minocycline ever experienced liquid filled lumps on your toes or in between them.
Because i never used to have anything wrong with my feet previous to using minocycline and now ive been getting these litle lumps on my toes and theyre really gross :S

hey,
i was recently prescribed the antibiotic minocycline and it was helping my acne quite well.
after 3 weeks of use i was feeling better than ever, no side effects at all.
Until one day after gym and i previously drank a few litres of water and and a few hours later when i was urinating my piss was a dark dark yellow when it should have been clear from all the water i drank throughout the day.
I called my dermatologist the next day and he said i have to stop taking the drug and i heard it might have been an allergic reaction. he was on holiday so he didnt say much apart from that my body might not like this drug.
i was just hoping someone could give me an idea as to what happend.
thanks

My doctor has prescribed me with Tetralysal for what she said herself was 'not acne, but a skin infection'.
I had tried some anti-biotic gel which was prescribed first. It dried my face up but didn't fix the rash. She has given me this and I am about to start treatment but im just wondering if it is the right thing? Ive been signed up to take this for 8 weeks.

Can anyone give me any advice?

I know myself from what it looks like and how it feels it's not acne. The rash started when i was travelling in South East Asia about 4 weeks ago.

I have been on doxycycline for 2 months now, and it seems to me that it is making my acne worse. I will probablt be starting accutane in januray, but my doctor decided to keep me on doxy til then. I feel that it has improved my blackheads and such, but my deep, enflamed acne just seems worse then ever!!!

I have cystic acne that i've had since I was 13 (I'm 20 now). Recently it's been getting worse so i was on anti biotics. Doxy worked perfectly for the first month then just completely stopped working. When I stopped using it my acne came back about just as bad as it was before. Now I'm on moni and it's working but I feel like a ZOMBIE.

I feel tired 24/7 no matter how much sleep i get and I am so easily irritated. The other day I completely flipped out over something SO small. Later that night I thought back and was afraid of that person that I was earlier in the day. I was so agitated that i looked in the mirror, saw that my shirt looked silly, then proceeded to RIP MY SHIRT IN HALF and tear it off my body. WTF?!?!?! This is not me. I have NEVER in my life done anything like this.

I'm on week 2 of Monicycline and I can feel these bouts of rage and depression start to surface; once i realize that it's from the medication i can manage to calm myself down. But starting tomorrow I'm stopping this antibiotic. I hate these band-aid fixes with shitty side effects.

I've heard horror stories of accutane and my acne is definitely not bad enough to take it.. but at what point is this sh*t enough?

So I have been on Minocycline for 5 days now and I have been having the worst headaches. I just called my derm and she is calling something else in for me tomorrow.

I am so tired of antibiotics! I wish she would just put me on accutane already.

I've been taking doxy 100mg for nearly a year, along with zinc and niacin supplement, but as I figured out that they really messed up my stomach and some other internal problems, I was off from them 2 weeks ago.

But I found out lately that my hair is significantly losing, like more than 10 on my pillow when I wake up, and they keep shedding when I wash my hair, I wonder if it's the long term doxy cause the hair loss problem, do anyone share the same situation with me? I really wanna know what is happening. Thanks!

well,
im 15 years old and have had acne since i was 12-13.
At the start my pimples were easy to deal with i wasnt too worried about them. But at around 13-14 its started getting worse and worse. I have moderate acne so i always have plenty of pimples and used to get HUGE! ones out of nowhere with multiple white heads on a particular spot. But in the last few months after previously being on doxycycline and erythromycin and differen i went to the derm to see if i could go on accutane. I didnt just hear about accutane and go "yeh ill take that" and did hours of research on it about the side effects and all that stuff, the way it works and i just hit a certain time of what many acne sufferers experience when theyre sick of trying everything they want it to be over and done with. So i went to the derm he had a look at me and i mentioned that i wanted to go on accutane and he said. I understand you want it to go away now but in the future you may strongly regret taking this drug. Also, my acne wasnt that bad for me to go straight on accutane. Anyways, he prescribed me minocycline and epiduo topical gel which has benzoil peroxide in it. And after only a week i wasnt getting any huge pimple that i used to get and it took a while to see results with the topical gel because my skin had to get used to the bp. But honestly try everything before you consider going on accutane because its alot less worth while. and now my skin is alot easier to deal with than it was previously.

Antibiotics work against acne because they help your body fight off/kill the p. acne bacteria, right?

So, where do you *originally* get that bacteria from?

According to the internet, acne is *not* contagious. So, how does that work?

If you get strep throat - another bacterial infection...you have it until your body fights it off. Then it's *gone*. Until you get re-infected. If the p. acne bacteria is 'naturally occurring' how can an antibiotic provide lasting treatment?

Likewise, I've read that 'Tetracycline-resistant P. acnes is now quite common'. How is that possible? If you haven't taken tetracycline and failed to finish the full dose...how could you have tetracycline resistant acne, unless it is contagious?

I have been on minocycline for 5 weeks now.. I have seen some improvement.. I have had no side effects.. Right now I am taking 100mg per day.. I think that 100mg is not enough.. I read it goes on your body weight .. I weight 210 lbs.. I read that you should take 100mg every 12 hours.. This is what i am going to try starting today.. please let me know what you think...

so i've been on minocycline for a month or so now, and i'm 100% clear. i've used ever other topical substance in the world and nothing has really worked.. so i'm glad this is. however, i've heard that after being on an anti-biotic for some time, it stops working.. due to the bacteria becoming immune to it. so now i'm kind of nervous.

has this happened to anybody here?

can anybody share their experience with this on me, who has used an oral-antibiotic for any good length of time? and would you recommend to stop using it and find somthing else, or let it run its course?

thanks!!!!

I see a lot of people wanting to try out Minocycline, and of course, your dermatologist will tell you the typical side-effects - dizziness, sensitive to sunlight, etc.
But what really is unfortunate is that they don't typically warn you about the serious side effects, which, unfortunately for myself, I am currently experiencing.

In case you're wondering, I have moderate acne and have been on Minocycline in combination with Spironolactone for about a year. I also had some creams, but I only used them for spots and they're not important to my overall story anyway.

Symptoms and Time Frame

About 2 months ago, maybe a little more, I began to experience severe headaches. They weren't constant, but it felt like I was getting them every day - right before I went to bed and right when I woke up. I thought maybe it was stress with it being finals week and I was just grinding my teeth at night. I shrugged it off for the time being. They went away, but started coming back a few weeks later. My mom thought it had to do with my teeth as well, so she bought me a mouth guard to wear at night. Unfortunately, it didn't help. The headaches eventually became constant.

About a month ago now, I started getting back pain. I thought maybe it was because I was sleeping over at a bunch of different houses so I was just uncomfortable with the bed situation, so again I ignored it. When I slept at my house, I still had the back pain and I was confused as to why it was still happening. My mom and I went out and bought a new pillow and mattress pad (my bed was hard as a rock anyhow), but as you can guess, the pain was still there.

At the same time, I had this weird ringing noise in my right ear. Not exactly ringing, I suppose, but I could definitely hear my heartbeat constantly in my ear. It made sleeping very difficult because all I could hear was this noise. It was awful.

I hadn't visited the doctor by this point in time. I thought all the symptoms were separate and didn't think much of anything.

Finally, I began to have vision problems not 3 weeks ago. I kept blacking out for anywhere from 1 to 10 seconds at a time whenever I stood up. Sometimes it would cover my entire vision to the point of not being able to see to just the outer edges. It was kind of like when you stand up too fast and you get that light-headed feeling, sometimes coupled with vision impairment? Yeah, like that.

I also felt disoriented at times and was having trouble thinking and spelling. I couldn't even spell "writing" and I'm 19 years old.

Doctors' Appointments & Diagnosis

The vision problems were the last straw, so I called up my family doctor. He saw me right away on Wednesday two weeks ago, although he couldn't conclude much. The only thing he noted along with my symptoms above was that my optic nerves were swollen. He recommended me to an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

Nothing much different to say at the ophthalmologist I saw on Friday two weeks ago. He dilated my pupils and also recognized the optic nerve swelling. He told me to make a follow-up appointment in the coming weeks and I went home.

I got a call from my family doctor that night at home. He had been speaking with a neurologist about my symptoms and medications (obviously Minocycline was included in that list), and although it's hard to diagnose, they both decided that I had the following:

Idiomatic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH)/Pseudo Tumor Cerebri (PTC)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiopathic_intracranial_hypertension

What this is in a nutshell is a neurological disorder in which a patient experiences similar symptoms a person with a brain tumor would feel (hence "pseudo tumor"). All of my symptoms from above are what characterizes this disorder, along with nausea (although I never experienced this). It basically involves increased pressure in the brain from an increased produced of spinal fluids.

Papilledema
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papilledema

This is one of the most obvious physical symptoms of IIH/PTC. It entails swelling of the optic disc caused by increased brain pressure. So they go hand in hand.

Mind you, these are both very rare, which is why the doctors had a hard time deciding if I should be diagnosed or not. But all signs pointed directly to this. I took it upon myself earlier that week to research my symptoms and a lot of the articles I read pointed to IIH. It typically occurs in obese people (which I am not), but the articles all said that studies have found a link between Minocycline and IIH. It's very rare that this happens, but it does all the same, which is why I wanted you guys to know about this. It's frightening knowing that a simple pill used to treat acne could lead to this. I'm not doing this to gain sympathy or anything. I thought I would go blind. I was truly scared for my life and I don't want anyone else to feel so lost or confused as I was.

If you want to know the personal hell I experienced because of this drug, please read on.

Treatments

MRI
After this phone call, I had an emergency MRI scheduled that Saturday night. This obviously involves no pain and I just had to sit in a small, enclosed space for an hour listening to sounds similar to a school fire alarm. Exciting, I know. But this was to confirm that I did not have a brain tumor and would be safe for me to have the next leg of my treatment...

Lumbar Puncture/Spinal Tap
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumbar_puncture
I had this last Monday and it is something I NEVER wish to experience in my life.
I won't go into details in case some people are squeamish/afraid of needles. Let's just say I was crying my eyes out during the entire procedure because I was frightened and the initial pain was terrible.
This was suppose to take out excess spinal fluid in my spine. This, in combination with another medication I was taking - Diamox - I should have begun to feel better in a few days time.

Blood Patch
You can look this up on google for the same reason as the spinal tap.
But I guess the spinal tap didn't heal properly and I had a CSI (spinal fluid) leak internally causing the same severe headaches I had prior, as well as nausea.
I had this this morning and like the spinal tap, I never want this again either. Maybe I'm just a wuss. But I feel loads better aside from a little back pain.
...


All in all, was all this worth nice skin? NO WAY. I'm sorry for the terribly long post, but there was a lot to say. I've been stuck in my house for 3 weeks trying to recoup all because of Minocycline's side effects and I still cannot believe all this was caused by that little pill. I want everyone to know that there are always risks in taking these sort of medications and you need to look out for yourselves and be careful.

Feel free to ask questions if you have any, by the way.

Has anyone had success taking minocycline for about 6-8 months or longer, and than becoming a bit resistant ( not fully) and than switching to doxy and getting results. I know they are different but ive heard that you can become resistant to doxy even if youve only taken mino.

thank you. ; )

On monday I woke up with a mild sore throat and didn't think too much about it. I was seeing the doctor monday evening to change my acne medication to minocycline. I took my first minocycline MR 100mg capsule on monday evening.

Ever since then I have woke up feeling run down with a sore throat. It gets slightly better during the day but feels like I have mild flu. Could a side-effect like this develop quickly with the medication, or do I have a flu or cold? As I had a mild sore throat before taking the medication.

I've recently starting taking these antibiotics, 3 weeks in so far and some improvement. No side effects. I'm taking one or two tablets a day (each tablet is 408mg) before I go to bed.

I thought it'd be interesting to share a discussion with other people taking it.

What dose are you on?
How long have you been on the course?
Any side effects?

Hi

I've been on Tetralysal 300 for a few months and my dosage has recently been updated to two tablets a day.
I'm just wondering when would be the best times to take them?
Both together or at different times during the day?

Thanks for any advice!

So I got a prescription for this today. The doc told me to apply it morning and evening. In the morning, is it ok to apply it, and then wash it off after an hour or so? How long does it take for it to penetrate and do its work before it can be washed off? I don't want to put my makeup over this stuff as its going to be very drying.