6 replies to this topic

[prncess23]

Hello everyone,
I was put on Minocycline 100 mg 1 tablet, 2 times a day since October 2010. I cut down to 1 tablet per day for the last 2 months. It seems to be working wonderfully. If i see a cystic acne pop up, i just start taking it 2 times a day for about 3-5 days and it goes away.

I have some concerns:
- expensive: 200 tablets cost me about $90-$100.
- hair loss: i have been noticing more hair loss than usual and my eyelashes are falling...i know a long term side effect of minocycline is hair loss.

What is a good alternative??? i have used deoxycycline with no results, although now that i come to think of it, maybe the dosage was too low. Used Retin a, Retin a micro and Clindamycin with no results.

Ive been doing some research and it said that Lymecycline is a good, safer alternative, with none of the harsh side effects.

Oh, when i first took minocycline, i had the worst headache ever, and always felt like I was floating/dizzy. It was the weirdest feeling ever. I called the Pharmacist, and said my body is adjusting to it. I was fine after 2 weeks.

[biggs881]

Since you havn't mentioned your age, sex, acne history or treatment history, there is not much information to work with.

However, unless you want to be on minocycline forever, I strongly recommend that you get Accutane. You have cystic acne so you have the grounds to get Accutane, which will very likely clear you and which may give you permanent remission (in which case you won't have the ongoing cost of acne treatment).

Edited by jimmy188, 27 February 2011 - 11:22 PM.

[prncess23]

Since you havn't mentioned your age, sex, acne history or treatment history, there is not much information to work with.

However, unless you want to be on minocycline forever, I strongly recommend that you get Accutane. You have cystic acne so you have the grounds to get Accutane, which will very likely clear you and which may give you permanent remission (in which case you won't have the ongoing cost of acne treatment).

Oh sorry. I thought i included that information.

I'm a 27 year old Female, with moderate cystic acne.

I used to just get the regular whitehead and an occasional cystic acne, but as i got older, i have gotten cystic acne.

Even though my acne is under control, i have a lot of scars/marks, which show up a lot on my fair skin.

[biggs881]

Have you had acne since adolescence or did it recently develop?

Are confident that your acne will return if you stop minocycline?

Do you have anything in particular against Accutane?

Edited by jimmy188, 28 February 2011 - 01:10 AM.

[prncess23]

Have you had acne since adolescence or did it recently develop?

Are confident that your acne will return if you stop minocycline?

Do you have anything in particular against Accutane?

Yes i have had acne since adolescence...never went away or was even controlled until now with minocycline.

I know my acne will return if i stop minocycline, because i have gotten lazy a couple of times and didnt take minocycline for about 3 days and my acne came back...cysts....small ones, but still cysts. went away after 2-3 days of taking minocycline again.

the only thing i dont like about accutane is that it is required by law for females to take birth control pills while on accutane. Im going to have a baby, ill put it on paper and sign it, but i still have to take the birth control pills. Plus, i DONT think my case is so severe for me to qualify.

[biggs881]

You really have two choices as I see it: (1) Stay on minocycline indefinitely, or (2) go on Accutane.

Accutane is not just for severe acne; for example, it is also for lesser degrees of acne causing psychological scarring (which you may have) and/or physical scarring (which you do have). I suggest you read this thread concerning Accutane to get more of an idea of its effectiveness and safety.

Regarding birth control, I'm not American or a woman but I've heard that female acne patients in the US who want Accutane can elect to commit to total abstinence as their birth control instead of having to go on an actual contraceptive pill.

You might want to talk to your derm about this.

Edited by jimmy188, 28 February 2011 - 06:59 PM.

[prncess23]

You really have two choices as I see it: (1) Stay on minocycline indefinitely, or (2) go on Accutane.

Accutane is not just for severe acne; for example, it is also for lesser degrees of acne causing psychological scarring (which you may have) and/or physical scarring (which you do have). I suggest you read this thread concerning Accutane to get more of an idea of its effectiveness and safety.

Regarding birth control, I'm not American or a woman but I've heard that female acne patients in the US who want Accutane can elect to commit to total abstinence as their birth control instead of having to go on an actual contraceptive pill.

You might want to talk to your derm about this.

i was put on doxyclyine and acne is coming back even after i changed from one pill a day to one pill two times a day.

read post here

what should i do?