7 replies to this topic

[gecko333]

I've been on Tetralysal (Lymecycline) now for 6 months, they've pretty much cleared me up totally.
But, I'm desperate to get off them.
They have made me totally lose my appetite. I've lost 20lb during these 6 months (I was 160, now 140), and for a 6'2 guy, i'm now 'underweight), I try and try to eat more but I literally can't. After every small/normal meal I am just at bursting point.

Also, they give me really bad headaches, bad indigestion, and lately I have been having sleep problems, I put all these down to the antibiotics, when ever I burp I can taste them.

I'm next at my Dermatologist in 2 months time, when I'm going to ask to come off them, I just can't bare the side effects anymore and as I've lost so much weight I think it's medically dangerous for me to carry on with them.

But, I'm scared of breaking out again when I come off them. I have been using Epiduo (Differin + BP) for the 6 months too, but I'm scared my clearing is down to the Antibiotics.

Has anyone ever came off antibiotics, but continued using their Topical Cream and NOT had a re-lapse?

[Jenny P]

How long do they allow you to stay on that specific antibiotic?

[PaulH85]

I recently tapered off Doxycycline after close to eight months. Whenever I took antibiotcs in the past - done most of them over the years, including Lymecycline - I stopped dead and once it was out of my system my skin went crazy for several weeks. The only times I've ever has cystic acne was after a course of antibiotics. I didn't know any different and my doctor never talked about anything like that.

When I started the course of Doxy last year, I'd read on the message boards about tapering off so I kept it mind. I'd made diet changes which helped my skin such a lot and I wanted to make sure that continues to work for me even without the antibiotics. After five months I started tapering off. I took it every other day, then after a week or so I took it every three days, then a couple of weeks later I took it every four days. Last few pills were every five days.

It was technically a six month course but the last month of pills lasted almost eight weeks as a result of tapering off. Maybe it wasn't necessary to do it that slowly, I don;'t know. But what I do know is that it's definitely out of my system and my skin hasn't changed at all. My acne is still primarily being kept at bay through my diet, although I do still use Isotretinoin gel as topic if needed. My skin doesn't seem to have responded at all negatively to the fact I've tapered off so I'm certain that's the way to go.

[gecko333]

I recently tapered off Doxycycline after close to eight months. Whenever I took antibiotcs in the past - done most of them over the years, including Lymecycline - I stopped dead and once it was out of my system my skin went crazy for several weeks. The only times I've ever has cystic acne was after a course of antibiotics. I didn't know any different and my doctor never talked about anything like that.

When I started the course of Doxy last year, I'd read on the message boards about tapering off so I kept it mind. I'd made diet changes which helped my skin such a lot and I wanted to make sure that continues to work for me even without the antibiotics. After five months I started tapering off. I took it every other day, then after a week or so I took it every three days, then a couple of weeks later I took it every four days. Last few pills were every five days.

It was technically a six month course but the last month of pills lasted almost eight weeks as a result of tapering off. Maybe it wasn't necessary to do it that slowly, I don;'t know. But what I do know is that it's definitely out of my system and my skin hasn't changed at all. My acne is still primarily being kept at bay through my diet, although I do still use Isotretinoin gel as topic if needed. My skin doesn't seem to have responded at all negatively to the fact I've tapered off so I'm certain that's the way to go.

I can stay on these antibiotics for as long as I want, I know people here in the UK who have been on them for years.

I have started taking them every other day now for a week and plan on just staying at this level for the remaining two months just to be precautious.

What dietary changes did you make out of interest?

[PaulH85]

That's true, the doctors don't seem especially bothered at all by how long you stay on them. My doctor told me that because I hadn't cleared my acne by 25 - like I was to blame or something - I'd probably have to take antibiotics for "most of my adult life". I really couldn't think of a nice way to tell I thought that was a load of BS, so I quietly decided I'd prove him wrong instead.

I took an intolerance test and, long story short, my main triggers are boiled milk, melted/cooked cheese, processed foods, chillies and overly spice foods. There are specifics but the list was quite long and a lot of them didn't really apply because they were either foods I don't eat or foods I eat so infrequently that they wouldn't be an issue for me. But the milk, cheese, processed and spicy foods rang alarm bells for me right away. I was also advised to cut down on gluten and dairy in general. Cut out the processed stuff and the boiled milk completely (used to have milk in hot chocolate pretty much on a daily basis) and I avoid melted/cooked cheese as much as possible. I find that any reaction on my skin which soon appears (usually itchiness and eczema) can be countered with antihistamines, although it's not really a solution and I assume it would only work for that one instance as opposed to if I reintroduced those things on a daily basis.

It all came about because I refused to believe what my doctor was saying, and I'd noticed a pattern in my breakouts and eczema whereby it would always kick off on Monday and Tuesday, after I'd eaten processed and spicy (inflammatory) foods over the weekend. So I bugged him about the test and I think he only gave me the hospital referral just to shut me up but I'm not bothered because it's done the trick, I know I was right and, most importantly, I know that the diet changes and also increasing my vitamin and supplement intake - vitamins A and B, Omega 3 and also Zinc now that I'm done with the Doxy - are directly responsible for breaking the cycle my skin had been in for so many years. I still get the odd spot when I guess I'm just going to have to accept, along with accepting the fact that I'm basically prone to acne, but it's a world away from the persistent breakouts I had on a weekly basis for the best part of thirteen years.

[gecko333]

That's true, the doctors don't seem especially bothered at all by how long you stay on them. My doctor told me that because I hadn't cleared my acne by 25 - like I was to blame or something - I'd probably have to take antibiotics for "most of my adult life". I really couldn't think of a nice way to tell I thought that was a load of BS, so I quietly decided I'd prove him wrong instead.

I took an intolerance test and, long story short, my main triggers are boiled milk, melted/cooked cheese, processed foods, chillies and overly spice foods. There are specifics but the list was quite long and a lot of them didn't really apply because they were either foods I don't eat or foods I eat so infrequently that they wouldn't be an issue for me. But the milk, cheese, processed and spicy foods rang alarm bells for me right away. I was also advised to cut down on gluten and dairy in general. Cut out the processed stuff and the boiled milk completely (used to have milk in hot chocolate pretty much on a daily basis) and I avoid melted/cooked cheese as much as possible. I find that any reaction on my skin which soon appears (usually itchiness and eczema) can be countered with antihistamines, although it's not really a solution and I assume it would only work for that one instance as opposed to if I reintroduced those things on a daily basis.

It all came about because I refused to believe what my doctor was saying, and I'd noticed a pattern in my breakouts and eczema whereby it would always kick off on Monday and Tuesday, after I'd eaten processed and spicy (inflammatory) foods over the weekend. So I bugged him about the test and I think he only gave me the hospital referral just to shut me up but I'm not bothered because it's done the trick, I know I was right and, most importantly, I know that the diet changes and also increasing my vitamin and supplement intake - vitamins A and B, Omega 3 and also Zinc now that I'm done with the Doxy - are directly responsible for breaking the cycle my skin had been in for so many years. I still get the odd spot when I guess I'm just going to have to accept, along with accepting the fact that I'm basically prone to acne, but it's a world away from the persistent breakouts I had on a weekly basis for the best part of thirteen years.

Oh congrats

I cut all dairy products out in May last year after I found it was the cause of my constant severe heartburn and indigestion, but unfortunately it didn't affect my skin at all.
I didn't really ever eat processed food either, but now I've gone OTT with it, and given up wheat just to see if that helps.

One thing I think definitely causes breakouts for me is Alcohol.
My acne first stated getting severe when I was 17, the time I started drinking (only occasionally).
It then got gradually worse as I started Uni (and started drinking more regularly), and then went super-severe in October last year after a Clubbing Holiday in Spain where I drank a lot.

I agree with doctors knowing nothing though. Even my hospital dermatologist is pretty stupid.

[enelson96]

I took Clindamycin for about 5 months 2 years ago, then went of it. Starting breaking out again.
Then I got another prescription and was on it for a year. My acne cleared up wonderfully! But the only thing was that at the last part of the year my body became resistant and I started breaking out again.
I went off that and had THE WORST body breakout ever. It's been 4 months and it's still healing.
I'm now on Bactrim and hopefully I can just stay on this until my acne period is over.

My advice is find another antibiotic for acne rather than what you are on and stick with it for some time.

[searchingforclearskin]

I had to stop Lymecycline, just over 4 weeks ago now. Antibiotics definitely don't agree with me.

I had a lovely time with no spots, but how have you coped being on them for so long totally losing your appetite and that? you need a gold star!!

I think I would rather have a spot hehe