I've taken around four courses of antibiotics over the past ten years, including minocycline at least twice in college. I had good results, cleared my skin and kept me clear for a while after I stopped taking it (maybe a year?). You will read all kinds of opinions on here regarding the use of antibiotics for acne but I think they can be very effective, particularly for teens and early twenties when you're in that window of time when you may outgrow your acne. It may keep it at bay until then if you're in that lucky group =). I would avoid taking any antibiotics for an extended period of time and stop taking them if you have stomach upset, body aches or fever. Taking them with food can decrease the risk of stomach upset but sometimes your dermatologist will want you to take them on an empty stomach if you can tolerate it. Anyway, good luck to you whatever you decide. =)

I've taken around four courses of antibiotics over the past ten years, including minocycline at least twice in college. I had good results, cleared my skin and kept me clear for a while after I stopped taking it (maybe a year?). You will read all kinds of opinions on here regarding the use of antibiotics for acne but I think they can be very effective, particularly for teens and early twenties when you're in that window of time when you may outgrow your acne. It may keep it at bay until then if you're in that lucky group =). I would avoid taking any antibiotics for an extended period of time and stop taking them if you have stomach upset, body aches or fever. Taking them with food can decrease the risk of stomach upset but sometimes your dermatologist will want you to take them on an empty stomach if you can tolerate it. Anyway, good luck to you whatever you decide. =)

Thanks! Maybe I'll give them a try

I have to disagree with the above post in some aspects (my experience on antibiotics wasnt too good) but agree in others. For me when me acne wasn't to bad maybe when i was 15 then doxycycline worked for me to control it but it never made it go away and it just made my face red especially if i was at a party (not sure if from being hot or drinking alcohol though), which was annoying. Doxy lost its effectiveness towards midway through the second course, so i kept changing my antibiotics; tetracycline, minocycline, and went through about 5-6 topicals including retin-a and differin (which was my favourite topical) none of which were as good as my first course of Doxy. I you havent tried already id recommend Doxycycline plus differin until your acne starts to get bad/does not respond. With differin it does make your skin dry but its easily controlled with e-45 lotion.
Just finish the Minocycline course and judge for yourself, its highly unlikely you'll get any bad side effects.

For me minocycline caused headaches, nausea and I became very depressed to the point where I wouldn't go to school. The minocycline pill did not work for me at all.

I can't speak to what happens when you come off of it, but I'm on it now and it has been extremely effective. I saw instant relief.

I'm on minocycline as well. I wouldn't be too afraid to give it a whirl. It's helped me. If you're worried about side affects, popping a pro-biotic can help, especially with digestion issues. It's not a long term fix usually... but hey, if we can get away with it and it helps, why not? Gives you a breather for topicals and lifestyle changes to kick in. Or even better, just for one's hormones to settle down on their own if that's the root cause for you.

Whatever you decide, good luck! :]