Acne.org Products
Oral Antibiotic
Efficacy
56%
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 doxycycline can reduce severe acne in the short term, and as far as oral antibiotics are concerned, it’s usually the go-to, 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 Doxycycline? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
October 8, 2012
Cons:
-caused headaches
-must take with food (even tho it may suggest otherwise)
-stomach aches
I really wanted this product to work for me but unfortunately it gave me horrible headaches. I did not see a difference in my skin after taking it for about 6 weeks. All pills in the 'cycline' family have given me this reaction.
August 23, 2012
It made me to sick to use it long enough to see any results, but it is worth a try. Make sure you take it on a FULL stomach, otherwise you might get sick.
June 15, 2012
Pros:
Helps acne a bit
Cons:
Causes stomach upset and may cause bacterial resistance.
This is the second time I have been on the medication. It helped a lot the first time but quit after about a month. Acne came back. I am taking again but scared after reading that it may come back worse after discontinuing the medication. Also extreme nausea when taken without food.
February 5, 2012
Pros:
convenient i guess?
Cons:
didnt work for me, really
So i was almost totally clear on retin-A for 2 years (which worked great after the pesky initial breakout), when slowly i started getting acne again. It got worse and worse until i decided to go back to my doc. Got prescribed this, used it with the Retin-A for 13 weeks thus far. Basically, it didn't really do much. If anything, it made my acne slightly 'different'. Like it instead of medium acne all the time, I was clear for few days and then would get a big cyst or two, which never happened before. Not sure if it was this medication or just natural, who knows. Anyway, there were maybe 2 5day periods in the last 2 weeks where I was actually clear, but now im back to pretty bad acne again. Dont really have any hope left in this stuff, plus I hear you can get resistant to it pretty fast. Gonna try Accutane. At least that is an almost permanent solution? Well see.
December 3, 2011
Pros:
made my acne less red for the first few weeks
Cons:
Did NOT work
Reverse acne effects
Difficult to take(2-3 hrs before dairy products and with food)
Before I got prescribed this I had very light acne, but It was persistent. I got prescribed 100 mg doryx 2x a day. At first my acne looked less irritated. However, it NEVER cleared the acne I had. I took it everyday and here I am a year and 3 months later with acne worse than I've ever had it. My derm told me I had a reverse efffect. This was my first and last time on antibiotics!!!
September 28, 2011
Pros:
Acne clear for a month or so..
Cons:
My acne became resistant to it & stopped working... This product causes severe nausea if not taken with food.
This is probably for light to moderate acne.. It is not for heavy acne like myself.. Also you need to remember how many you took because that was probably my problem.. I took too many because i forgot... That's why i don't like pills.. The bottom line is that you are not supposed to be dependent on antibiotics.
August 4, 2011
Cons:
Did not work. Made my skin VERY sensitive to sunlight. I could not even walk around the block without feeling like I had needles sticking my skin everywhere. This medication also may also effect the liver.
Do not waste your money. I had insurance, so I only wasted money on my co pay.
August 17, 2010
Pros:
nothing
Cons:
everything
Dont get it! my acne is not that bad the doctor promised this would cure my acne nd it hasnt nd i have been taking it 4 2 months now!
November 22, 2009
Pros:
dried up acne. pain and inflammation are gone.
Cons:
after 3 weeks not completely clear, some small pustules still appearing. very sick to stomach if not taken with food. medicine causing fatigue and depression.
Asking doctor for replacement or suffering through without oral medication. Going off to see if mood elevates and energy returns.
November 18, 2009
Pros:
helped clear up my back. seems to help with cysts
Cons:
My neck is still really broken out. no help with all the little bumbs covering my face. redness from being in sunlight.
So far, it does work, but slowly. I'm still really badly broken out on my neck. It does seem to have helped the sides of my mouth. I don't like the redness and dryness, though. It makes me feel even less attractive.
Pros:
-inexpensive
-easy pill to swallow