Doxycycline
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Doxycycline is an oral antibiotic that works by fighting bacteria in the body, including in the skin, and also reduces inflammation. It should...

Doxycycline is an oral antibiotic that works by fighting bacteria in the body, including in the skin, and also reduces inflammation. It should be used only short term (max. 3 months).

It is usually prescribed at a dose of 50 to 100 mg once or twice per day.

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3.4
1460
5
20.4%
4
35.1%
3
21.8%
2
12.1%
1
10.5%

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December 18, 2007

Pros:

It clears up the majority of acne

Cons:

Not sure how long I have to take it.

I started taking this medication 6 months ago and am continuing to do so. I don't want to have any long term negative effects so I just recently started skipping and taking the pill every other day to see if the acne is going to start back up. Overall at first my acne got worse as if all of it was coming out and then in about 2 weeks they started to heal. My acne isn't completely gone, but im pleased with the overall effects. Also my doctor gives me a $50 off coupon, which is the price of my co pay so I get my medication for FREE!
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December 15, 2007

Pros:

Improved acne very well

Cons:

Took a long time and didn't completely fix it, got worse before it got better, slow process

I was on a very low dose (50mg) of doxycycline. My acne improved slightly, then got worse. I kept taking the medication and then after 2 months I noticed my skin was a lot clearer. However there were still spots hiding under the skin and areas with pus, just less visible. I am now on a tougher antibiotic and birth control pills, but the doxycycline was a good start and I may go back to it because I still have some prescriptions. I am scared of the long-term effects of taking antibiotics though and also the rebound effect when I stop using it.
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December 9, 2007

Pros:

not sure yet

Cons:

I have been a little spacey. Burns my throat if not taken with tons of water.

I really hope this works. I have been taking it for 5 days now for cystic acne and no improvement yet. I was also prescribed duac and differin one applied in the morning and the other at night.
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December 1, 2007

Pros:

cheapo, worked okay while it lasted

Cons:

not being able to eat food two hours before pill and 1 hour after sucks, can upset entire digestive balance for reals, did not last long, after two months it effectiveness waned big time

i was 15 when I started this in march 2007, I quit three months later, when I started accutane. Doxy took a few weeks for full effect, but instantly i felt results. Acne is a bacterial infection. Antibiotics fight this infection. Sounds good huh? No. Acne is a three front war: sebum production most importantly, bacterial growth, and pore blockage. Doxy should be used in conjuction with other meds like a topical retinA (adapalene), a topcial antibiotic like clindamycin, and maybe BP at night. This did work for me for awhile, I had 70% clear skin while on this medication (and others), I had mild acne on all this crap... unacceptable.:( Antibiotics are not meant for longterm, YOU WILL NEVER EVER EVER GET A LONGTERM FIX FROM AN ANTIBIOTIC LIKE DOXY. never. But it may be worth a try. Go to derm, it is the first step. After three months on this I switched to accutane, I am EXTREMELY happy i did. PERFECT SKIN!
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November 26, 2007

Pros:

Cleared up the big, red cyst-like bumps

Cons:

Dries your face out like crazy
Still have baby bumps on forehead

Worth trying. Been on Doryx for almost 3 weeks. Had great skin all my life-then turned 30 and was breaking out all over jawline and sides of mouth/cheeks. Derm said it was hormonal and to try Doryx with Duac for spot/topical treatment. Duac does not do anything for me except bleach the hell out of my towels, but the Doryx seems to be working. Going to wait for my "monthly" friend to show up in two weeks to see if Doryx can keep the big cyst-like pimples away! So far so good though-definitely have to moisturize. It's very drying.
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November 26, 2007

Pros:

worked for 3 months

Cons:

after 3 months acne came back

ive been taking this medication for over 2 years now. at first it worked quiet effective but as time went on the acne came back but not as bad as before. i havent noticed side effects that were extremly bad and im not sure if staying on this medication is safe for this long, but im affraid if i stop using it my acne will come back.
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November 19, 2007

Pros:

No side effects at the moment

Cons:

Isnt working for my acne, kind of got worse (maybe it will get better after this)

i am on 50mg doryx, taken daily. my usual acne seemed to have developed into cystic acne, but it varies from time to time. i have taken doryx for about 50 days and nothing seems to be happening. or actually it might have turned a bit worse. i will finish my course (75 more days) then i will leave another review. but doryx doesnt seem to be working on me at the moment.
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November 15, 2007

Pros:

The dermatologist prescriped this for me the first time I went to see him. It seemed to be clearing my skin up @ first then as time it went on my skin starting breaking out again.

Cons:

I only had 50 mg so I doubt it was strong enough. It also made me have an upset stomach.

I took it for about 6 weeks. The first 3 weeks I could see an improvement, but the last 3 weeks it seemed as if my skin went back to breaking out. I probably needed a stronger dosage.
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November 3, 2007

Pros:

i have been taking this antibiotic for 3 months.for the 1st two months my skin was great.just had one bad week out of the 3 months

Cons:

i have found that i have had an upset stomach a few times and also stomach cramps

it is a very good treatment that is affordable and also works.the only downfall is that sometimes you may get a few stomach cramps or a bad stomach.
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November 2, 2007

Pros:

I been taking Doxycycline for about 2 weeks now, and my back is getting pretty clearer than it was before

Cons:

My face is getting better slowly, I was just wonering if someone could tell me when I will start seeing perfectly clear skin, or close to it? I still got alot more pills to take in my bottle. But i sometimes feel its a waste of time taking them.

I am sure this is a good drug to use for acne, but i would like someone to tell me how long its going to take for my skin to completely clear, then i can make an accurate assumtion.
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The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
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Red flags:

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