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
May 12, 2013
Cons:
Some slight stomach pain after taking (make sure you take with no food or it won't work as well, and with like 3 cups of water)
Started with 2 100mg doxycycline a day around a year ago. My acne nearly completely cleared up. Got lazy and tired of the stomach pain that occurred for 10-15 minutes after taking and acne got bad again. Been taking it once a day for a few weeks and I've noticed a HUGE reduction in new acne.
March 29, 2013
Pros:
Easy to take
Saw some results
Cons:
Takes a long time
Caused constipation for me
Reliance on medication
Couldnt take supplements 2 hrs before and after
I have been taking doxycycline 50mg/day for about a month now and I have noticed little results but not dramatic. I have two months left and am rather worried my acne will come back worse.
March 25, 2013
Pros:
Saw some results, but not really.
Cons:
Didn't clear up my acne.
Made my ears & armpits super itchy.
Caused my nails to peel.
Couldn't eat dairy within 2 hours of taking the pill.
Had to take with food.
Just didn't work for me. This drug was crap, and now I've wasted over $120 bucks, AND my time. I'm getting married in 40 days and have just started birth control to try to clear up my skin, but I wish I hadn't wasted 8 months on doxycycline.
February 18, 2013
Pros:
none.
Cons:
Hard to swallow pill.
I went to the derm and they prescribed 150 mg tab everyday. Its been over a month and i see no results. my skin isnt that bad, but it could be clearer. i read reviews expecting this to work but, it didnt.
December 8, 2012
Pros:
It may help open sores heel just a tiny bit faster. The drug is also inexpensive.
Cons:
I had an upset stomach every day even though I took it with food and water, and I was STARVING all the time. I thought I was crazy until I researched online that is a side effect of the drug. I think my teeth might even be a little yellower, but that is hard to tell if that was to do with the drug. (Also that is another side effect.) But mainly the worst part is- it broke me out even worse! I started to break out in places where I never broke out before, like my legs!
I took this product for three weeks and I am giving it up today. This is very disappointing because the doctor said that if it was going to help me I should have seen some improvement by now. Instead it made me much worse, and I can't even go out in public. I am not going to take any more!
November 18, 2012
Pros:
Cheap
Cons:
Didn't work
I've been on doxycycline 100mg 2x per day for 50 days. It has had no effect. I've been consistent, and tried not to take it with dairy, which, for me, is a large inconvenience. This is very disappointing, as I am still breaking out on a daily basis with very severe acne.
September 4, 2012
Pros:
-Cheap
-Nothing so far yet, I guess I will have to be patient.
Cons:
-Dry Lips
-Bad Breakout at first
-Made me have low self-esteem and lowered my confidence
I am using the oral antibiotic Doxycycline with the topical cream, Adapalene (Differin). I started out with moderate acne, but after about a week and a half, I broke out bad, and can now classify it as moderately severe. Hopefully, it goes away as it has gotten me really down. I am in college right now and its hard for me to want to go to class. From other reviews, it seems it takes time, so I'll be patient. I'll keep updates on here
August 3, 2012
Pros:
I have not had any side effects that others have complained off.
Cons:
I'm still breaking out
I've been on Doryx for about 3 weeks and I am still breaking out. Maybe I need to wait a bit longer but I was expecting better results. I always take it with a meal, so I wonder if this is inhibiting the effectiveness of the pill.
July 4, 2012
Pros:
Minimal side effects
Has a co-pay card (only $25)
Worked (minimally) improving deep, cystic acne bumps, but did nothing for whiteheads
Cons:
Hardly improved my acne at all
I am a 32 yr old woman who has struggled on/off with acne my whole life. It got so horrible at one point, so I started seeing the derm. Before I got in with the derm (about 1.5 months), I cut out dairy and noticed significant improvement. The doc put me on epiduo (had previously been using retin A) and Doryx. She warned me my skin would get worse before it got better. Well it is nearly 3 months later and I haven't seen any improvement. Fortunately my skin did not break out or get worse. And I "think" maybe "hope" that the cystic acne got a little better. But it seens like I have more whiteheads especially on my cheeks and around my mouth. So I stopped the Doryx and my doc just put me on Solod. If this antibiotic doesn't work, then the next step will be accutane.
May 26, 2012
I have been taking Doxycycline for about 3 weeks now. I noticed an improvement immediately that lasted about 2 weeks and then it went right back to my normal awful complexion. I keep reading on these boards how it gets worse before it gets better so I'm going to stick it out for another month or so and if I don't see any improvement I'm going to talk to my doctor about alternatives. I have not had any of the stomach problems a lot of people are talking about. It hurt a little the first few days I started taking it but I take them with a little bit of food and it's been okay. No other ill side effects other than that, but I hope I will start seeing some clear skin soon.
Pros:
Can pretty much cure moderate acne