Oral Antibiotic
Efficacy
54%
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 they can reduce severe acne in the short term, 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 Minocycline? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
January 3, 2023
Short term acne relief only - with lasting side effects
I went on many different antibiotics in my teens and early twenties for persistent acne, not realising that it was a losing game because of antibiotic resistance. Minocycline was the worst one - I had such an upset stomach, I became intolerant of any food that even had a fraction of dairy in it, and my skin developed sun spots that are still there 15 years later. It cleared my skin for a couple of months as did most other antibiotics, but wasn’t worth it compared to other options such as accutane.
January 13, 2020
Terrible Heart Burn
Discontinued this as soon as it was safe to do so as I got absolutely terrible indigestion and heart burn. Had to sleep basically upright the whole time I was on it. Didn't see any drastic improvement in my skin. I have more recently been on Lymacyclin and it has been (as of yet) more tolerable. So If it's giving you side effects remember THERE ARE other oral antibiotic alternatives and also REMEMBER don't let your GP or dermatologist keep you on antibiotics for more that 3-6months they are suppose to be a temporary helper until a more long term solution is found. Antibiotics WILL not be your long term solution and you risk your gut health and your acne becoming immune to over treatments if you use antibiotics for too long.
January 27, 2019
Did not work for me
I tried this twice for 10 weeks, as my GP prescribed it for my cystic acne. However both times it did absolutely nothing for me.
October 15, 2018
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
SOLODYN MAY BE YOUR CURE!
TRY IT OUT! I'm a mid-30 yo female that has always been acne free. Stress and bacterial infection from clarisonic caused acne break out all over forehead and cheeks. My dermatologist has put me on Solodyn 55mg and Aczone 7.5% once a day. Here's my routine: Daytime - Purpose facewash, Kiehl's calendula toner, Aveeno posivitely radiant spf30 moisturizer. Nightime - Purpose facewash, kiehl's calendula toner, Aczone, after 5 minutes CeraVe oilfree PM moisturizer, oral Solodyn at night. I have been taking Solodyn for 6 weeks now and I think this and Aczone are a really good combo! Solodyn does not give me any side effect issues but I am also on 55mg - which is a lower dosage and based off of my weight. I would definitely try this out before any other antibiotic. I will keep you all posted once I am done with my course! Stay hopeful!
July 15, 2018
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Love this!
I'm a 13 year old girl with moderate acne. I've recently just started taking this along with spiro and it has started to get better! I definitely recommend this although the first couple weeks are a little rough. I was getting stomach aches and slight nausea for awhile but it's totally worth it
April 6, 2018
My first love...
I have suffered from acne since I was 15-16. I am 19 now. Mino was the first oral antibiotic to COMPLETELY clear my acne. And I had it severe people. SEVERE. It completely took it all away within a few months... I was so relieved! However, little did I know it would come back, and would result in me being put on/taken off three more different antibiotics for 3 years. Today, my acne is still not where I would like it to be, and I am actually starting spironolactone soon, as (hopefully) my acne is mostly hormonal and can clear that way. Youngsters out there, this may not be your end all be all. But a temporary fix is for sure.
February 9, 2018
Absolute no change in skin
My skin did not improve or become clearer at all. I was on Minocycline for over a year...wtf that's so not healthy. I don't recommend.
February 8, 2018
Cleared my acne!
I have had really bad acne since age 15 (I'm now 20) and I literally tried everything. Proactiv plus, Murad acne kit, tons of topical creams and nothing worked. I had 3-5 active breakouts on my face daily. After trying everything I kinda accepted that I probably will just have acne for the rest of my life (not to be dramatic but it felt like that). I went to my family doctor for a check up (not for my acne) and she asked me about my acne and if I felt like it was getting better. I told her no it's only been getting worse (at this point it wasn't as bad as it was in the past). Finally she recommend that I tried taking minocycline and mentioned that my acne needed to be treated from the inside. I had little to no expectations since I had never heard of it and expected it to not work like everything I had tried in the past. I took the 100mg twice daily and within TWO days I started seeing immediate results! It started off with me waking up with no break out at all to the surface of my skin being completely smooth within 2 weeks. I was so excited because I literally couldn't remember ever seeing my skin that clear. To cut the story short, I started taking it May 2017 (prescribed a three month bottle but I was able to make it last longer since my skin was clear) and my skin has been cleared for months. I get break outs when I'm not taking the pill or just during PMS. Needless to say it worked for me and please don't get discouraged by other people's reviews. Acne treatment is difficult because everyone skin reacts differently to everything. Try it, I hope it works as well for you as it did for me!! Side note: I didn't experience any side effects aside from REALLY dry skin for about a week and then it went back to normal
ojasmiat
May 14, 2018
As it turns out, you cannot take minocycline for the rest of your life, sigh. So after a few months with PERFECT skin, i got prescribed a lower dosage (50mg), and my acne came back slowly. The 50mg barely does anything for my skin. It's not as bad as it used to be but the cystic acne and random breakouts are back and in full action.
I got prescribed birth control (Nortrel) for my acne, so well see how it works!
January 28, 2018
Horrible- Not Worth The Side Effects
I took minocycline for a year back in 2015. I am BARELY getting off the side-effects in 2018 which says a lot about this stuff. I'll leave a list below of the side effects to keep it simple. - Migraines
- Dizziness
- Terrible Nausea
- Constant yeast infections (due to an unbalanced PH level. Minocycline kills ALL bacteria in your body. GOOD AND BAD) As time went by I noticed: - Horrible Joint Pain
- Yellow Stained Teeth
- HIVES and a FEVER (I ended up at a hospital because my hives were getting out of hand and my joints were killing me!) Of course I saw improvements in my acne, but as soon as I made the decision to stop taking this, I stated to break out AGAIN. From the bottom of my heart, do not take this pill. If you decide to do so, do NOT take this for more than 6 months. It is NOT WORTH IT!
January 13, 2018
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Not sure it's worth the pain
I am a 56 yr old female, I have suffered with acne since the age of 13 and have been on every product known to man including accutane twice, Retin A and a host of others, My dermatologist prescribed SOLODYN 55mg about a week and a half ago. I came down with what I presumed to be a stomach flu 2 days ago, I was extremely dizzy (vertigo) ,upset stomach,and very tired , When I got up this morning to take my daily medication I just happen to read the side effects for the heck of it and Viola! It was everything I was feeling for the past 3 days , Unfortunately my doctor wont be in till Tues because of the holidays but I will cease my medication until then and see if it stops and I'm able to return to work.