Minocycline
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Side Effects

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

Minocycline 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 taken once a day with food, at the same time every day.

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4
28.7%
3
25.1%
2
15.9%
1
14.6%

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August 6, 2010

Pros:

*does clear up skin

Cons:

*side effects outweigh benefits in my opinion
*not a long term solution

I am really torn about minocycline. I really wish I could take it forever with no side effects and no worries, but I have to say its not healthy or safe to be on antibiotics to clear acne you may have indefinitely. it does work so well, but it didn't take me long to feel the side effects - loss of appetite, stomach issues, and this will give ladies yeast infections after some time. I even dealt with all that crap bc it does work so well. But on my 3rd course of antibiotics derm put me on solodyn (slow release) within the 2nd month my mom kept commenting that my hair was falling out, not ther normal shedding. So looked it up online, and saw several ppl have had the same. So, needless to say im off them for good.
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May 24, 2010

Pros:

Tamed my Acne

Cons:

Lost its effectiveness

I was first put on Gen-Minocycline after I began experiencing terrible outbreaks when I was 17. With in a 2 week period, their was a major difference. I finally, thought that this product was going to clear up my acne. However, after a while I felt that I was taking these pills for no purpose. I later tried Mylan-Minocycline, which was the most useless thing ever. No improvements at all, and I used it as directed. I think the mylan was not strong enough for my acne.
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May 5, 2010

Pros:

No acne after about 3 days. Some newer mild acne scars faded about 30-50% . made my acne scrubs/washes work much better. Sweating with sports/workout doesn't worsen acne anymore. Shaving and pluckng face hair doesn't promote acne anymore

Cons:

Not immediate results. Acne comes back if you stop. About 5-10% dizzy throughout the day. sometimes tired and upset stomache about 30 minutes after I took a dose for 5 minutes. Sometimes your face starts itching.

Yes take it. It really depends tho if you want to have less acne tho. For me the pros evened out the cons.
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March 22, 2010

Pros:

It clears up the skin and keeps cysts from inflammation. Makes skin less oily.

Cons:

MUST eat copious amounts of yogurt, take acidophilus probiotics, garlic pills, etc. to prevent yeast infections on this drug, causes discomfort in G.I. tract because it kills all the bacteria in your body, including your good bacteria! It also causes pigmentation in the skin with dark marks where pimples used to be. It also causes lupus like symptoms such as slight rash on cheeks and joint pain (in my ankles).

Do not use this if you have mild acne. I only get hormonal cysts (maybe one or two) a month on my chin. I was prescribed this by my doctor. Now, it hurts when I pee (not a burning UTI feeling). But, it causes a lot of gas build-up and majorly screws up your G.I. tract. I've read that some people have IBS from taking this drug for long periods. I've only been on this drug (100 mg/day) for a month and have begun weaning off it by taking it every other day. I've read this works best on websites as opposed to stopping cold turkey. Many websites say you should take it every other day for two weeks and then once every two days for another two weeks. Not sure if this will work! I hope so! I still got cysts (1 or 2) during my ovulation period while on this drug, but they were not as big. It also could be the topicals I use such as benzine peroxide and salycic acid (in low percentages). Do not take this drug unless you have to and take PLENTY of probiotics!
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April 1, 2009

Pros:

hmmm cleared up... 70% of my facial outbreaks. horrible

Cons:

may not be for everyone maybe some side effects, ohhh ya sunlight sensitivity. i wana cry wen i see the sun but i hold together.

as in outbreaks i had about 5-10 big red pimple / zit things (maybe cysts) on my face, not on my forehead but chin, cheeks, and above my lips. around my lips was menacing and looked horrible it killed me inside. now a days im not as depressed, i take 100x minocicline. anything lower won't do as much probably. but 100x minocycline and regimen "acne Free" severe. acne free consists of 4 bottles a dead skin remover, a moisturizer, a morning and a night cleanser. i don't use the morning cleanser cuz the night one works better at both times of day. so far i've been able to live my life only with bad back acne and who knows maybe itll be gone soon.
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March 16, 2015
Worked well so far 50mg Once a day
I'm 25 and female, for the past three years my acne had been getting worse and worse. started off as once a month untill my whole jawline, chin and nose bridge was constantly covered in painfull acne. Both deep cystic and surface acne. I accidentally used the wrong steroid cream for a rash around my mouth and everything nose-down became covered in millions of tiny pimple like things - Perennial Dermatitis. Took 50mg Minocycline once a day at night for the rash and the acne. 3 months later and my skin has been the best it has in over 5 years. I still get a couple of surface pimples and one or two deep ones during ovulation but much better and smooth.
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February 9, 2012

Pros:

It cleared up my "mild to sever acne" problem as my doctor assessed my facial area.

Cons:

It may get you nauseous, but I drink a lot of water, almost 3/4 of a gallon a day. so the nausea doesn't hit me that hard. On MY label it says not to have calcium, magnesium, or calcium 2 hours before and 2 hours after dosage as it my negate the effects of the medicine. In that sense, it is tough, because I am always eating something that has one or all of those.

Before I used, I literally would get 3 - 4 new fresh pimples EVERY DAY. After first few days, I already saw improvement. My pimples were lessening and not growing as much. Few weeks in, I didnt grow any new pimples. But I recommend trying to stay CONSISTENT with the dosage and take as recommended. I take twice per day, so thats one pill every 12 hours. At a point, I was taking my pill every 13 hours, then 15, then 17, then after awhile it got to every 24 hours. I weened my body off of it. But then when I started slacking off the minocycline altogether, one or 2 pimples would pop up. Bottom line: this medication worked for me. Stay consistent with the dosage, stay hydrated, and CONTINUE to do the acne.org face wash, treatment, moisturizer, and jojoba oil. Even though I slacked off with the meds, I still do the acne.org regimen. Now that my pimples have dissappeared, I have been focused on getting my scars to go away, and the moisturizer and jojoba oil is the SH*T!
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January 12, 2012

Pros:

Reduces breakouts
Reduces overall size of pimples
Clears skin during dosage

Cons:

Slight disorientation
Calcium intake inhibits the antibiotic
Inconsistent results
Little effect on cystic/nodular acne
Slight constipation

I am an athletic 21 year old male with moderately severe acne, and the biggest problem I have are cysts and nodule acne. The smaller pimples and black heads are still present, but just less annoying and obvious. So take this review just as a reference not as you would react to the actual medication. Luckily I had little side effects while taking Minocycline, but I wasn't entirely satisfied with the results to be honest. I've currently been on 100mg twice daily for three months ingesting them at 10:00am and 10:00pm. And if you're just looking to rid yourself of small pimples and black heads because of hormone shifts and what not, then this is definitely ideal for you. If you have extremely embarrassing cystic acne on a high or low scale, then I'm sorry it just isn't. It takes a very long period of time for the antibiotic to penetrate deep into cystic pores where the infection is taking place. The only thing that has ever cleared my cystic acne is a vitamin called, "B5". I highly recommend it if you're desperate like I was, but after two years of taking it my acne came back with full force so now I'm looking for something that's a little more permanent. Remember a lot of your acne is genetic, not necessarily an external problem with your cleansing routine or hygiene. Oral medication is often times what's needed in order to train your body and, '˜'rewire your brain' as my doctor would say to see any noticeable results. The bottom line is it did a great job of clearing smaller acne including blackheads because of how much easier it is to penetrate, but the bigger and deeper pimples were almost unaffected. I've been clinically depressed because of acne and I plan on whooping its ass in the near future, so I hope you all recover and find something that works well for you, please don't give up just keep searching and I promise something will turn up.
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December 29, 2011

Pros:

Helped the acne

Cons:

9 month minocycline use caused a toxic hepatitis in our son followed by a severe lupus-like, arthritis-like autoimmune disease from which he still has not recovered 10months after stopping the drug

Research the long term side effects on line. If you still want to take the risk and your doctor is not monitoring your liver enzymes ask for the monitoring. If you get any strange side effects on the drug stop using it.
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February 15, 2011

Pros:

Acne... what acne? I used minocycline for approximately 6 months. I went to the dermo in June for the first time... I was cleared by the end of August (in time for my wedding and strapless dress!) Still had some pigmentation issues (serious bacne), but no active acne on either my face or back. At this point I was taking 1 pill every other day.

Cons:

I luckily handled the side effects well. If you take Minocycline, do so with FOOD, and a serving of yogurt once a day. Like so many antibiotics... stomach issues. I also noticed increased staining of my teeth. Which is one reason why I stopped taking it, and am trying out the regimen. So far, so good.

Great in the short term to give you a boost and clear up your acne. Takes longer to absorb into the back, so it took a little longer for the bacne to clear up in comparison to my face. Side effects can be quite problematic (see comment about teeth, and digestive issues in cons). Again, I suggest short term use, and fade off to a topical regimen.
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Finding a Doctor

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.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website