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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3.2
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4
28.7%
3
25.1%
2
15.9%
1
14.6%

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April 22, 2007

Pros:

This product worked right away. Cystic acne disappeared in a couple of days. It stayed away for about a month. Then.....

Cons:

it lost its effectiveness. I went right back to where I started even though i continued taking it. I have quit taking it because it wasn't helping any more. I have about 15 pills left and I plan on taking them if I have a bad breakout.

It worked quickly but the effectiveness was short lived. I got dizzy for the first few days but that went away. I guess I would recommend it for a breakout but the body quickly builds up a resistance.
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March 25, 2007

Pros:

Clears up persistent body acne within about a month.

Cons:

Antibiotic resistance can develop with on/off use; predisposes your skin to phototoxic rash from sunlight exposure.

Minocycline is a bacterioSTATIC drug; it does not kill the bacteria responsible for acne, it only keeps the populations at bay. Once you go off this drug, your skin will get worse again. Use BP in conjunction with Minocycline to kill the bacteria as well. The effectiveness of mino has all but diminished for me, so I don't take it anymore.
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March 17, 2007

Pros:

Worked really well with my acne around 4th week when I first started using it 3 years ago

Cons:

very scary! I had edema on my leg and painful joints a year ago, but it went a way. I was hospitalized last Nov. they found inflammation in my midbrain. I had 2x vision, loss of balance, vertigo for about 4 wks. md's thought its multiple sclerosis.

I didn't have side effects until recently. during that time it worked well. I had to stop it b/c of neurological side effects lately. cheap, if you have insurance. I lost my insurance so I had to pay for the full price. Use it but AT YOUR OWN RISK.
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January 23, 2007

Pros:

Works really good. Been taking it off and on for almost ten years. Nothing else works for me - not like this antibotic

Cons:

Minocycline can have horrible side effects. In med school, students remember it because they draw a minnow with sharp teeth. It can turn your ears, gums, and other parts of body blue purplish - skin discoloration that takes forever to clear, if ever.

I take it until my the lower part of my legs turn purplish, then I back off for a couple of months -but the pumps come back. I'm 35 and will probably die with zits!!
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December 24, 2006

Pros:

Insurance paid for most of it, skin cleared up after about 3 weeks.

Cons:

You can't stop taking it!

A few months ago I started using 100mg/2x/day. After about 3 wks my skin cleared up so much!! I used up all my refills and missed about 2 weeks while waiting for my refill authorization and my skin got so bad! Maybe even worse than before. I'm back on it now and will not let my rx lapse again. Going to the dr on Tues to ask about Solodyn.
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December 19, 2006

Pros:

It does keep a lot of break-outs at bay, but my face is not entirely clear.

Cons:

I have tried to go off of it a couple of times and I got bad break-outs both times. To clear those break-outs, I ended up back on it.

It can help, but I don't think it is a cure-all. It should be a last resort.
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November 6, 2006

Pros:

it works the first couple of years

Cons:

it stops working after your body gets use to it. and its bacd for your liver

i want to use accutane but i cant afford it.
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October 10, 2006

Pros:

Works well and easy to take

Cons:

I stopped for two months and got awful acne.

Now on Erythromycin, hopefully it will be ok. I got it free on the NHS.
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August 5, 2012

Pros:

None

Cons:

Diarrhea

Did nothing at all,had to go on Accutane.
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May 1, 2012

Pros:

None that I experienced.

Cons:

Did not improve my rosacea prone skin at all. Couldn't take dairy for a couple of hours before and after the pills. Was on it for just under 3 months when I started getting intense constant pressure headache that lasted over a week. Was highly concerned it was intracranial hypertension and went to gp in a panic. Was told to come off it and the headache stopped.

Dermatologists are not holistic and only know how to prescribe drugs. My derm upped my daily dosage by 50mg when it didn't work. He was convinced I'd need to be on antibiotics for the rest of my life and that was ok. I followed the instructions correctly and drank lots of water but it didn't work for me. In fact my skin got better when I came off it and started using aloe vera gel, the Thursday Island brand. Amazing results and I mix it with oil free Nutragena for sensitive skin. I also went on Herbalife, the ultimate program, which has an aloe vera tonic, and my skin is clear and glowing - so happy! I am now starting to think that the right nutrients are key. Taking antibiotics is not sustainable in the long term, going natural is the way for me! Good luck everyone, it's a stressful journey to find what works for you.
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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.
  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

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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.
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