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
July 31, 2009
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Cons:
Expensive ($750 w/o insurance), does not help with cystic acne and its main ingredient is minocycline which can cause some serious side effects if taken for too long.
I switched to Solodyn after I became resistant to doxy. My face has not become worse, but it has shown little or no improvement. I have minor cysts (still cystic acne but they aren't bad). Please only consider my review if you have cystic acne, as that is all I can speak for. If you have other types of acne, Solodyn may work for you. It costs $750 w/o insurance for a month's supply of 90mg pills. I am fortunate enough to have insurance that allows me to pay only $10, but it doesn't matter. No one should have to pay $750 for a medication that is ineffective in treating moderate cystic acne.
July 26, 2009
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Pros:
I had experienced no side effects. Was given a discount card, so medicine costed under $25 dollars per prescription.
Cons:
After 5 mths. skin never cleared up. My acne became more severe and had extra oily skin. 5 mths. is too long to take antibiotics and not see good results!! Very disappointed.
Did not work for me, but may for you. You should try product for 3 mths only with discount card to see if medicine works for you. If no improvement, discontinue meds. Derm. will encourage you to take it for entire duration; however you know your acne. 3 mths is plenty enough time to see improvement. I used accutane 10 yrs. ago and it worked. I am going to try this once more. Nothing else works. All other antibiotics only worked while taking meds. The effects did not last more than a month.
July 15, 2009
Pros:
NONE
Cons:
-lots of dizziness, naucea, headaches
I've been using these pills for almost two months now. I haven't seen a different in my skin at all whatsoever. I have frequent sizzy spells and headaches, minocycline only made them worse with the addition of the naucea I'd get. I even started feeling less hungry. Definetly not worth the money even though I paid with insurance.
July 13, 2009
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Pros:
I didn't have the problems some mentioned, like photo sensitivity.
Cons:
Didn't work at all. Made acne worse than EVER.
Bottom line is I just don't think this product did anything to me at all. Not only did it not do anything bad, side effects wise, it didn't do anything good. If anything, my acne is worse than ever. This might be due to the drug, but it might be due to being taken off of my last routine (simple straight up clindamycine, worked fine). Either way, I can say I am angry as can be. I used it to get them off of a select area, but it didn't work at all, and I now have the worst acne ever. Company who made this and dermatalogist shouldn't have a job. As far as severity: It was light before. Now its moderate to severe. I am so upset.
July 10, 2009
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Pros:
Got a coupon from my derm so that it would only be $10/month, so I didn't waste a lot of money
Cons:
Made me VERY dizzy~had to take at night and then still got dizzy/vertigo feelings. After taking for about 3 weeks my joints started aching~very annoying and can be a sign of drug-induced lupus. Acne got worse.
I took this for about 4 weeks total and had to stop taking it due to how crappy it was making me feel. I couldn't handle the side effects and I already feel so much better after about a week of not taking it. I did not see any improvement in my acne (and actually it got worse), but like I said I only took it for 4 weeks. My derm. prescribed me 135 mg, but looking at Solodyn's website I should have been on 90 mg based on my weight, so perhaps this is why I had so many bad side effects so soon?? Either way I am not willing to use any dose of this product again; the aching joints really worries me. Definitely be cautious with this product!
June 20, 2009
Pros:
It seemed to help me stay clearer.
Cons:
I had an autoimmune reaction caused by this drug. Counteracts the birth control pill.
My reaction was extremely rare...so rare it wasn't even listed on the side effects pamphlet that the pharmacy gave me. My doctor had to tell me because it was so rare. It was constant pain in all my muscles and joints for months because my immune system started attacking them (I had to quit my job it was so bad). After more tests that I can remember, one of my doctors finally suggested I stop taking it and the pain gradually went away after several more months. I have never felt the same since.
June 19, 2009
Pros:
works for about a week then never works agen
Cons:
cheap prescribed stuff that dosent work i have spots on face back neck arms and chest didnt even clear 1 up
dont buy if ur want to get rid of them for ever buy if ur going to a praty and u need to get rid of them asap
June 19, 2009
Pros:
Didn't do anything bad to my skin.
Cons:
Made me incredibly nauseous.
So I figured I'd go through and review everything I've used, because I have used a LOT over the last 12 years. This particular antibiotic made me crazy sick, which is weird, since I normally never have reactions to antibiotics. I literally had to leave class to throw up, but didn't make the connection to minocycline until several days later, when I was still puking after every meal (after which I would faithfully take my pill).
I stopped immediately and the symptoms went away at once.
Didn't really have a chance to see how it worked for my skin!
June 18, 2009
Pros:
helped skin on face a little, but that was about it
Cons:
mood swings like crazy, and made my back and chest break out like no other. hasn't helped
Overall, it seems like it will work in the beginning, and then it just makes everything worse. Makes you really irritable all the time, and makes you nauseous to the point of gagging if you dont eat, which is what it tells you to do. dont do it.
June 6, 2009
Pros:
Cleared up my acne much better than tetra or doxy. I also use topical for my face. I used it in high school and it cleared up my face so after college when I started to break out again I went back on it. It cleared up my face in about a month!
Cons:
I take it at night so I don't feel sick. I have just started to get more breakouts but I think that might be with the weather changing to summer too. I also get chemi peels and use tazorac. I'm 25 and this seems to be never ending.
Give it a try, this just might be the medication that works for your face!
Pros:
Reduces inflammation, can be taken with food, and one pill at a time.