Minocycline
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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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February 8, 2013

Pros:

Improved moderately-severe full-body cystic acne 90% within 2 months.

Cons:

Took dosage of 50 mg twice daily for 4 months, within 2 weeks of ending the prescription, acne returned to previous severity all over.

Minocycline is not a long-term cure for acne. I was told I would have clear skin for 6 months after stopping. I am 30 years old and have suffered from acne my entire life. I have used pretty much every topical medication available with varying results. If I don't use topical medications consistently, acne worsens. Topical medications alone do not improve acne very much at all.
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January 27, 2013

Pros:

helps get rid of the nodules and redness, however using a topical cream really helps knocking out the rest!

Cons:

some nausea

minicycline helps if you take it at the same time everyday i am using this medication alog with diffren gel which works better than just the antibiotic alone.
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January 27, 2013

Pros:

Helped a little bit before I got an allergic reaction to it.

Cons:

Severe allergic reaction.

After two weeks of taking it, I started to have an allergic reaction. My eyes started to swell to the point of not being able to open them. I developed hives all over my body. I had swelling in my hands and feet, causing severe pain in my hands, feet, and knees. Loss of appetite for several days. I also was very dizzy. The itching kept me up for most of the night.
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January 26, 2013

Pros:

It works very well!

Cons:

Got an allergic reaction to it after a couple of months
Developed an itchy scalp and some tiny pimples on it.

A year ago I broke out, BADLY! We're talking about pimple and cysts everywhere. It doesn't help your cause when you add depression into the mix. My dermatologist prescribed me Minocycline along with Epiduo..After a month I saw a completely different person. I was clear, happy, and enjoyed the life I never had throughout my teenage years. This medication saved my life : D Then I began getting pimples on my scalp which made me want to scratch my scalp all the time. So I decided to stop taking it and side effects stopped after a week or so. Overall, a good antibiotic.
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January 22, 2013

Pros:

None

Cons:

I found out I was allergic to this medication and had to stop taking it.

Beware of using Minicycline as many people can develop an allergic reaction while taking. Each time I took the medication I developed severe itching on my arms and legs and eventually broke out with many tiny little hives on the undersides of my forearms. It wasn't nearly a serious reaction but nevertheless something to avoid. Obviously don't continue use if you see signs of an allergic reaction.
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January 21, 2013

Pros:

Completely clears acne
no side effects when taken short term
got rid of cysts & nodules

Cons:

it gets worse before it gets better

The first three weeks it pulls everything to the surface, the last week it clears. give it a month
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January 20, 2013

Pros:

My acne was reduced, still had the minor breakout (1 -3 pimples on my face). Even acne on my back and chest was reduced.

Cons:

On the third week, I had an allergic reaction. Severe itchiness, welts formed on my body, could not sleep due to the itchiness. Scars from the welts of my body.

My GP prescribed me minocycline and the first few weeks were okay. My skin was becoming less red and oily. Acne was slowly diminishing but on the third week, I broke out in hives and was severely itchy. Luckily, I took reactine and after two days I was back to normal. My GP said the reason why many dermatologists recommended it is due to it's price and that there is a very small chance people will be allergic to it.
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January 19, 2013

Pros:

Decreased Inflammation
Decreased Acne by 30%
Reduces sebum (oil) production

Cons:

Pregnancy Category D

This is the antibiotic that worked the best for me. It reduced the inflammation of my acne more than reducing the number of pimples. Minocycline is the only antibiotic that also helps reduce sebum production. Good for hormonal acne like mine, but spironolactone and saw palmetto work better.
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January 3, 2013

Pros:

Noticed improvement in my skin in about a week 1/2.

Cons:

The cons that I experienced using Minocycline was extreme itching all over the body after using for about nine days. I broke out in hives on my arms, and face. My hands and feet were swolen and I had lesions on the back of my neck including loss of appetite. These are some of the side affects associated with this drug. I'm currently on a steroid which has helped with the swelling and Allegra for the itching. I hope this helps anyone wondering about side affects. Hopefully Minocycline will

This was my first allergic reaction. See your doctor ASAP if you experience any of the above.
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December 28, 2012

Pros:

less breakouts after a week and a half of taking.
After stopping i didn't start breaking out bad again for a couple weeks.

Cons:

I was on Minocycline twice a day before i had some kind of allergic reaction. It basically happened over night. All over body aches...swollen hands and feet, some joint pain, mainly all over muscle soreness and stiffness. There wasn't a muscle in me that didn't ache in some way. I stopped the medication because my dr. thought it was related to the minocycline. He put me on naproxen and vicodin because I literally could not get out of bed without extreme pain.
He then sent me to a rheumatologis

I had a bad reaction to minocycline which is weird because i was on it when i was a teenager with no issues. It works great, just be forewarned that reactions can happen..and they can be very serious.
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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:

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