Acne.org Products
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
November 26, 2011
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Cons:
Just my own paranoia from the negative reviews on the side effects, however I have yet to experience anything awful. Maybe slight fatigue.
I have hormonal acne. It is stubborn and nothing has ever worked in controlling it. Although I consider it be be mild to moderate, because I usually only have a few pimples at one time. However, the location where these pimples would form were embarrassing (usually right around my upper lip area) and very noticeable. Very annoying, and always coming back in the same spots over and over. I went to a derm asking for spiro, cause I know its hormonal. but, being that I am already taking Yasmin, she decided to have me try the solodyn. I am also using Finacea gel. I started using this in mid October, and its now late November. I have had absolutely no hormonal break outs at all, not even in my usual areas. And let me tell you, that is a miracle because mine were constant, every couple days I would have a new disgusting zit forming. I admit, some of the other reviewers have terrified me but so far I think I am good. I haven't noticed any disturbing side affects. I also do worry about what will happen to my skin once I stop taking this. But, for now I am enjoying my pimple free face. All I can say is give it a shot, because if you are desperate enough, you will try anything once. It could work for you.
August 23, 2011
Pros:
-Clears up acne.
-Cheap.
Cons:
-Took about 5 weeks to go from moderately severe acne to light acne.
-Started to feel tired and lazy.
-Sensitivity to sunlight.
I've been on Minocycline for about 7 weeks, and I am very pleased with my results. I had moderately severe acne that I was so self-conscious about. I now have light acne. It took about 5 weeks, though, to see these results. I'm sure my acne will be completely gone within the next couple weeks as I continue to use this product. I definitely recommend it! Enjoy :)
August 3, 2011
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Pros:
-Completely cleared up cystic acne, whiteheads, and most blackheads. Skin is crystal clear
-Minimal side effects
-Once a day pill
Cons:
-Took 2-3 months to fully work & dosage change
-Extremely expensive if you don't have insurance ($700-$2000)
-brittle nails
Started on 55mg (105lbs) for first month and saw minimal results but continued on. Second month was alternating between 55 &65mg every other day and still didn't see significant improvement. For the third month was on 65mg a day and completely cleared up within 3 weeks and have been crystal clear since. When solodyn works, it really works! First medication since 2 rounds of Accutane to control my cystic acne. Problem for me is that I don't have insurance and my derm has been giving me the boxed pharmaceutical rep samples. Scared of what will happen if I stop. Unfortunately I've tried several antibiotics in the past and they are not a long term solution, although they can provide relief for a while.
July 19, 2011
Pros:
Cleared up acne and body acne
Cons:
I started getting too many side effects
I still had some acne after taking this for 1 month so my dermatologist told me to start taking 100mg twice a day instead of once a day. I started getting extremely nauseous after this so I went back down to 100mg, but the nausea didn't go away. When I first started taking it I got extremely dizzy and had horrible headaches for about a week then my body adjusted. I also had indigestion problems for a while. This does do a good job eliminating acne, but for me the side effects just weren't worth it.
July 3, 2011
Pros:
stopped much of breakouts, pimples which did appear were not as deep or painful
Cons:
did not have significant effect on body acne
i took minocycline for a little less than two months - please do NOT take this medication for longer than a few months, because it can built up resistance and that's not a good thing. this is a very good medication for people who want to clear up their breakouts and give their skin a chance to recover from constant acne. i stopped taking this about two weeks ago, so i'm not sure if my acne will reappear, but so far my skin has been great. it's the best it's ever been in the last year (about a year ago i started getting more severe acne), and so far it's only been getting better... even after i stopped taking the pills. HOWEVER: i think that part of my improvement might be attributed to a no-milk diet i have been trying. i used to drink milk a lot; every morning i would have cereal with milk and then usually i'd have another glass throughout the day. i recently stopped drinking all milk (but i still eat my usual amount of dairy products) and i really feel like my acne has significantly improved. i urge everyone to at least give this a try... it can't hurt.
March 20, 2011
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Pros:
Really helps clear up my hormonal/exercise induced acne
Cons:
I haven't stopped using it, I've been on it 10 days, so I'm not sure yet if I will break out once I stop.
I feel like this was the first thing I've tried in a while that made a visible difference in my face. I have really fair, sensitive skin and I live in Florida so everything irritates my skin. This really helped along with my normal routine of products.
February 1, 2011
Pros:
-Cheap If you have insurance, was free for me.
-Kills Bacteria preventing new pimples/acne
-Anti_Inflamatory effect, reduces the redness of acne.
Capsules look awsome (just sayin)
Cons:
Side effects will come. Yay :) I have been on minocycline 100mg twice daily for about a week.
-Doesnt work right away
-I have experienced extreme diziness after 4 days of use
-Sense of uneasiness
-Today developed significant fever/cold
-Extremely hard to get to sleep(couldnt't sleep until 1am second day of use and had an exam to write early the next morning, fun). I hope this doesn't result in insomnia cause i still can't sleep properly and am always tired
-Headache
So basically been on it for a week, havent seen much of an improvement other than the fact that the redness of my acne has been decreasing. Also no new pimples have formed but i think thats cause i have stopped eating bannanas. Im already sick of the side effects because it is interfering with my school, but hey il basically do anything to clear my acne cause im tired of having it. My main concern is extreme diziness/spaced out, i can't even explain it, my heads just always spinning, pretty weird. I Just hope it works and my acne FINALLY stops ruining my life, if not then accutane to look forward too, even better. Hopefully it just takes awhile to really kick in.. Will update in a few weeks on progress. Have a good one and good luck with mionocycline and acne. Acne sucks lol
July 27, 2010
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Pros:
No side effects whatsoever (this is primarily because my doctor told me to take it with food)
No visible acne anymore
Cons:
None so far
I just started this prescription medicine last week. I never thought I would ever be on a prescription for Acne but I guess as we get older our body changes. I am in my early 30's and I decided to switch from birth control pills to Mirena because of the convinience of it. I dont regret it but I wish I knew what was going to happen to my face. I dont think I have EVER seen my face with such painful cysts and huge pimples. My face was breaking out and I was very depressed about it. My skin was quite clear while I was on the pill. I would say I started with moderate acne and now Im onto light. I dont have visible pimples all I have left are mostly dark spots due to my picking and skin pigmentation. Before I got on the solodyn I started washing my face with a glentle face wash and did Dan's advise regarding the Benzol Peroxide this worked wonders and the pimples started to clear up within 2 days but I need it something to kill this bacteria from the inside out - this is why I took my doc's advise for the solodyn. So far I gotten no pimples and I am pmsing as we speak, by now my face would have 4 or 5 and I have none. I also noticed my skin is less oily which is a PLUS. I can't wait to see the results after a month. I However, if I hadn't gotten on the solodyn I would still be doing Dan's Regimen with the Benzol Peroxide. It does work and I still do it just @ night because it makes my skin too dry if I put it both morning and night. I suggest for those who Solodyn hasn't work to stop discouraging other people from trying it, each person's body is different and the medicine reacts different for everyone. Just a note, I also stopped eating certain foods. I completely cut out caffeine (which is BIG for me), anything fried or too greasy. I barely eat meats, etc. In order to help your body and skin you must change from the inside out, fixing the outside doesn't help the inside. I am so far happy with the results from Dan's regimen and the Solodyn. Drink LOT
June 8, 2010
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Pros:
-worked FAST.
-non-drying if a lotion is also used.
-didn't give me upset stomach.
Cons:
-none insofar!
I've been on Solodyn for 5 days, and I ALREADY see a huge difference in my skin. The only other pill I've taken for acne is Azithromycin (if I'm spelling it right) and it gave me a horrible upset stomach, and also did nothing for my skin. I see no improvement in scars like others say, but definitely prevents and heals blemishes. I'd recommend Pond's Dry Skin Cream with this! It works wonders!! I'm using this in conjunction with Epiduo as a spot treatment, for reference (: Ask your doctor for a coupon that comes with it to make it only 10 dollars as opposed to the 100 it usually costs!!!!!
April 4, 2010
Pros:
keep away acne..temporarily.
side effects were minimal.
Cons:
huge breakout 2-3 weeks after stopping.
No anti-biotic is healthy to be on long term. So when I decided to stop, I started breaking out, a little at first, but it gradually got worse. Now I have everything..blackheads, cystic, small bumps, and I am 90% sure it was because I stopped minocycline. My acne was MILD and now it is moderate/severe, it has never been this bad. 3 months later, it has not gotten any better. I am thinking that accutane is my only course of action next.
Pros:
Stopped acne in its tracks immediately