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
February 17, 2012
Cons:
Sometimes made me dizzy and nauseas, but nothing serious, you still get breakouts while on the treatment
I have pretty bad acne. I have small to medium bumps all over my forehead and cheeks. The first couple of weeks, the results were great. All my larger acne bumps turned into small white heads and small bumps, and i thougt in a week or so my skin would be completley clear. Then, when i got my period, the time i usually breakout the most, all the progress and improvement in my skin just went away ): i broke out badly so im back to where i started. Im still using minocycline, hopefully it will improve my skin again. If not, i think im gonna use accutane.
February 13, 2012
Pros:
This completly cleared up my acne. It was only moderate around my skin and forehead but something that I was very annoyed with.I have been trying out treatment for about the last 5 years (am 23). Am left with no scarring. Can go out with no make up. I take it before I go to bed at night. Have been on it for 7 months now.
Cons:
This cannot be taken within the same time period as other pills such as iron supplements. I is rather expensive.Paid €37 for a months supply. There are cheaper alternatives apparently but I'm sticking with what I know
It cleared my acne up withing a couple of weeks. Was told last week I had lovely skin. I haven't had any side effects.
February 11, 2012
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Pros:
Cleared up some of my acne
Got rid of some of my discoloration
Cons:
Caused patches of hyperpigmentation on upper arms and back
This helped with some of my acne but it didn't completely stop me from breaking out. I did not like the fact that it gave me more hyperpigmentation(I'm already trying to get rid of PIH from when I was a teenager). Now my problem is worse...
February 9, 2012
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Pros:
-does clear up acne
-I personally had no side effects.
Cons:
-become dependent on
-can have severe flare ups when coming off
I have been on this medication for about 2-3 years, a lot longer than I should have been probably. But the very first time I tried to come off of it, I experienced the absolute worst breakout of my entire life. I actually though it was an allergic reaction of some sort, but the doctor assured me it was just acne. But I quickly when back on it to clear up my skin.
So this medication did work for me, though I became exteremly dependent on it. It didnt completely get rid of my acne, but enough to make me comfortable in my own skin. I have recently started coming off of the medicene with no intention of going back on. I have started breaking out, but nothing close to what happened the last time. Hoping this is just a flare up that will pass when my body gets used to not being on the pill.
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!
February 9, 2012
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Pros:
clears cystic acne
heals existing pimples fast
Cons:
Severe side effects: Hives, severe itching, constipation, weird dreams
Antibiotics have been the only thing that worked to clear my acne. My acne came back so my dermatologist prescribed solodyn this time. While I was only on it for a month it worked great to clear my skin! I saw a noticeable difference right away. But 3 and a half weeks into it I began experiencing severe hitching and broke out in hives. I don't normally experience side effects with medication but the itching is unbearable. I didn't take the pill for one day to see if the itching would stop and I broke out with two HUGE cysts on my cheek. I can't take this any longer because the hives and itching are so bad. I say give it a try because you may not experience any side effects and it definitely works to clear cystic acne.
February 6, 2012
Pros:
It really does help with fight acne or cystic acne like mine.
Cons:
none really. I became nauseas randomly 15weeks into taking the medicine so i stopped taking it for a few days and changed my diet (added more protein) and started up again and was fine and haven't experienced that again.
In my opinion it does work it just takes what seems like FOREVER to see results. I started to see some change by the 7th week. It still was rough but a lot better then when i started that is for sure! Another thing is it will get worse before it get's better. Im still currently on mino and it's been ?25weeks and luckily i'm not immune yet and i'm actually seeing the best skin i've had since i got this random cystic acne last year. I would suggest asking you doctor for clindamycin phosphate topical solution to add to your treatment. Since i've been using that duo and eating lots of veggies everynight along with taking fish oil, a multivitamin, and biotin. I've seen such a major difference and effectiveness in my face. I wish i would have done it sooner. Hopefully you don't have to be on mino for as long as i have though. I finally found a doctor who will prescribe me isotretinoin (aka accutane) because i do not want to have to depend on taking mino forever just to keep my skin kinda ok and then go through hell again with my face if i were to become immune to the antibiotic. I don't recommend isotretinoin i think you should try everything before going to this extreme but i've exhausted all options and treatments and ready to try this last one. Goodluck to all fighting this hard fight!!!
February 5, 2012
Pros:
It helped out with my back and chest acne, but it hasn't completely cleared it up
Cons:
Blurred vision
Depression
Dizziness
Change in my... reactions, idk... i get scared more easily
I cant feeekin fall asleep at night!! It is just
soooo hard
I dont see any results on my face
I take 200mg of this stuff, and it barely helps
Im really scared of getting those more serious side effects, im worried about that
I feel more depressed and thats a problem, because i dont feel the same anymore and all of a sudden my mind is filled with the negative things about life. Its hard to go to school. Life feels hard to deal with now....
I have been on differin gel, clyndamycin phospate lotion, this,and prednisone
My derma will soon prescibe accutane and see how it works out for me... i really hope it works, i heard very good reviews, but im scared of the sideffects
Hope my acne gets better....
February 5, 2012
Pros:
Moderately stops acne
Cons:
DIZZY!!!! I was just always dizzy, lightheaded and had nausea.
I've been on 200mg a day for a month and it's cleared all my whiteheads. Still get normal acne of just bumps though. My doctor said I could upgrade 50 mg a day but there's just no way I could with all the constant dizziness I have now....
February 3, 2012
Pros:
-started to make skin clear
Cons:
-EXFOLIATIVE CHELITIS
DO NOT TAKE THIS!, i got exfoliative chelitis because of this medicine, which is 20x worse than acne. I cant talk to anyone now as my lips would constantly peel also they got huge (swollen), i would suggest everyone to not take any oral medications! instead try to go for topical. Also acne will go away once youre 25 so dont worry too much about now, because problems of today are stories of tomorrow!
October 8, 2015
Acne doesn't go away once you're 25.
Pros:
Turns cystic acne to small bumps and white heads, clears some acne, makes breakouts less severe