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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5
15.8%
4
28.7%
3
25.1%
2
15.9%
1
14.6%

Used Minocycline? Rate It:

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February 27, 2010

Pros:

Does clear huge pimples, slightly reduced oily skin

Cons:

Dizzy, nausea, I THINK it might stop working over time

I used this antibiotic back in late 2007 through 2008. I had moderate acne and this made my skin look amazing, well I still had the scars of course but with make up, it looked like it was almost flawless. Around summer of 2008, I got kind of lazy and use it on and off, and it kind of stopped working to an extent, I believe. I used this with Differin and I loved the results it gave me. I remember getting compliments from people at school on my skin. It did work for me, but only for a while. After I stopped using it permanently, my acne came back with revenge! But there are other personal factors which I believe might have contributed to my horrible break out. Another thing that frightened me about using this, was the scary side effects I remember reading. Haha. Hypochondriacs, beware!
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January 22, 2010

Pros:

cheap and easy to obtain

Cons:

it didnt do a thing for me

i had moderate acne problems and i thought maybe an oral antibiotic would cure my acne rather than topical ointments alone. I was prescribed minocycline by my doctor and i took it twice a day for 5 days on and 5 off, and it did absolutely nothing for me. I am fair skinned and a hispanic male, but i would not recommend taking this.
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December 21, 2009

Pros:

cleared face completely in 5 days!

Cons:

awful side effects (nausea, diarrhea, sweats, dizziness).

For over a year, I'd been struggling with a persistent breakout of large, painful whiteheads and cysts on both cheeks that I'd been unable to get rid of with any topical treatment (including four months diligently following the Acne.org regimen). I finally gave up on the OTC treatments and went to a doctor, who told me that it was a case of bacterial acne (i.e.; as opposed to hormonal acne). She prescribed 100mg, to be taken 2X/day. After only five days of taking it, my acne had completely disappeared. However, my body obviously could not tolerate the medication, as the whole time I was taking it I had chronic nausea, diarrhea, sweats, and dizziness. It was pretty awful. My doctor told me to stop taking it immediately, Luckily, my face has remained clear for three weeks now, and although I am still sort of "waiting for the other shoe to drop" (as the expression goes), I am feeling very happy overall! I don't know what I'd do if the acne ever came back, though, since I obviously can not go back on the medication.
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December 19, 2009

Pros:

None...

Cons:

No improvement, waste of time and money

I took minocycline for three weeks, and was very optimistic because it was the first prescription acne treatment I had ever tried. I was in the state of mind "Well if a DOCTOR prescribed it to me, it's gonna work!" So I started taking pictures of my face everyday to watch the improvement. I didn't see any. Then one night about three weeks in I had a few strange little rough bumps on my chest. I woke up that night in a severe itch on my stomach and scalp. I thought maybe I had gotten bit by a bug, because that is what the marks looked like. That is until they spread over my entire body. It was the most painful experience of my life. I had to go to the emergency room because I was having an allergic reaction & my lips swelled up like a duck! The reaction took over three weeks to go away. It was horrible! AND NOW I HAVE A $1,000 ER BILL!!!!!
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December 1, 2009

Pros:

after a month, breakouts completley stoped...

Cons:

stomach hurt alot when i took pill without food in me. Also got headaches every once in a while.

the pros out weigh the cons...if u have moderate acne stop using proactive..it really doesnt work...go to the doctors and ask for minocycle and benzaclyne gel...it will be the last thing u will have to use for ur acne...and once ur acne is completly gone..u can just use the gel and stop taking minocyclin
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October 31, 2009

Pros:

Free with insurance, twice a day pill. Gets rid of redness. Less white heads

Cons:

Can't take with milk. Extreme dryness and peeling. Patches of red bumps occur. Itchiness. No major improvement so far.

I have used this for about a week now, 50mg twice a day with two ointments to go along with it. I'm 16 and woke up after two days of taking it and my whole face was like snake skin. It was horrible. I also had big patches of red areas. Went to school and got made fun of. Doctor says it has to get worse before it can get better.
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October 28, 2009

Pros:

It clears up the acne, very well. 2 pills / a day (50mg each pill)
Prevents acne from coming back
You do need a treatment plan with a doctor if you REALLY want it to work.

Cons:

It can make you sensitive to sunlight
It does take around three to four weeks to really start having effects, and you really can't skip a pill or a couple days, else, you're screwed!

This antibiotic is not meant as temporary treatment. It needs to be taken with a treatment plan to ELIMINATE your acne for ever. Therefore, you need to take this medication twice a day (minimum), over at least 6 months to a year, maybe even more. You need to persevere and believe in this product so that it works. I combine it with Clindoxyl Treatment medication, to treat small flares and to act locally on random zits.
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October 28, 2009

Pros:

- Inexpensive! In Australia 60 x 50mg tablets (enough for 2 months) cost $20.00, which is very affordable for me as a student
- noticeable effect in reducing breakout occurence and severity (if they do occur)

Cons:

- I have not experienced any side effects, but they can include headaches, nausea, fever etc. (side effects occur in a few people with every medication)
- should not be used with some medications including retinoids (such as retin-a and tretinoin)

I have tried a number of treatments for my moderate acne, including Yasmin BC. This was effective in controlling my monthly hormonal breakout, but minocycline has been most effective in month-long control. I now have much clearer skin, with occasional very small pimples, which never develop into anything larger, when they previously would have become worse. If you are concerned about your skin, I would suggest paying a visit to your doctor even if you don't have severe acne - there are many prescription and non-prescription treatments you may not have considered which they can recommend to you. This product has worked very well for me.
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October 13, 2009

Pros:

Stops more severe acne, and helps with acne that is "deep" under the skin

Cons:

Does not clear you up completely

I took minocycline for the 6 months that my doctor prescribed it to me and i hated it. I thought it did absolutely nothing. I recently went back on it because my parents said I really should and that it had helped before. This time i made sure I took notice and after only a week my face is a whole lot better. This stuff does not clear up the moderate acne that the regimen is designed to combat, but by combining them I am having great successes. After a week my face is 50% better, and I really don't expect the minocycline to do anything more than it has already done, but I do expect it to keep working to combat the tougher acne that the regimen just cant handle. Really I would suggest this as an option to people who's acne is just a little bit too severe for the regimen, so that it can handle what the regimen can't and then by combining them you should get clear.
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July 3, 2009

Pros:

my skin has been clear ever since i've been on the pills.

Cons:

i don't personally have an cons to report. i've been on minocin for about 12 years and have had none of the side-effects that others report, but everyone reacts different, i guess.

i've tried everything to get rid of my acne since i was in junior high, finally, when i was in the 10th grade my dermatologist suggested i try minocin. literally within days my skin was clear. as i've gotten older, my doctors have suggested that i get off of it, and of course i'm always willing to try new things...but every time i've been off of it for any length of time my acne comes back almost immediately. i had no choice about a year ago to get off of it completely as i was pregnant - and of course, my acne came right back. after i stopped breast-feeding my son, i started right back on it and of course, my acne disappeared. there are plenty of side-effects that my dermatologist warned me about, but iv'e literally had NO side effects from this medication, not even the minor ones like sensitivity to sun. i suggest to anyone to try it, it's the only thing that has worked for me.
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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.
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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:

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  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

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  • 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.
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