Oral Antibiotic
Reviews
3.2
1954 Reviews
Oral Antibiotic
Efficacy
54%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Note: Should never be used on its own and for a maximum of 3 months.
Oral Antibiotic
Side Effects
High
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.
Read All About Minocycline
Compare To Other Treatments
5
17.3%
4
27.7%
3
24%
2
16%
1
14.9%

Used Minocycline? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
March 10, 2013
I really cannot say if this product if effective of not.. BUT- side effects were instantly noticed. Prescribed dose of 100mg @ AM & PM. First dose: Wednesday night 100 mg; second dose Thursday morning, 100 mg. I didn't feel myself, thought it was from being tired. I began to realize that I didn't feel present. Continued taking medication, and continued to feel this way.. it is called depersonalization. I have felt spacey, as if I am just going through the motions. I am stopping this medication.
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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:

Works Fast
No side effects
decreases size of pimples quickly

This is the last thing to take before trying accutane. If it keeps working like this, I will not need to try accutane.
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April 27, 2012

Pros:

NONE!!

Cons:

TOXIC MEDICATION: I am a RN and my 17yr old daughter was prescribed this medication 115 mg/ daily for her acne (prom season). Literally within 2 days she began with throbbing migraine headaches, pain behind her right eye, nausea and lethargic...She came to me on the second day crying, something was really wrong, she wanted to go to the hospital!!! I'm a Registered Nurse and any other time she would have just asked what can she take for the headache....which was a HUGE concern for me. Went to

DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION !!
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April 6, 2012

Pros:

Works fast
easy to manage
effective

Cons:

minor headaches

My doctor prescribed this to me a couple weeks ago. She said that it takes 2 weeks for me to see improvements, however I already see my face clearing up. It is awesome because no pimples are popping. Usually I would get a pimple every week, but ever since I was taking this medication these pimple occurrences has not been happening. I definitely recommend this to others. The other con is that I got a lot of headaches, but other that than its great.
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March 20, 2012

Pros:

I have been taking mino for a month now and I can defiantly tell there is a major improvement in my skin. I 19 years and had clear skin until about 9 months ago when i began to suffer from moderate to severe acne with 4-5 cystic acne formed every month or so. I have tried multiple products through out my struggle and this seems to be helping me the best!

Cons:

Expensive
Makes stomach more sensitive
Hassle having to take two pills a day

I have seen drastic results in the past month, with two more prescriptions left i hope it only improves more. I would recomend this product to those who are willing to take an antibiotic to treat their acne.Good luck to those suffering with acne!
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February 24, 2012

Pros:

seemed to help clear up acne a little bit

Cons:

hives and joint pain, hair loss

At first, the medicine seemed to help: less breakouts, less deep painful pimples. I am now a month into it and yesterday I got hives! they are the most irritating, uncomfortable, itchy things ever, and it's all over my arms, stomach, legs and even on my face...much more embarrassing than acne :( My dermatologist told me to stop taking solodyn to see if that was the cause of this outbreak, which i am pretty sure it is because this is the first time in my life i've gotten hives. I have joint pain in my upper arms and in my knees as well. I also noticed while on solodyn I had began to lose a lot more hairs (I mean, I went from losing like 5-10 to 30, a day) Although my derm said that is really uncommon and probably isn't from solodyn, I disagree. Lastly, one day off this pill and i've already got a new deep pimple.
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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....
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December 15, 2011

Pros:

Powerful stuff. It knocked out my acne within a month.

Cons:

It is a temporary fix. It didn't cure the acne.
My derm seemed worried about keeping me on this stuff for a long time.

Powerful alternative to doxy.
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November 4, 2011

Pros:

worked well when I was taking it daily
no negative side effects

Cons:

acne comes back, sometimes in different places
not supposed to take this for very long

This worked the first 4 months I was on it. then the dr decided to slowly decrease my amount in hopes of stopping it completely, as this is not a medication you are supposed to take for long periods of time. my acne is slowly getting worse as my dosage has decreased over the past 3 months, i now take it every 3rd day. Topicals have not been effective in preventing acne from returning. so for short term, it works great, but long term doesn't help.
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Finding a Doctor

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.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.

Finding a Doctor

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:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • 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.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.