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
April 5, 2011
Cons:
redder skin, photosensitivity
It didn't help my acne more than slightly. It made all my skin redder so pimples were less noticeable and it might have made them a little smaller but that was it. I quit taking it after a few months. But at least I didn't experience the side effects some here did!
March 31, 2011
Pros:
I couldn't take it long enough because of intense side effects--but I have used doxycyclin (another tetracyclin) before with some success.
Cons:
After just my first pill, I had bad side effects. Flu-like symptoms (chills, achiness, fever), stiff joints, and moderate dizziness/nausea. I could live with the dizziness, but the flu-like symptoms were so severe that I couldn't function normally.
I'd be very clear with your doctor about the potential side effects. I regret that I didn't push my doctor more, particularly since this was not my first reaction to a tetracyclin. They say side effects are rare, but I'm skeptical. My main advice would be if you try it, ease into it. Start with one a day and see how your body reacts. I found that my doctor immediately jumped to prescribing oral antibiotics, etc. without having a thorough dicussion of my medical history. My advice would be to push the doctor to discuss all other potential causes and options before starting any oral medication.
March 30, 2011
Pros:
Wasn't able to tolerate side effects long enough to see pros. Cost is low that's about it.
Cons:
I was so dizzy and disoriented that I couldn't be at work. I couldn't stand up long enough to function because my vision was so blurred. I was terrified by the way I felt. Very sick to my stomach. Scary experience. Took days to feel "normal" again.
I would not recommend to anyone.
March 24, 2011
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Pros:
Too early to tell
Cons:
Dizziness/ light headedness/ nausea
I was prescribed 30 days of 115mg Solodyn for perioral dermatitis. I took one pill at night, and was nauseous the next day, so I stopped. Instead, I tried apple cider vinegar. After about 3 weeks of ACV (drinking and applying), the perioral dermatitis didn't clear up entirely. So I'm trying again with the Solodyn. I'm on day two, and the nausea hasn't returned. However, I am very lightheaded/dizzy. It's manageable, for now, though, so I plan to stay on it. I am hoping this solves the perioral dermatitis once and for all...(I'm keeping up the ACV concurrently, because it can't hurt). As for the cost, my doctor gave me a card from the manufacturer that makes it only $10 for each 30-day supply.
March 23, 2011
Pros:
Cleared acne up quick, only took 2 weeks.
Cons:
HORRIBLE side effects.
Acne came back worse after getting off of it.
Within a month of taking this i've been feeling really depressed and out of body out of mind. I've been diagnosed with psychosis thanks to this. Also it blinded me for a little over a week and i was so scared that I was blind, you have no idea. DON'T try this, it's not worth it.
March 22, 2011
Pros:
Works for some.
Pretty safe compared to stuff like accutane...Bleh.
Cons:
Stomach burns a little and changed eating schedule, but just man up.
Alot of the problems people post on here are Probably not caused by minocycline. How can an antibiotic mess up your emotions? Yellowing teeth should only happen to kids under 14 who's teeth haven't even developed yet. Yes its a temporary fix, what do you expect? One magic pill wont cure acney forever...without messing up your whole body. Many people here have other problems besides acney. Eat yogurt during the day to help with any side effects. If you take it with other topical creams it works really well, please dont expect one pill to fix up acney. Shouldn't effect oil since its purpose is to kill acney bacteria.
March 22, 2011
Pros:
Clears up skin pretty quickly, cheap
Cons:
Not first choice antibiotic for what I was treating, caused dizziness, lightheadedness and vertigo, drowsiness, not good for those who have to drive every day with such symptoms, strict schedule for eating times
I went to the dermo for blackheads and he insisted on treating my (non existent) acne. I have been an acne sufferer for 11 years and ever since being on birth control they have subsided. I did however develop a staph infection from picking at my blemishes. Dermo gave me 75mg of minocycline, ten days 2 times a day to clear up the infection. After day 3, I started having dizziness, became light headed, and everything felt like a dream. I felt AWFUL. (I took Dynacin back when I was 14 when I actually had acne issues and it didn't have this affect, or any others at all. Apparently mino is pretty strong.) I almost passed out one night while shopping and took myself off of it the next day, and found a different doctor and meds to treat my infection. Honestly, this medication freaked me out and scared me. I do not like feeling out of control, and I did not like how random these dizzy spells were. Mild vertigo generally was persistent throughout the day. I NEVER had this prior to taking the meds, and it stopped once I was off.
It apparently has stronger side affects on females than it does on males. If you want this for acne, make sure it's a LAST RESORT. It does work, however you become resistant to this stuff after a certain amount of time, and it's never good to take antibiotics for extended periods. You may have something more dangerous or serious in the future that this type of medicine is used for but won't be able to handle (see MRSA) due to resistance.. Acne is only skin deep and is just an annoyance. Exhaust other methods and medications before using this. And for the record, I only usually get small blemishes here and there at this point in my life. Once I stopped this medication, side affects still lasted a couple days and I actually had a breakout for the first time in 3 years. It will most likely only work while you are on it, but once off you go back to the way you were or worse, from the things I have read here and elsewhere. Be cautio
March 21, 2011
Pros:
Worked for a couple weeks
Cons:
Mouth sores
bad breath
pain to take
Dont do it, minocyclene does not do anything significant especially if you are on the regimen and it causes a breakout when you stop taking it
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.
March 19, 2011
Pros:
Basically everything.
It's the first thing to actually work.
Cons:
Nothing.
I've tried everything. But this is the only one that actually works. Sure, it took a month or so, but it was totally worth it. I don't really have big acne. just looks of small ones. But not any more. only a few tiny ones that i really don't care about seeing as it used to be a whole lot worse. i've been on 100mg a day for 1.5 months now and i'm so happy. I don't want to be too quick to review just incase it does get worse again so so far i'm happy. My skin is a lot smoother and Waking up in the morning is no longer a time where i have to look in the mirror and moan. I've seen a lot of reviews about side effects, which is bad but i have had none. although the first time i took it i felt a little bit dizzy, but nothing i couldn't get over in 10 seconds.
Pros:
maybe slightly smaller pimples