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
January 22, 2010
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.
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.
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!!!!!
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
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.
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.
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.
October 26, 2009
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Pros:
Doesn't upset my stomach as other antibiotics have in the past. Only have to take it once a day. Seems to work for me.
Cons:
Expensive as my insurance puts it at the highest co-pay.
Suffered from acne off and on since high school and am 35 YO now. Use Solodyn, Benzaclin and Retin-A. Not sure which has done the trick but been clear for a few months now, except for the occ. pimple around my period. Had been using Clindamycin but tried Benzaclin to clear up the whiteheads on my forehead. Benzaclin has cleared them up but my face super dry and even the DML didn't help even though usu. have oily skin. Started to wash my face only at night (Cetaphil for oily skin) and use the Benzaclin as a spot treatment and preventive on my t-zone. Also cut back on the dairy, switched to organic milk for my cereal and stopped eating soy. My acne is hormonal and stress-related so believe it or not but think yoga helps me too. Not only does it relieve my stress but I think the breathing is cleansing. I still have bumpy scars around my mouth but hope they'll reduce over time. Also had two chem peels by Dr. but not convinced they help.
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.
October 5, 2009
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Pros:
Effectively eliminated moderately severe acne
Cons:
Could be expensive if insurance does not cover, but doctor gave me some kind of discount card, had some small side effects in beginning that are gone now, don't want to use it forever
I'm a 31 year old 115 pound Asian girl. I started getting acne in my mid 20s, and was getting pimples all the time. I would try everything I could think of (washing regularly with different types of cleansers/systems, regularly changing pillows, eating better, drinking more water, etc.) Nothing worked. Finally, my friend suggested I go to the dermatologist. Duh! The doctor prescribed Solodyn (90 mg), Clenia face wash and Ziana. I stopped using Ziana within a few weeks (two harsh and I felt unnecessary). The solodyn started working right away. Within a week the number of pimples dropped, and by the third week, I didn't get any new ones. The side effect I got was constipation oddly, and I am very regular. I asked my doctor to give me 45 mg instead, and after that, the problem kind of went away. I don't want to take this forever, but I am so thankful that I don't have to deal with my weekly pimples. I'm hoping I can eventually just rely on the Clenia face wash, which works well.
Pros:
cheap and easy to obtain