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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3.2
1600
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5
15.8%
4
28.7%
3
25.1%
2
15.9%
1
14.6%

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August 22, 2013
Such a great thing

Pros:

Cheap
Clears skin

Cons:

Dryness

I just started this about three weeks ago! It has worked incredibly well. I also use Proactiv. The medicine has dried out my face a lot though, seems to be going away. I recommend this. My friend also uses it and she has told me nothing but great things.
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July 21, 2013
Great at first, not so great after a few months

Pros:

great short-term solution
made pimples smaller and less frequent
inexpensive

Cons:

flushing
stopped working after about 3 months
not a long-term solution

At first, I thought this was a godsend. My acne (which had gotten really bad after a few months on doxycycline) cleared up almost immediately. I still got the occasional pimple, but nothing like what I was getting before. The side effects didn't really affect me too much - occasional stomach aches, light-headedness, trouble switching focus from things a long way away to things close, but these seemed to come for a couple of days and then go away again. I was on two 50mg tablets a day (one in the morning, one at night). After about 2 months, I noticed that my rosacea redness and flushing (which I already had) was getting a lot worse. Sometimes, for no reason at all, I would flush for an hour or so, my face going bright red and burning like hell. This sometimes happened 7 or 8 times a day, and it was really making me depressed and anxious. I was constantly checking my face to see if I was flushing. I then learned that other people had had trouble with this medication and flushing, and my derm had previously mentioned cutting back from two tablets a day to one, so I decided to try that (just taking it at night). At this stage, I was more preoccupied with the redness than the pimples, so I reasoned that even if the pimples got worse, if the flushing stopped, I wouldn't mind. So I've been on 50 mg once a day for a couple of days now (also on Finacea at night) and this seems to be helping. I certainly haven't been flushing as much as I was before. All in all, this medication definitely worked better for me than the doxycycline, so if you've tried doxy and it didn't work, give this one a go. Just don't expect it to work on a long-term basis.
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June 3, 2013
help!
I have been taking monocyclin twice a day 100 mg per capsule for almost 14 weeks. My face is still breaking out and i am starting to lose hope. How much longer until I see results??
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January 27, 2013

Pros:

Helped a little bit before I got an allergic reaction to it.

Cons:

Severe allergic reaction.

After two weeks of taking it, I started to have an allergic reaction. My eyes started to swell to the point of not being able to open them. I developed hives all over my body. I had swelling in my hands and feet, causing severe pain in my hands, feet, and knees. Loss of appetite for several days. I also was very dizzy. The itching kept me up for most of the night.
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November 15, 2012

Pros:

-Inexpensive

Cons:

-Intense side effects first two weeks
-Took 2 months to see a noticeable result
-On medication for a long time

A little bit after my 20th birthday, my skin took a turn for the worst...every week I would find anywhere from 1-3 cystic breakouts near my chin or nose. The texture of my skin was also extremely bumpy all over! My poor complexion was starting to affect my social life, and I knew it was time for a change. I went to my derm and asked what I could do or take to help my skin condition. He recommended adding minocycline to my topical BenzaClin treatment. I had nothing to lose, so I gave it a shot. I had the worst side effects the first two weeks. I was fatigued, felt dizzy, lost my appetite, and suffered from nausea. I told myself that I'd keep taking it if my side effects disappeared after the first two weeks, and thankfully they did. It took a little over two months for my skin to improve dramatically. I'm so glad that I was patient and persevered with the treatment! Four months to the date, I have no cystic breakouts and my skin texture has improved dramatically. I can finally go outside without makeup without feeling like I look disgusting. I know that everyone reacts differently to medications, but if you give it a try, STICK WITH IT!
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October 17, 2012

Pros:

None. Really, none.

Cons:

Did nothing to my skin, maybe made it a little worse but didn't do anything else.

Minocycline did not help me at all. It did absolutely nothing after religiously taking the medication for two months, if not slightly worsen it. Don't waste your time.
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March 30, 2012

Pros:

Did clear up my skin somewhat
Less expensive than other prescriptions

Cons:

Required progressively higher doses to work
Caused a vaginal yeast infection (my first ever)
Not safe if you become pregnant!!!

Not a long-term solution, since the dose kept needing to be increased and indefinite high doses of antibiotics are incredibly unhealthy. I quit after some months because I started getting yeast infections (yuck!) and digestive side effects (nausea, etc). Also didn't ever clear up my skin completely. Not worth the risks in my book!
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October 15, 2011

Pros:

cleared up cystic acne

Cons:

cystic acne came back worse after I stopped taking minocycline

skin breaks out more now

I used to get 1 pimple (cystic acne) a month. Sometimes it scarred which is why I went to a dermatologist. I took the medication for 3 months. I did not get a single cystic zit until I stopped. After I was off Minocycline, I started get 4-5 cystic acne and then I started breaking out in regular zits too! I have never had a problem with regular zits! I went back to my dermatologist and he prescribed more mino. I was hesitant to take it again but the cystic acne was getting worse and the regular zits were multiplying so I gave in and took it for a month. It didn't work at all the second time around. As a matter of fact, my skin has gotten worse! I am living a nightmare now! My skin is terrible. It has never been this bad! EVER! I am so depressed because of this mess on my face. Please do not take this junk! It works the first time but once you stop taking it, it comes back worse! And when you get back on it, it doesn't work at all! At least that has been my experience.
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September 18, 2011

Pros:

I used to get painful red pimples but this medication has helped reduce swelling and I can touch my face anywhere without pain! (when I wash my face)
My skin is starting to clear up and my acne scars are becoming lighter
Less breakouts

Cons:

feeling of sea sickness
diarrhoea
troubles sleeping? I have been having a lot of odd dreams since taking this medication
NOTE: I only started feeling the sickness yesterday, I was fine for two weeks, so it could just be the flu!

I have been on this medication for 2 weeks now, my acne is improving but it is improving slowly. Just yesterday I started to feel sick, I had diarrhoea but in solid form? I went to the washroom around 6 times, each of which letting out big logs which is way over my average of bowel movements, followed by one this morning. On top of that I felt a kind of sea sickness and actually ended up vomiting at night. Im going to keep taking it to see what happens, if these symptoms keep occurring I will stop. I am taking 200mg a day. SO overall it works, but has crappy side effects (pun intended) :) There is nothing wrong with trying out something different so go ahead and take minocycline and see if it works for you!
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July 30, 2011

Pros:

Mildly cleared up my acne

Cons:

Still have bad breakouts every few weeks

I take 200mg a day and I still break out pretty bad a few times a month. I'm looking to try a new medication. I'm going to try birth control because I think my breakouts might be hormonal...
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