Minocycline
Results
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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Compare To Other Treatments
5
15.8%
4
28.7%
3
25.1%
2
15.9%
1
14.6%

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February 6, 2012

Pros:

It really does help with fight acne or cystic acne like mine.

Cons:

none really. I became nauseas randomly 15weeks into taking the medicine so i stopped taking it for a few days and changed my diet (added more protein) and started up again and was fine and haven't experienced that again.

In my opinion it does work it just takes what seems like FOREVER to see results. I started to see some change by the 7th week. It still was rough but a lot better then when i started that is for sure! Another thing is it will get worse before it get's better. Im still currently on mino and it's been ?25weeks and luckily i'm not immune yet and i'm actually seeing the best skin i've had since i got this random cystic acne last year. I would suggest asking you doctor for clindamycin phosphate topical solution to add to your treatment. Since i've been using that duo and eating lots of veggies everynight along with taking fish oil, a multivitamin, and biotin. I've seen such a major difference and effectiveness in my face. I wish i would have done it sooner. Hopefully you don't have to be on mino for as long as i have though. I finally found a doctor who will prescribe me isotretinoin (aka accutane) because i do not want to have to depend on taking mino forever just to keep my skin kinda ok and then go through hell again with my face if i were to become immune to the antibiotic. I don't recommend isotretinoin i think you should try everything before going to this extreme but i've exhausted all options and treatments and ready to try this last one. Goodluck to all fighting this hard fight!!!
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February 5, 2012

Pros:

It helped out with my back and chest acne, but it hasn't completely cleared it up

Cons:

Blurred vision
Depression
Dizziness
Change in my... reactions, idk... i get scared more easily
I cant feeekin fall asleep at night!! It is just
soooo hard
I dont see any results on my face

I take 200mg of this stuff, and it barely helps Im really scared of getting those more serious side effects, im worried about that I feel more depressed and thats a problem, because i dont feel the same anymore and all of a sudden my mind is filled with the negative things about life. Its hard to go to school. Life feels hard to deal with now.... I have been on differin gel, clyndamycin phospate lotion, this,and prednisone My derma will soon prescibe accutane and see how it works out for me... i really hope it works, i heard very good reviews, but im scared of the sideffects Hope my acne gets better....
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January 31, 2012

Pros:

might have worked had i stayed on it. not sure but probably not

Cons:

-depression
-made face worse
-can't get go out in sun and get daily sunlight which is good for your skin

i went to the dermatologist because i kept getting severe breakouts on my neck after shaving. she took one look at my face w/out closely examining it and prescribed me this. this was the worst decision of my life for taking it. i took it for about a week and my face was so much worse than it was before. i had been prescribed for two weeks btw. it also made me severely depressed as a result. i have been off it for about 3 days now and my face has cleared up so much just by using a little hot water w/ lemon juice, Cetaphil face cleanser twice a day, and some desonide lotion 3 times a day. honestly i think i had razor bumps/razor burn and not a lot of acne but she still prescribed me this to kill the infection i guess but it did not work for me. im not a doctor but unless you have tried other options and given up then i guess try this. just remember your acne will get better just have faith in yourself and God and you'll be fine i promise. but all in all i don't reccomend this. try my solution i mentioned earlier. it might work. God bless!
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December 23, 2011

Pros:

-less pimples

Cons:

-dizzy/loopy feeling

I had super clear skin up until beginning of freshman year. I started getting some closed comedones (the flesh colored ones) with maybe 2-3 whiteheads. My acne got a lot worse later on during the year, but only on my forehead. I finally went to my derm during the spring & went on this antibiotic. It definitely started reducing the amount of pimples and by summer time I was only left with some PIH marks. I also don't remember having any side effects. I stopped using the antibiotic after about 3-4 months. I was pretty clear all through the summer. Immediately when school started back up again I broke out with pimples on one of my cheeks where I never got pimples... I'm back on Minocyclin again, but this time with adapalene 1% (differin?). The antibiotic seems to be working again... but I'm still getting pimples. (There's always at least 2 on my face) & recently I've been feeling a little dizzy after taking this pill. Although I still recommend it! (ACNE SUCKS!!!!)
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December 13, 2011

Pros:

Cheap with insurance, gets rid of majority of acne including cystic pimples

Cons:

Gastrointestinal problems, acne comes back once you stop

I just recently stopped taking minocycline after having taking it for about 3 years. It was working perfectly for me until this past summer when I started getting severe stomach pains, which was later diagnosed as gastritis. I stopped taking the minocycline simply as an experiment to see if it was the culprit of my stomach problems. The gastritis seemed to get better, but after some time passed I began to break out badly again, so I tried taking the minocycline again. The gastritis pains came roaring back. In short, this worked very well for me for a few years before, I guess, it caught up with me.
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November 20, 2011

Pros:

Works to clear cystic acne

Cons:

IT COMES BACK 3 MONTHS IN

I swear I have tried everything, i get cystic acne but its not as bad as some peoples but still bad enough for me to scar my face. So for years ive been trying to clear it (from 15 to now 22) I was put on minocycline after everything else was failing me, I have been on and off this medicine for years. It does control the acne but its like my body gets immune to it and then they come back. The last time this happened I switched to accutane but was taken off due to a poor change in my bloodwork, he was going to put me back on it but now im back on minocycline to try it out again and hope that maybe this and veltrin (topical which is very helpful for cystic acne) will work for me. I hope so. I never had ill side effects with Minocycline, but DOXICYCLINE was horrible I would get so nautious and sick but def feel great on minocycline. With my insurance its only about 8 dollars.
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March 17, 2011

Pros:

helped acne a little bit

Cons:

weird rash on my are
very emotional
moody
ichey

DONT USE
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February 24, 2011

Pros:

Does get rid of acne...clear beautiful skin 2 months after starting it.

Cons:

Even though it did clear my acne completely and i had gorgeous skin all of my acne came back shortly after stopping it.

It does work, but its only temporary and of course you don't want to be on this medication the rest of your life.
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April 29, 2010

Pros:

none!

Cons:

I got a bad rash head to toe, very dizzy, and i felt terrible

DO NOT USE THIS
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December 13, 2009

Pros:

Affordable

Cons:

In my experience I believe the side-effects far out weigh the benefits to this medication. eg: vertigo (dizziness), heartburn, diareha, nauseua, headaches

I have never had any major problems associate with acne in the past. I've only experienced typical breakouts over the years until recently. I'm 36 years old and have discovered that acne can develope at any stage in your life regardless of your age. Because of this I was petrified that I woke up with this huge cyst like lump on my face one morning. I got in with my doc and she said it was a cyst that needed to be removed. She put me on Minocycline and referred me to a dermatologist. I'm on week 3 of this medication and my face is breaking out EVERYWHERE. I don't get it, I dont have problems with acne but as soon as I started this medication, my entire chin broke out with deep, painful bumps. I'm going to continue the meds because its being prescribed for the cyst (which by the way is getting a little better). Which leads me to my conclusion, this medication clearly isnt for everyone or every need, however it can be helpful it some cases.
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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.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
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Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

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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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Red flags:

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