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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April 17, 2009

Pros:

Work on acne and clears up BUT at a DANGEROUS PRICE.

Cons:

Messes with your mind and your emotions! BE CAREFUL! Brought on some anxiety attacks for me. I felt short of breath for a few days. Very potent stuff. Kills bacteria good and bad that your body needs. Puts your body out of balance. Use with caution!!

I wouldn't take this unless absolutely necessary. For example, if your acne is super bad and your pepperoni face makes it unbearable to be outside or anything social. If you suffer from mild acne, the OTC stuff like benazoyl perizoxide is effective. Just deal with it and go on a strict wash/cleansing regimen. In fact a 2004 British study found that that long term usage of antibiotics vs. benazol peroxide was practically the same. So why put a pill into your mouth that wipes out all the bacteria (good and bad) in your system and makes you susceptible to other illnesses? Antiobiotics are bad for you people! This one messes with your mind/moods and emotions and has a handful of side effects. Read the labels. Yellowing of teeth,stomach problems, juandice, lupus like symptoms and even killed a British 14 year old a few years ago! All this worth it over a few pimples? Just deal with the pimples with OTC stuff. DON'T PUT THIS POISON INTO YOUR MOUTH!
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April 16, 2009

Pros:

worked pretty well for the few months i was on it..got rid of the big zits i had prevoiuusly and i only got small pimples when on it

Cons:

the bigger zits came back right when i got off minocycline

good for short term but not long term
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April 14, 2009

Pros:

Worked well at first then became less effective.

Cons:

The longer you take it the less effective it becomes.

Works better on severe acne than light to moderate.
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April 12, 2009

Pros:

Works sometimes but not consistant

Cons:

it can work one week than the next week you can be completely broken out and look terrible

Go to a real dermatologist and not your regular doctor
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April 11, 2009

Pros:

It actually works. Cleared up cystic acne within a week. Skin looking so much clearer. Skin close to flawless (still got scars though)

Cons:

My gums have gone dark, I've got discolouration on the side of my side. Apparently this is a side effect.

My acne was really bad. Every morning I'd wake up I'd find I had a new cyst on my head and a new pimple on my cheek. Once it started to go away another one would pop out. I used a lot of BP, calamine lotion, etc. Nothing worked! So I went to see my GP, he put me on this. I've been using it for 2 months now and it workes great. However, I am scared if I stop using it, will my acne return?
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April 11, 2009

Pros:

Got rid of my cystic acne, the pain, the redness, it is wonderful.

Cons:

If I stop I get a few pimples, I'm afraid to stopping the medication completely.

Use it as directed, use sunscreen preferably above 50spf. Keep your face clean and free of make up if you can to help clear your skin. Results may vary just like any other medication so be aware that this product might not be for everyone.
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April 11, 2009

Pros:

None, it didn't do anything to help my acne

Cons:

Stained my gums w/ grey spots (a possible side effect of antibiotics)

Didn't work for me.
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April 10, 2009

Pros:

Cleared up my acne for a little while.

Cons:

I began getting regular headaches as well as migraines which I hadn't suffered from in years. Very sensitive to sunlight.

My acne was completely gone after 6 weeks of taking this, which gave my skin a little time to heal but now, 6 months down the line, the drugs have stopped working and my acne has returned. Possibly even worse than before I am still waiting to find out. Minocycline is ok as a short term solution but it does nothing to solve the real problem, and acne will return after you either stop taking it or the bacteria becomes immune to it. You're perhaps better not to take it at all as the mental repercussions of having clear skin and then returning to being an acne sufferer are probably greater than spending time trying to come to terms with it and cure it yourself naturally!
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April 8, 2009

Pros:

Cleared up acne entirely, taken mainly for breakouts on the chest and back - been on it for 6 years (with differin topical gel) and NO side effects. Works fast and is reliable.

Cons:

Hypersensitivity to sunlight (previously sensitive due to being 2 shades off albino...), and only works while I'm on it.

Like my doctor said, it's a medication that works while you use it, and trust me, it's true. 2 days without and my acne comes back with a vengeance. However, compared to sulfur based medications I've tried (which resulted in me being violently ill due to a high intolerance), it's a blessing, and one that I'd use again in a heartbeat.
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April 8, 2009

Pros:

Very effective at clearing deep cystic acne and reducing redness and inflammation

Cons:

After taking 100mg per day for a week, I noticed a blue gray tinge to my forehead. This apparently is a supposedly rare side effect. Also 7 tiny black birthmarks appeared on my body, apparently iron deposits caused by minocycline metabolism. Scary!

I would not recommend this medication to anyone. Black spots (iron deposits) on the skin (apparently permanent) and blue-gray tinge of the skin, bones, and blueing/yellowing of the teeth are all potential side effects, which are all much worse than acne in my opinion. I suspect these side effects are undereported, as supposedly they are very rare but it happened to me within a week of starting the medication.
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