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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December 30, 2011

Pros:

acne didn't get worse after getting off the pills

Cons:

diarrhea, no difference acnewise

my derm prescribed minocycline promising it will help my chin acne. i guess in europe we're very careful with prescription drugs, so i got pills for 3 weeks. the first week i had diarrhea and after 3 weeks there still was no change in my acne. when i was done with the pills the acne didn't get worse either though.
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December 29, 2011

Pros:

Helped the acne

Cons:

9 month minocycline use caused a toxic hepatitis in our son followed by a severe lupus-like, arthritis-like autoimmune disease from which he still has not recovered 10months after stopping the drug

Research the long term side effects on line. If you still want to take the risk and your doctor is not monitoring your liver enzymes ask for the monitoring. If you get any strange side effects on the drug stop using it.
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December 28, 2011

Pros:

Seemed to work

Cons:

Price. I had insurance and a savings card, but retail was $986.00!! ALLERGIC REACTION- SEVERE

I am 34 and have never had any type of allergic reaction to any medication. Because of this, I wanted to warn others. After 10 days, my entire body broke out into 1 giant INTENSE, HORRIBLE itching hive. From top of head to bottom of feet. Unable to walk, blacked out twice due to extremely low blood pressure. Ended up in ICU for 3 days. If you take this medication, PLEASE watch out for any allergic reaction.
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November 15, 2011

Pros:

It seemed to have started clearing up some of the acne during the short time I was taking it.

Cons:

Horrible vertigo and nausea.

I wasn't on this very long. I couldn't handle the side effects. I would often feel dizzy and nauseous, kinda like having motion sickness. Maybe the side effects aren't this bad for everybody, but I'll never take it again.
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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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October 13, 2011

Pros:

None

Cons:

My acne bacame worst
Headaches
Feeling sick if not taken with lots of food

It did not help my acne at all, even made it worst.
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October 5, 2011

Pros:

- cysts were slightly less severe

Cons:

- gastrointestinal issues during AND after treatment...not pleasant
- constant headaches!! basically daily while taking it
- barely helped my acne so it wasn't worth it
- took 3 months to see results at all
- improvement of acne only lasted 3 months and then these effects stopped even though i was still taking it.

used this for just over a year in combination with Differin. my acne was never completely cleared up in that time. i had a bad initial break out and did not see any results for about 3 months. when i did see results, there was only a slight improvement in my acne; my pimples became smaller, less inflamed and less painful. i WAS still breaking out constantly. i had these results for about 3 months and after this period, my cystic acne went back to being just as bad as it was before beginning treatment. i stopped taking the Mino eventually when i realized my skin was back to it's prior condition. i regret taking it at all, because i suffered from gastrointestinal issues for the entire time i was taking it. i have now been off of it for about 3 months and these symptoms are persisting. i get horrible stomach cramps and gas pains frequently, i have to watch what i eat to avoid upsetting my stomach even more, and there are some other unfortunate effects i won't mention.... antibiotics do mess with the bacterial balance in your GI tract which tends to lead to these problems. after taking Mino for over a year i fear these effects may be permanent since they have persisted after I stopped taking it. i also experienced frequent headaches while taking it...i would get one practically EVERY DAY. it causes increased pressure to the head that results in headaches as well as some dizziness. these constant headaches disappeared as soon as i stopped taking it. Mino can also cause other side effects like liver damage and even lupus, which i am lucky to have not experienced. bottom line: stay away. the very slight improvement of your acne is not worth it.
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September 13, 2011

Pros:

nothing

Cons:

Hives, drug induced lupus, hepatitis, read all warnings carefully if you are considering using this drug. It is widely prescribed but not enough people are informed of the risks.

dont think to use it ................bad side effect
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August 16, 2011

Pros:

Dangerous drug....stick to topicals

Cons:

Hives, drug induced lupus, hepatitis, read all warnings carefully if you are considering using this drug. It is widely prescribed but not enough people are informed of the risks.

I would not take this drug nor recommend it to anyone. 20 and 22 year old males took it for 2+ weeks and ended up in the ER with severe hives, breathing issues, swollen and red joints, etc. Still dealing with the side effects and possible drug induced lupus reaction. Beware! They were prescribed 100 mg. two times a day.
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August 10, 2011

Pros:

None

Cons:

Nausea, Dizziness, Vomiting

I took it twice a day 100mg for almost a week and it made me sick and throw up a lot. I hated it and it didn't do much good for me.
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Finding a Doctor

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.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

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Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • 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.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website