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
April 19, 2009
Cons:
Everything.
This pill is horrible. I've been taking 100mg twice a day for about a month and a half, my acne hasn't changed at all. Nothing on my face has changed. I'm taking minocycline, 10% benzoyle face wash, and a drying cream at night. I'm very disappointed.
April 11, 2009
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Pros:
I guess it cleared my skin a little
Cons:
VERTIGO!!!! I was so so dizzy. I seriously had to call my doctor, thought I was going crazy. This drug, or the dosage did not work out for me, bummer. Anyway, if you feel this side effect call your doc immediately.
Got prescribed from doc for mild acne, am 35 and just had a baby 9 month ago, so hormones are at play. He gave it to me, I was aware it made you drowsy, but holy cow I was REALLY out of it. SO I took the next dose at night and it still the following day was like I was spinning. So I stopped. NOw I am fine. Used the card thing that made it so cheap for first three months. If it works for you, use it, but if you have what I had call your doc.
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!
March 25, 2009
Pros:
no more big pimples
Cons:
messing up my idgestive system
works!
March 13, 2009
Pros:
Cleared acne a little bit after awhile
Cons:
broke out in hives 3 weeks after
Use......if your lucky and not allergiac to it
March 7, 2009
Pros:
Go figure, but in conjunction with a nightly topical treatment it helped better than anything else I've tried. I took it for about a month and experienced great results until . . . (see below)
Cons:
I found out I was allergic to it, even though I'd taken tetracycline as a teen. I bought this as Solodyne as there were no generics avl. It was only affordable because I had a coupon.
I was surprised that I was allergic because I had taken tetracycline before and this particular time had been taking this for a month, and it was working for my skin. My face never broke out, but my symptoms began with burning, itchy feet ending in painful, red, itchy, huge, inflammed welps and hives from behind my ears all over my body worsening over 3 days. No response to benadryl; had to take 2 perscriptions to control; just be advised and aware of the side affects and watch carefully for allergic reactions. My doctor's advise based on my reaction was to never take any "cyclines" again. I highly recommend it if you afford it and you're not allergic, of course. My cost was with insurance!
February 28, 2009
Pros:
It definitely helps with adult cystic acne brought on by hormonal changes.
Cons:
Headaches, dizziness and nausea. Rather like an extended hangover!
Read the warnings and give it an informed try. The side effects are no worse than any other antibiotic I have ever been on. Use sunblock and a backup method of birth control.
February 24, 2009
Pros:
My mom says that my face starts to clear up when I'm on it, in combination with topical treatments, but I don't believe it. My favorite pro: now that topical treatments have reduced my acne, I'm not even going to try minocycline again.
Cons:
Always slightly nauseous when I'm on it, and can't help but get carsick/motionsick, headaches. Acne comes back after stopping (even after completely clearing up in a few months) and only seems to work when used with other treatments.
My doctor perscribed 100MG Minocycline twice daily. It was a nice cheap thing ($10 with my mom's insurance) so she didn't mind it. My mom is the oblivious type, however. SHE says that my skin clears up when I'm taking it, so she makes me take it, but she doesn't realize that I only get results when I'm taking Minocycline in conjunction with other topical regimens; I quit taking the minocycline but keep doing the topical regimen and I get the same results. It makes me slightly nauseous at all times and car rides are torturous - nevermind actually driving - and though I am already prone to headaches, they progress to migraines when I'm on the medication. I've settled on exfoliating with baking soda in the morning, wearing spot treatments of Proactiv's refining mask at night, and cleansing twice daily with Cetaphil for normal to oily skin (moisturizing in the morning with Cetaphil as well). It works better AND I don't have to put anything weird in my body.
February 19, 2009
Pros:
the minocyline has made my face less bumpy. And i dont get as many pimples as i used to when i break out. I also didnt have any side effects.
Cons:
the pimples i used to have are now smooth but they have seemed to have leaved red scares on my face. I have i a lot of red spots on my forehead and back.
I didnt have barley any acne until a few months ago. All of a sudden i was getting constant break outs 2-3 times a week. It was awful. So i went to my doctor and she prescibed me 100mg. of minocycline once a day for six months. So far i have been on it for about a month and have seen some results. I dont get as many pimples as i did before when i have my weekly break out. But my face is really red. But i also noticed that my face isnt very oily anymore. I would recomend this product because my face does look much better than before i started taking this. Im just hopping i see more results than this.
February 13, 2009
Product used: Solodyn (Oral Antibiotic)
Pros:
If you have the card it's cheap for up to three months. After that, it's up to your insurance.
Cons:
Only works after time and you need to stick with it or you may become immune to the antibiotics.
Some people may have reactions to it as with other antibiotics. Some of the opionions here are a little out there. I work in the medical industry and have to say that I don't think it can cause acne unless your cleaning habits changed after taking this medication. It carries the same risk as other antibiotics but this one is time realease so it ensures there is a steady stream of it in your blood to fight acne bacteria. I work out and it didn't make me tired or weak at all. No liver problems and no skin redness, dryness, or other reactions. Like other antibiotics, it's a temporary fix and although rare, it's usually not perscribed for more than six months. I did get a 10 month perscription which I found to be irrisponsible of my NP. Bottom line, it's a start to get you clear so you can get into good cleaning habbits and maybe wait it out till you get older. (I'm 30 btw and suffer from facial and body/back acne) Maybe one day I'll grow out of this curse.
Pros:
Nothing.