The following side effects are expected to occur with the use of minocycline. Contact your doctor if these symptoms are severe and/or do not go away:
How Common (based on clinical studies)
Headache | Up to 23% of all users |
Dizziness | Up to 9% of all users |
Fatigue or tiredness | Up to 9% of all users |
Diarrhea | Up to 8.2% of all users |
Heartburn or indigestion | Up to 8.2% of all users |
Nausea and/or vomiting | Up to 6.1% of all users |
Itching | Up to 5% of all users |
Increased menstrual cramps | Up to 3.6% of all users |
Changes in mood | Up to 3% of all users |
Acne flares | Up to 2.7% of all users |
Itching or irritation in the rectum or vagina | Up to 2% of all users |
Hair loss | Up to 2% of all users |
Ringing in the ears | Up to 2% of all users |
Increased sleepiness or drowsiness | Up to 2% of all users |
Weight gain | Up to 2% of all users |
Oral thrush (fungal infection of the mouth) | Up to 1.5% of all users |
Increased sensitivity to UV rays (photosensitivity) | Up to 1.4% of all users |
Mouth ulcers | Up to 1.2% of all users |
Muscle pain | Up to 1% of all users |
Dryness in the mouth | Up to 1% of all users |
Changes in the color of urine or tears | Unknown |
Swelling of the tongue | Unknown |
Soreness or irritation in the throat | Unknown |
Irritation or inflammation at the tip of the penis | Unknown |
Discoloration of skin, nails, gums, teeth, or scars | Unknown |
Prickling or tingling sensation or numbness over any part of the body | Unknown |
Minocycline may cause some side effects that are serious. If you experience any of the following, get in touch with your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:
- Rash on the face or any other part of the body
- Skin peeling and/or blistering
- A sudden appearance of swelling and rash (known as hives)
- Headache
- Blurring of vision or any other changes to vision such as seeing double or loss of vision
- Swelling of eyes, lips, tongue, throat, or face
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- Feeling short of breath
- Chest pain and/or abnormal or irregular heartbeat
- Watery stools, blood in stool, fever, or abdominal cramps during the treatment period or up to two or more months after stopping minocycline
- Decrease in urination
- Seizures
- These symptoms occurring together: yellow discoloration of skin or eyes, itching, dark-colored urine, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, pale stools, extreme fatigue, confusion
- Abnormal bruising or bleeding
- Blood in the urine
- Signs of infection, such as fever and sore throat
- Swelling of glands (lymph nodes)
- Pain, swelling, or stiffness in the joints
Minocycline may also cause other side effects that are not mentioned here. Contact your doctor if you experience any other troublesome symptoms when using minocycline.
References
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- Grosshans E, Belaïch S, Meynadier J, Alirezai M, and Thomas L. A comparison of the efficacy and safety of lymecycline and minocycline in patients with moderately severe acne vulgaris. Eur. J. Dermatol. 8(3), 161-6 (1998).
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- DailMed. Minocycline. Available from: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/search.cfm?labeltype=all&query=MINOCYCLINE&pagesize Cited 2. November, 2024.
- Garner SE, Eady A, Bennett C, Newton JN, Thomas K, Popescu CM. Minocycline for acne vulgaris: efficacy and safety. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 1(8), CD002086 (20212).
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