Acne.org Products
Oral Antibiotic
Efficacy
69%
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 to only some people, and may lead to side effects and strains of resistant bacteria. Studies do show they can sometimes 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 Tetracycline? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
November 21, 2007
Cons:
Some of the side effects have been pretty annoying, for me at least. Digestive problems suck.
Just take it the way it's prescribed and you'll be fine. Also, you need to give it time to work. It will not necessarily clear up in two days. It just takes time.
September 18, 2007
Pros:
Prevents cysts very well.
Cons:
Some GI tract upset.
I'm positive it prevents cysts. I've run out, and started getting the huge deep cysts. Started taking it again, and they went away. I started taking it when I was 15, and I'm 22 now and still taking it.
March 26, 2007
TETRACYCLINE DOES NOT WORK!! I've taken 60 of these pills(2/day). It gave me severe dry skin, a darker, weird complexion on my face, my acne got worse, I got this itchy rash on my eyebrow, I had(still have)digestive problems; gives me gas(burping)and queeziness. I followed the instructions and after 60 pills NOTHING IMPROVED. It's probably snacking on my immune system or something and God knows what else - bottom line: It ISNT HELPING me in any way,shape or form and I'm keen to get off them.
November 18, 2006
Pros:
I have had really bad acne, concentrated on my forehead, and chin. I used Teracycline along with Differin at night. I have used it for anout 1 month and a half. My face is WAY better and it dosnt hurt as much either.
Cons:
Taking this medication on an empty stomache gave me a mild upset stomach.
Works good, cheap, low side effects.
June 11, 2017
It didn't work, & I developed side effects. Wouldn't recommend.
Been on this for a while (roughly 7/8 months).
Didn't experience any major side effects like others did...however some things have been happening to me which now make a lot of sense. I was prescribed this for the texture of my skin. It has been damaged by acne and other topicals causing an unsightly uneven texture, 'Orange peel skin' aka horrible enlarged pores. I didn't really notice any side effects at first. However when I stopped using the treatment after like 3 months, I'd get little yellow pimples scattered on my face. The worst was that it spread all over my neck like an allergic reaction. I've also been getting bowel problems, mainly diarrhoea. I think it has given me food intolerances like others have experienced. So, I've decided to stop using it. The only reason I used it was to help the surface of my skin. It has NOT done that in any way. I wouldn't recommend it.
March 1, 2018
April 26, 2017
TOXIC! Yes i want to scare you! Dont take the risk. I got tinnitus
Dont take this it is toxic to your body!
I used it for 5 weeks. Now i have had severe tinnitus for over a week.
I didnt break out as much as normally when i took, but IT IS NOT WORTH THE RISK!
I took it because i thought i wouldnt get any side effects, which i didnt for the first 5 weeks but then i suddenly woke up with tinnitus, and i have always taken care of my ears and never went to concert.
IT'S A SYSTEMIC treatment, it affects ALL parts of your body! The antibiotic will react wherever it can beside your skin. That is the danger.
I know I'm trying to scare you, and that is because you have no idea of the consequences before you have the side effects yourself. BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE. Acne will eventually go away but the side effects can be permanent!
Even if it cleared my skin completely, with the tinnitus i have right now, it is not worth it! I dont have any silence, my ears are hurting, i cant rest or sleep properly.
Use topical drugs, not systemic drugs like this!
Im a medical student and i researched the drug a lot and i thought the chances of serious side effects were minimal. I went and talked with my GP. I asked him thorougly about the side effects because i was aware how systemic treatments can have serious side effects. He told he had seen a lot of patients take the drug and there was never reported any side effects. It was after this talk my GP that i gave up the skepticism and bought the drug. DO NOT BUY IT EVEN IF YOUR GP ENCOURAGES YOU! In the end he is not taking any risks, you are!
February 13, 2017
PLEASE READ: Dangers of Overusing Antibiotics
I was perscribed tetracycline, doxycycline, etc. for 3-6 months each course. While I was on these antibiotics my skin was perfectly smooth. Naturally, I wanted to upkeep this level of improvement so I continued to use these antibiotics. Because of the overuse of antibiotics I have developed a skin condition called "pityrosporum folliculitis." There's is a delicate balance of bacteria and fungi/yeast on our skin. Which, for the most part, is there to benefit the human body. By overusing or inappropriately using antibiotics, this balance can become disrupted and cause an overgrowth of the fungi/yeast. This imbalance resulted in "acne-like" bumps all over my neck, chest, and back. I was genuinely devastated and spent an entire summer seeing a psychologist because I felt so depressed over it. This condition is not curable, it is ONLY treatable. There's not a day that goes by that I wish I had explored other alternatives to heal my acne. I have been able to keep it under control for the most part but like bacteria, yeast can become resistant to anti-fungal medications. So please do not try to "fix" your acne with a temporary solution that can lead to long-term consequences. *For the record I am not against taking antibiotics when necessary but doctors should not be allowed to prescribe them for acne.
March 12, 2018
May 26, 2015
3 months no difference
Been on this drug 3 months hasn't done a thing! My acne has probably got worse if anything where it is practically being left untreated due to this drug not working which is really effecting my self esteem! May work differently for different people but to me it has been a massive waste of 3 entire months!! Also have had headaches, dizziness and a lot of unexplained mood swings for the first two months! Back to the doctors Monday to see the next step..
July 2, 2013
Works great for a while, not worth it in the long-run
Pros:
Works very effectively for a period of time
Easy to take
Cheap (if on the NHS/insurance)
Cons:
Makes acne much, much worse in the long-run
Stains teeth yellow
I took oxytetracycline from October 2009 to April 2011. The drug took about 4 months to kick in but, once I did, I had flawlessly perfect skin. It was great! However, from around November 2010 the drug gradually decreased in effectiveness. Now that I've come off it my skin is worse than ever and I'm still suffering from this now, in July 2013. The chances are that the drug will help for a bit, but will then make your acne worse in the long run. For this reason, it just isn't worth it! I'm entirely sure that if I hadn't taken the drug, I would have naturally outgrown acne by now.
September 5, 2009
Pros:
has really been helping skin is dryer
Cons:
age 50^s never thought it would help i
i am only on for two weeks its worth the try!
Pros:
It clears up moderate acne really well, especially if used with a topical acne treatment.