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
January 3, 2010
Cons:
increased sensitivity to the sun
I started taking tetracycline in September 2008 and by December 2008 my skin was COMPLETELY clear. I stopped taking it in April 2009 because soccer season had started and Tetracycline made me really sensitive to sunlight and my acne slowly started coming back. Then once our school soccer season had ended, which was during June 2009 I started taking this medication once again, but sadly it did not have the same effect on my skin again=(. I took it from June until December in hopes that it would make my skin clear but didn't. I am going to be visiting the dermatologist soon now. I would still recommend this product thou because it had my skin clear for a little while, and that was the best time of my life.
September 26, 2010
Pros:
None, this pill does NADA.
Cons:
Takes FOREVER to see any "little" result . But you wont see any
Im 16 & I have bad acne and Ive been taking this stupid tetracycline pill for like a year now & it didnt do zip . I just went to my dermatologist and told him I was taking Tetracycline and he laughed at me and said thats a waay old acne pill . So he perscribed me with " Bactrim " .. Ive been taking this pill for 2 weeks and like my acne is GONE !! soo.. get Bactrim not Tetracycline, or you will be disappointed .
December 16, 2009
Pros:
none
Cons:
I passed out and had to be rushed to the hospital
be careful to make sure you are not allergic to this
May 25, 2010
Pros:
New spots stop developing within first few days, clear skin within 1-2 weeks
Cons:
Non so far, although I have been taking the medication for 12 months and have tried to break off a few times, my skin flares up again almost instantly, recently been off for two weeks and had the worse breakout I've had in years (hence me joining Acne.Org) got another 8 week perscription last week and skin reacting well. Want to try the regime though as I'm aware that long term use of antibiotics is not recommended so gunna build the regime up over the next few weeks.
Tetracycline has worked really well for me from the start, I have suffered with acne on and off for 15 years (now 34) the only time my skin has ever been really clear has been during my two recent pregnancies, tried tetra for the first time 12 months ago after nothing else seemed to work and it's been a miracle. I am a little concerened about the long term effects of taking antibiotics which is why I am going to start the regime whilst taking the antibiotics, my skin has always been really sensitive to benzoyl peroxide but I'm hoping that I can build up the usage slowly over the next 8 weeks and come of the antibiotics for good...fingers crossed. Also not sure why a lot of you are advising that this medication can not be taken with food? I live in the UK and no such instruction is given within the leaflet that comes with the medication, I take one tablet at breakfast time 5 mins before I eat and it works fine? Maybe it's a different form of antibiotic that is provided in the US?
August 22, 2010
Pros:
learned time management
Cons:
have to take it on an empty stomach
didn't do any thing
Side effects are harsh
it really didnt work for me at all.
August 20, 2010
Pros:
Cleared up my acne in 5 months.
Cons:
-I had moderate acne and it took 4-5 months to clear my acne.
-Acne returns once you stop taking them.
-Lips and skin are dry.
-The first few months are the worst as it makes you break out. After that your acne begins to heal.
-Stomach aches.
-It's poison to your body.
This has too many bad side effects and it didn't work too well for me even tough I used it for six months.
May 7, 2010
Pros:
- it cleared almost completely my face
- made my skin less red
- it's been two weeks that i have stopped using it because it gave me diarrhea so the acne came back but lightly
Cons:
- it gave me nausea sometimes, especially in the morning, for about an hour
- i couldn't eat an hour and a half before taking the antibiotic and an hour after that too so i was often really hungry especially the around the time i had the toke the dose in the night
- it gave me diarrhea, but i'm not 100% sure it's because of the antibiotic, however it can cause diarrhea and even a bacterial infection (in the stomach or a yeast infection)
- Acne comes back when you stop taking it, but
I recommend this medication to everybody, but remember it reacts differently on everybody. Some people do not experience any side effects. However, i would say that the nausea part isn't that bad and it's easy to support, it's just unpleasant. And about the diarrhea part, it's because antibiotics do not only kill the bad bacterias in your body (the ones that cause acne) but also the good ones. That's why it can f**k you bacterial flora in your stomach or in your vagina, and cause diarrhea. But what can be worst in a yeast infection or a bacterial infection in your stomach, because you'll have to take another antibiotic for that, and them come back on tetracycline. Overall, antibiotics aren't good for the immune system, that's why it's better to take the less you can. But the best part is that it cleared my face completely, while i was on it! It's just that i had to stop it, for the diarrhea to go away, and it's been 2 weeks. I have no more diarrhea but my dejection still isn't totally normal it can be very soft as it can be very hard all that in the same day. The problem is that the gynecologist told me to stop it for only 4 or 5 days, but it really isn't for me cause by day 5 i still had diarrhea. I find that weird, and i'm scared of having a bacterial infection infection in the stomach but i think that your have to have diarrhea for that which i don't have anymore.
October 7, 2010
Pros:
I took tetracycline treatment twice. No help.
Cons:
Colors teeth yellow
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December 15, 2009
Pros:
I only take it when i break out and clears them within 3 days, i forget to take it so thats why breakouts remind me to take it again lol
Cons:
has not cured my acne
i have been on this med. for about two years and it has helped me keep my acne under control but has not helped me get rid of it.
March 29, 2011
Pros:
~Works great to clear acne
~Very cheap
Cons:
~Not a long term solution
~Not good to be on antibiotics for too long
~Causes nausea
This really works to clear your skin up quickly, but it is not a permenant solution. First of all, it's not good to be on antibiotics all the time. Secondly, your body will become immune. I was clear for about a year and then I became immune and broke out bad again. I am going back on it, and this time before I get immune, am going to switch to a different topical antibiotic. Always keep your skin guessing i guess. For the year I was on it though, I didn't have one pimple. Was super nice to have clear skin, and in conjunction with retinol all my scars cleared up-no one thought I ever had an acne problem. I'd suggest using this to get rid of your acne quick, but then after 4-8 months switch to a different therapy like Clindoxyl and Retinol. The antibiotic is key. The meds did cause a bit of nausea because you have to take it with no food...so I would take it before bed so I was already laying down. Well worth a try, but I suggest knowing your plan for afterwards-dont wait until you become immune like I did!!
Pros:
Cleared skin, but eventually became resistant to it =(