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
July 13, 2011
Cons:
-large pill
-stopped working after a while
-weird taste
I began taking this and it began clearing my acne within a week or two. I loved it and i thought that I had found a new magic medicine. My acne completely cleared up and I was happy. Since my acne cleared, i assumed that I no longer needed to take it. My acne came back stronger and more aggressive than ever so i went back on tetracycline and it no longer worked. Nothing seems to work now.
However, I would definitely recommend taking this first before trying something like accutane or a harsh face cream.
May 8, 2011
Pros:
- I'm staying hopeful...
- Mild improvement (Very mild indeed)
- First course completely cleared my skin for about 4 months after treatment
- FREE ( NHS doing us all proud.)
Cons:
- Very bad IBS
- Bloating (Due to IBS)
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Stomach pains
- Yellowing teeth
I'm considering stopping this course of antibiotics, but I'm very very scared that stopping half way through the course (I'm at about 5 weeks) will just cause intense acne breakouts.
The first course of this treatment had cleared me by this stage and my acne was a LOT worse. This time round however I have been dealing with insufferable side effects, and despite being used in combination with Duac I've not seen any real improvement. I apologize if this review isn't particularly helpful as I think most useful advice has already been dispelled in previous reviews, so I don't really know what else to say! I'd far rather be the bearer of good news than bad, but I've been very disappointed. And mega uncomfortable in college 9 - 4 squeezing my arse so I don't fart with every step.
I might stick at for a further 2 weeks and if things improve I will retract my review and replace it with a really nice one, promise. I do think however, if your considering this antibiotic maybe consider another. I'm not saying it won't work, it would be incredibly audacious for me to do so, as clearly it does for a lot of people, I just think there are probably more helpful products out there.
One last thing, I have read on here that this product won't yellow teeth unless they are growing, which does in fact agree with the leaflet... but it really isn't the case. I'm very teeth conscious and have been monitoring them using a tooth shading card. My teeth have become two shades yellower in the past 5 weeks, which is pretty bloody poor. So invest in some whitening toothpaste and take great care, please! Oh, maybe some air freshener too...
All the best of luck to you all. x
December 31, 2010
Pros:
May improve skin.
Cons:
Must take an hour before meals or wait 2 to 3 hours after to take medicine. This doesn't help when your stomach is empty... Nausea can occur.
Tetracycline might clear up skin for certain individuals. I have been taking this medication for the past 4 years on and off. When my acne cleared up I would stop taking it, my skin was clear for a couple of months then I would have to go back to taking them. It did take a while to see results on my skin, but it worked.
November 2, 2010
Pros:
I could see how my entire back and face cleared up in just 15 days. (only temporary)
It's a surprise attack to the acne bacteria.
It's cheap.
Cons:
When u stopped using it, IT BACKS WORSE or WIT OTHER BONUS DISEASE.
I ended up with PUSTULAR ROSACEA. (It will make your face red and sensitive to ALL).
Gastrointestinal problems. (that in fact makes acne worse)
I had moderate acne in back and face.
My derm told me about Tetralysal (a tetracycline derivative) and i took it in hopes to "kill" the acne bacteria in my body for 3 months (june, august and september). I stopped using it just for 5 days in the beggining of august because i had fever. (i dont know if it was because of the medicine) Since that i continued using it consistently.
In just 15 days after starting it i saw my back cleared and just a few spots on my face. It was amazing !. But after that day the acne bacteria in my body slowly becomes more resistant. The antibiotic "try" to keep acne at bay but u will still getting pimples and stomach problems (GI Issues)
And when u stopped using IT. OMG ! IT COMES BACK WORSE AND RESISTANT !
I ended my treatment with a bonus disease :S ROSACEA (Ur face looks red all the time and get flushes BAD when u take a hot shower or the cold wind just touch your face)
I would recommend it for u if u have a party or something like that and u want to be clear in a short period of time. But then... i think ITS NOT WORTH IT for ur general health and for acne itself because it make it WORSE and an ANTIBIOTIC CANT CURE ACNE.
I hope this helps someone. Plz, search for an alternative treatment (i know it's hard to find a solution but this is NOT).
July 20, 2010
Pros:
My acne was beginning to clear up after about a few weeks, with more improvements, like less redness and inflammation, after a month. The pills were easy to take, and I didn't really experience much appetite loss.
Cons:
However, having to take it on an empty stomach, or an hour or so after a meal, can conflict with some people's schedules.
Yet, my biggest issue with Tetracycline is that it proved to be ototoxic ("poisonous" to the ear) in my left ear, leaving me with mild tinnitus that has persisted for two years.
Apparently all drugs in the Tetracycline family can be ototoxic, but I presume many more drugs have the off chance of being ototoxic, as well. I can't completely rate the drug on its effectiveness, since my doctor instructed me to stop taking immediately after the tinnitus set in. If you're willing to take the risk, then Tetracycline may prove successful, but I have switched to the topical cream Azelex, which has no chance of causing tinnitus (unless you put it in your ear...).
January 16, 2010
Pros:
Cleared up my acne after about 5 weeks, zone by zone.
Cons:
I don't count the "having to plan your meals" as a con, because everybody with acne knows that this is a very small price to pay for something that helps.
However - I think I'm developing a yeast infection - my testicles have become red and itchy. Not good.
Takes a while to work for some - 5 (demotivating) weeks for my part.
Even the healthiest of us (I'm quite fit myself) can develop nasty stuff from it, and get resistent. Definitley not a permanent solution for those concerned about your general health and well being, but can work as something that clears your skin (and mind) so you can focus on finding something that works more permanently (dans regimen etc).
January 3, 2010
Pros:
Cleared skin, but eventually became resistant to it =(
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.
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.
December 3, 2009
Pros:
I used this and it kept my acne the same everyday never really got ride of it all but i didn't get any big pimples from it until.
Cons:
when i stopped using it. I got this huge inflamed undertheskin pimple and it hurt alot
No dramatic results just average
November 22, 2009
Pros:
it seems like it kinda works sometimes...
Cons:
im not sure if it works alot
ive been using this on and off from prescription and honestly its annoying to have to eat it on an empty stomach cuz i feel like vomiting everytime, it doesnt subside for an hour so one day it was a school day and i was dying...gosh but anyways i take it with orange juice or any juice 30 min after a meal
Pros:
-cleared my acne at first and quickly
-killed appetite