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
October 25, 2007
Cons:
Nausia, dry/flaky skin, yeast infections, reoccurring break outs.
It's worth a try, but it didn't work well for me.
August 2, 2007
Pros:
at first it worked well and cleared up much of my acne but ive been on it for 2 years now and my acne is making a comeback and this medication doesnt seem to be working anymore..
Cons:
seems to lose effictivness over time.
annoying how you have to take it on empty stomach.
initally it seemed to work with a couple blemishes here and there but now it seems to have lost its effictivness.at least for me
May 17, 2007
Pros:
No regimens to keep up with, just take a pill (or 4) and go on with your day. Very convenient and works, at least for adolescent acne. Affordability is good if your health plan covers it.
Cons:
I think it probably worked for 3-4 of the 7 years I used it. Then it just stopped. Also, you can't take it within an hour of eating. I've even been told they think the water you take it with makes it not work as well. Also can cause yeast infections.
It works. Obviously lots of medications stop working after a number of years, your body becomes immune so although it's inconvenient, it's to be expected. Also, the reasons for acne can change as we get older so it's likely that we will have to try different things over the years. If topical medications dry out your skin, make it worse, or just don't work, try this. You have to be careful not to eat an hour or so before or after taking it and don't take it with coffee or soda, just water. If it workse, great. You may have a few clear years ahead of you. Just be prepared for it to stop working. Enjoy the clear days. I'm horrible with regimens, and I was even worse as a teenager so that is the perfect time to try this product. The way health care is these days, it may be an out of pocket expense. Bottom line: I'm not against it, but I can't say it's anywhere near a miracle cure. Just a temporary fix.
February 6, 2012
Pros:
- Cleared up
- No side effects experienced
- Didnt get worse before it got better
Cons:
- Took ages to work
- Doesnt cure acne
Started on the 22nd december, now the 6th febuary and somehow my spots have literally gone in the last week, like im not just saying that each day i got less and less and less and now i have non, just quite a lot of hyper pigmentation, completely cleared pustular and papular acne, and slowly clearing my comedonal acne, dont matter though going on roaccutane cos i dont wanna go through acne again. Also started to eat healthy and only wash my face with water around same time i cleared up, dunno if its coincedental, but i believe if you eat all this bad junk food then it will come out in your face, and look at your facial washer and read all the chemicals, surely not good to put on your face? Look at the eskimo people for example, not a case of acne and then the americans colonised there and acne became apparent in the population, bad food... i dunno, also take flaxseed oil and havent experianced a outbreak, EVERYONES DIFFERENT YOU AINT GUNNA FIND AN ANSWER FOR YOUR TROUBLES UNLESS YOUR TRY IT
December 3, 2011
Pros:
cleared up acne, but not worth long term results and potential intestinal damage
Cons:
was on it for a few years, then doxycycline, then minocycline. after stopping, acne immediately came back. ended up getting GERD, terrible bad breath, and ended up needing hemmorhoid surgery. then OCD got really bad. now spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars in ayurvedic treatment which is finally working. spend more time focusing on your diet and understand your own food allergies (wheat, dairy,etc). cutting out sugar and low-glycemic carbs is really hard, but helped clear up my acne
long term effects not worth short term fix. look into lifestyle and diet changes. was male in 30s when taking
September 27, 2009
Pros:
-clears up cystic acne
-acts fairly fast (compared to other medications)
-affordable (covered by health insurance usually)
Cons:
-pretty much dictates your life; have to take it an hour before eating, hours after eating, an hour before you lie down, no freedom really
-may take a month or so to see actual results...BE PATIENT
For cystic and moderate acne, this works wonders. It takes a lot of discipline to follow the regimen and instructions, but its definitely worth it in the end. Make sure you use with other topical face creams - I used it with Stievamycin cream for morning and then clindoxyl at night. The combo worked amazingly and now a year later I can say that all my acne is gone..there's still a few red spots from scarring but its nothing that make up cant cover up and it will go away eventually! I get a few pimples here and there but thats NOTHING compared to like 2 or 3 i used to get every day before!
Also, make sure you take tetracycline in moderation, and not for too long or you will become dependant on it. I only took it for 6 months, first 3 months was 4 pills a day, then after went down to 2 a day then nothing.
I don't regret using this at all - it doesnt hurt to try new medicines to get rid of acne!!
Definitely try this!!!
May 26, 2009
Cons:
I personally didn't notice any myself but some might be -
1. some tummy upsets + sicky feelings
2. dry, itchy skin
you have to keep going with it, it won't make much difference untill the last couple of months, but when it does, its amazing!
truly LOVE it some people who had acne seriously might find it comes back very lightly after the course of pills, but all you have to do is ask the doctor about going on it for another few months it says on the NHS website "course lasts at least six months"
April 21, 2009
Pros:
Stopped huge zits and breakouts
Cons:
-scheduling meals . (but WELL WORTH IT :)
- does not get rid of scars, but they will fade with time (hopefully lol)
I am so happy my doctor put me on tetracycline, and I never experienced any nausea or upset stomach due to the pill (but try to avoid milk and dairy products while on it). My breakouts have reduced significantly, and I have only been on it for a month! I saw results in the first two weeks, but apparently two months are needed for full results.
July 22, 2008
Pros:
stops me picking at food between meals, also you cant take with milk, apparantly milk is a main cause of acne, stopped breakouts of larger boils on chin.
Cons:
planning meals, as you have to take on an empty stomach.
I have only been on them for 2 weeks for moderate boils on my chin, and now starting to appear on my cheeks too, very bad for my self esteem, have been avoiding all my friends! Well i have noticed no new outbreaks, old spots are still healing though. i am concerned about the long term affects of the drug! especially after reading these articles. i hope it dosn't come back with a vengance once i stop the 3 month course. I feel a lot of my skin problems are however down to stress, poor diet and hormone issues, so maybe these pills are just holding off the innevitable! definately a lifestyle change is needed! will let you know how i get on!
June 12, 2008
Pros:
cheap!!
Cons:
can cause headaches..gave me a lil fever first time around..
ok, my dr. prescrobed it first time around n it worked but i got fevers.but i broke out again..cystic acne..not even normal pimples..n i was desperate so i tried it again n by day 3 of taking it..my boil popped..Tetracycline is STRONG but worth the result..please eat one hour after taking pill or take it 2,3 hours after eating ur stomach needs to be empty for maximum effect
Pros:
Cleared up slightly, easily prescribed, lessens oil.