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
April 10, 2007
Cons:
I had very minor digestive problems.
On discontinuing tetracycline, my lower cheeks and neck have broken out with acne. I don't like getting acne past age 60.
I need to return to doctor to see if tetracycline decolonized the MRSA. Perhaps the acne is a rebound from the tetracycline. Or perhaps the new tree oil shampoo I tried caused the acne or the acne IS MRSA. I would hope for a MRSA vaccine so that people can resume activities where they touch objects that other people touch!
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.
March 14, 2007
Pros:
It worked on my skin for awhile
Cons:
and then it just stopped working
This medication starts to weekin in a few weeks
March 10, 2007
Pros:
Good for acne loss for a few months. Does not dry skin.
Cons:
After awhile, the pill stopped working.
After about five months on the pill, it completely stopped working to the conditions I had always taken it under. Yes, there were less pimples than before I took it, but pimples were still there and were not clearing up. I have now switched to minocycline and am much happier.
March 6, 2007
Pros:
It worked to clear up a breakout on my chest and back
Cons:
You need to be careful about when to take it, which can be inconvenient.
It worked for me on my chest, and I used it in combination with retin a
March 3, 2007
Pros:
works good for the first 6 months
Cons:
after 6 months it stops working
good for short term acne loss
February 23, 2007
Pros:
nothing good really
Cons:
is basically the salicyclic acid of pills..it is very week..i went of this and went to dynacin which is much better..ask for dynacin or solodyn
not a good pill
February 22, 2007
Pros:
Clears skin (it just takes time!)
Cons:
I'm always hungry, so having to wait until the medication has digested in order to eat again, is hard for me...but worth it!
I was on Minocyclene for 6 months, and it did nothing for me. Then my Doc prescribed Tetra 2 times daily at 500 mg. and at first I noticed nothing. After two months, I have no acne- maybe one or two pimples. I also get glycolic acid peels. This medicine is cheap, and really works. I promise, just give it 2 months.
February 16, 2007
Pros:
Worked quite well for about five months.
Cons:
No food/dairy!
I took tetracyclen for only a month, back in September and durring the month I saw no results, but about a month after all my cystic acne on the sides of my face went away. I originally asked for tri-cyclen, the birth control, but the doctor misheard me and prescriped me tetracyclen? Anyways, My acne went away for about four months but came back... Only on my chin though, I hardly get acne on the sides of my face anymore, except when I do it's still cystic. But give it a try if you want, but I wouldn't recomment staying on it for a long period of time because it's not too good for you since it's killing all bacteria!
February 16, 2007
Pros:
It might be helping a little. I would classify my acne as moderate.
Cons:
It gives me hiccups and early on gave me heartburn and stomachache. The stomach problems are not as frequent now after 3 weeks. I got a yeast infection, though. I hate taking antibiotics for infection that is not serious. Overuse is bad.
I never had acne before and at age 28 I got hit with an outbreak. It may have been a reaction to high stress. I'm on 500mg twice per day along with glycol pads and benzaclin. I'm not sure if etracycline is really doing anything. My spots were starting to fade from topical treatment before I started taking it, and I have developed a few new blemishes since I started taking it. I know it takes time but once I stop taking it, who knows what will happen. We can't stay on antibiotics forever, and trying to take it on an empty stomach and with no dairy and more than an hour befoe bedtime is a pain!
Pros:
I took tetracycline for 25 days for a CA-MRSA infection on my legs. CA-MRSA is an infectious disease. It is the strong germ in the hospitals that now is out in the community.